Neil de Brus

Neil de Brus was the young brother of Robert the Bruce, King Robert I of Scotland. He was born around 1279 in Carrick, Ayrshire, Scotland, and was the son of Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annadale, and Marjorie of Carrick, Countess of Carrick.

 

Neil de Brus supported his brother Robert in gaining the crown of Scotland and fought in the First War of Scottish Independence.

After Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scotland, weeks after murdering John Comyn, he fled to Ireland. Many of his supporters wound up at Kildrummy Castle, where Neil de Brus commanded the garrison. Robert's wife, Elizabeth, daughter Marjorie, and three of his sisters also went to Kildrummy Castle seeking protection.

In 1306, English forces arrived at Kildrummy Castle seeking Robert the Bruce's wife, where Neil de Brus and his garrison held off the English long enough for the women to escape. The women would soon be captured in the chapel of St Duthac at Tan in Ross after being betrayed to the English by William II, Earl of Ross.

The English soon overwhelmed the Kildrummy Castle, and Neil de Brus was captured and taken to Berwick, where he was charged with high treason and executed by being hanged, drawn, and quartered in September of 1306.