ID: I41772
Name: John III Comyn
Given Name: John III
Surname: Comyn
Suffix: Lord of Badenoch
Nickname: The Red
Sex: M
_UID: 134C33C4307CD811BE490080C8C142CC0921
Change Date: 31 Dec 2004
Note:
John Comyn, nicknamed "Red" Comyn, (died 10 February 1306) was a Scottish nobleman and royal Competitor. His father, another John Comyn, was known as the "Black" Comyn.

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.

Birth: ABT 1269
Death: 10 FEB 1305/6

Father: John Comyn b: BEF 1281
Mother: Alianore de Baliol b: ABT 1246

Marriage 1 Joan de Valence b: ABT 1269
Married:
Children
Elizabeth Comyn b: 1 NOV 1299
Joan Comyn