| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
After the deaths of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1286 and his granddaughter and last undoubted heir Margaret, the Maid of Norway in 1290, twelve to fourteen powerful noble houses with tenuous royal claims competed for the throne. Foremost among these were the Balliol, the Comyn, and the Bruce. John Balliol had the support of the Comyns, and "Red" Comyn married Balliol's sister, to cement an alliance. However, Balliol was set up only to be knocked down by King Edward I of England.
In 1306, John Comyn, Earl of Mentieth, was summoned to a secret parley with his chief rival, Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick. As a "guarantee" of nonviolence, the negotiation was to be held in Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. Comyn did not survive this meeting, as Bruce stabbed him. Tradition has it that the wounded Comyn was then "finished off" by a companion of Bruce, Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick, with the words "I mak sikkar" (I make sure). This has remained the Kirkpatrick family motto to this day, with its crest being a bloodied hand holding a dagger.
The action resulted in Pope Clement V excommunicating the Bruce, temporarily damaging his chances of the throne. He was crowned king the following year.
The Scottish clan descended from the Comyns is now known as Cumming.