General Notes

Comyn, John
Related: United Kingdom History Biographies

d. 1306, Scottish nobleman. He was called the Red Comyn, to distinguish him from his father, the Black Comyn. Aiding his uncle, John de Baliol , in the struggle against Edward I, he was for a time held hostage by the English. After the rout of the Scottish troops at Falkirk (1298), he was appointed one of the guardians of the realm. He renewed the struggle with Edward, but surrendered in 1304 on condition that he could retain his lands. He was murdered at Dumfries by Robert the Bruce (later Robert I ), probably because Robert feared him as a rival claimant to the throne. The name also appears as Cumming.



Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2004

John Comyn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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.