Robert The Bruce - Family and Descendants

Family and Descendants

Bruce's legitimate children were, with his first wife Isabella of Mar:

• Marjorie, married Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, their son became King Robert II.

With his second wife Elizabeth de Burgh:

• Margaret, married William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland between 2 August and 28 September 1345. Had son, John (1346–1361).
• Matilda (Maud), married first to Thomas Isaac, secondly to Richard de Kelso, fifth feudal lord of the Free Barony of Kelsoland.
• David II, who as a child succeeded his father to the throne.
• John, born October 1327 and died young. Buried in Restenneth Priory.

Bruce also had six acknowledged illegitimate children:

• Sir Robert, died 1332 at the Battle of Dupplin Moor;
• Walter, of Odistoun on the Clyde, who predeceased his father;
• Margaret, married Robert Glen, alive in 1364
• Elizabeth, married Sir Walter Oliphant of Aberdalgie
• Christina of Carrick, alive in 1329
• Nigel of Carrick, died 1346 at the Battle of Neville's Cross.

Their mothers are unknown, although there is the slight possibility that a Christian of Carrick, mentioned by Barbour as assisting Bruce's campaign, was the mother of the last two.

Bruce's family also included his brothers, Edward, Alexander, Thomas, and Neil, his sisters Christina, Isabel (Queen of Norway), Margaret, Matilda, and Mary, and his nephews Donald II, Earl of Mar and Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray.

Bruce's descendants include all later Scottish monarchs (except Edward Balliol whom Bruce loyalists would regard as a usurper) and all British monarchs since the Union of the Crowns in 1603. A large number of families definitely are descended from him but there is controversy about some claims.