Andrew Murray

An often overlooked Hero



Andrew Moray (Anglo-Norman: Andreu de Moray; Latin: Andreas de Moravia), also known as Andrew de Moray, Andrew of Moray, or Andrew Murray.

William Wallace's war of liberation has captured the imagination, but in 1297 he was not alone. Andrew Murray led another northern rising against Edward I that has largely been forgotten.

Murray was the heir to three estates – Avoch, in the Black Isle, Petty in Inverness-shire and Boharm in Banffshire.

The son of a prominent noble, nephew of the rich and powerful William Murray of Bothwell, and related to the Comyn family that dominated northern Scotland, Murray was in an ideal position to drum up support for John Balliol.

After Edward's conquest of Scotland, he was captured along with most of Balliol's supporters. But, while on safe conduct to visit his father, who was imprisoned in London, he slipped his guards and escaped. Everyone was fighting for the return of John Balliol, but there were two kinds of supporters of Balliol.

Wallace drew much of his support from Balliol's rivals in the south-the Stewarts, the Douglas's, and even the young Robert Bruce. Murray's on the other hand mostly came from the Comyns in the north. So his rising may have started independently of Wallace's.

Arguably, Murray was the more successful. Starting at Avoch, Murray swept south and, with the help of the townsfolk of Inverness, captured Urquhart Castle.

Driving east, he drove out the English garrisons while his MacDougall allies cleared the west.

Wallace and Murray were able to overcome their differences, perhaps through a figure like Bishop Wishart who could put factional rivalry aside for the sake of independence.

Together, the two young men share the victors' laurels at Stirling Bridge.

The Lubeck Letter, which bears Murray's seal, describes them jointly as 'commanders of the army of the kingdom of Scotland, and the community of the realm'.

But for Murray the triumph was short-lived. Within another month he was dead of the wounds he had received at Stirling Bridge.

The Murray story doesn't end there, however, for he was survived by a son – another Andrew Murray, who in the 1330's was to save Scotland, and become Guardian. But, like his father, he is now forgotten.

A cairn at Avoch in the Black Isle marks where Andrew Murray's rising began.


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