Andrew de Moray

Andrew de Moray was a member of the Anglo-Norman 'de Moravias' (de Moray) family. His family held the Castle of Avoch (Ormond Castle) and were supporters of the Scottish cause in the wars against Edward I of England. After the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296, Andrew and his father were taken prisoner.

Andrew escaped in the Spring of 1297 and raised his standard at his father's castle at Avoch to rally his forces for battle. He and his small army marched south and joined forces with William Wallace. The result was a resounding victory over the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Wallace and de Moray, calling themselves joint 'Commanders of the Army of the Kingdom of Scotland' then wrote to the merchants of Lübeck and Hamburg inviting them to re-open trading routes with Scotland. This very important letter, issued from Haddington on 11 October 1297, still exists and was returned to Scotland in 1999 for a three-month display at the new Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Andrew de Moray died from battle wounds shortly after he wrote the Lübeck letter. His son went on to support Robert the Bruce in the campaign for freedom. He is commemorated by a cairn and plaque at the castle site.

Andrew's son was also called Andrew, and he went on to fight with the same fierce patriotism as his father and grandfather. He joined Robert the Bruce and his fight for independence. Andrew's son later married Bruce's sister, Christina.

Picture: Andrew de Moray Cairn