Andrew Moray

Each major claim carries one of three labels. established means supported by primary records, official bodies or several independent reliable sources. shared means the core fact is sound but sources disagree on details, dates or interpretation. traditional means widely repeated but not traceable to a primary or independent source.

Moray's story rests on English government records, chronicles and the Lübeck letter, the only surviving original document issued by the victors of Stirling Bridge. His date of birth and date of death are unknown. Some chroniclers' accounts of the battle, especially Blind Harry's, are much later and unreliable.

A northern noble

established Andrew Moray came from one of the leading families of northern Scotland. His father, Sir Andrew Moray of Petty, was Justiciar of Scotia, the senior royal judge north of the Forth. The family descended from Freskin, who received lands in Moray from David I in the 12th century. When Edward I invaded in 1296, father and son were captured after the Scottish defeat at Dunbar. The younger Andrew was imprisoned in Chester Castle.

The rising in the north

established Over the winter of 1296–97 Moray escaped from Chester and made his way home. In the first days of May 1297 he raised his standard at Avoch, the family castle on the Black Isle, and was quickly joined by supporters. In the same month Wallace began his rising in the south. The two rebellions began separately.

shared Sources disagree about how far Moray's campaign succeeded. Some accounts say he took Urquhart, Inverness, Elgin, Banff and Aberdeen by late summer; others record that he failed to take Urquhart from its English keeper, Sir William fitz Warin. Either way, his rising made the north of Scotland unsafe for the English. One historian described his actions as "the greatest threat to the English government".

Stirling Bridge

established Moray and Wallace combined their armies, besieged Dundee and then marched to Stirling, where an English army under John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, had to cross the River Forth by a narrow wooden bridge. The Scots waited until part of the English force had crossed, then attacked. Trapped in a loop of the river, the English vanguard was destroyed, and many men drowned trying to escape. The English treasurer of Scotland, Hugh de Cressingham, was killed. Moray was mortally wounded.

The Lübeck letter

established On 11 October 1297, a letter was sent from Haddington to the mayors and merchants of Lübeck and Hamburg, telling them that Scottish ports were open again for trade. It was issued in the names of "Andrew de Moray and William Wallace, leaders of the kingdom of Scotland and the community of the realm". It is the only surviving original document issued by the victors of Stirling Bridge. In 1999 it was brought back to Scotland and displayed at the National Museum of Scotland.

shared Historians debate whether Moray was still alive when the letter was written. Wallace may have included his name to honour his wounded or dead comrade.

Death and memory

established Moray's date and place of death are unknown, but most historians believe he died of his wounds around November 1297. An English inquest at Berwick in November 1300 recorded that he had been "slain at Stirling against the king". His son, also Andrew, was born in May 1298 and later became Guardian of Scotland. There is no national monument to Moray to match the Wallace Monument; in 2009 the MSP Murdo Fraser called for a national debate about one. Moray is commemorated by a cairn and plaque at the site of the castle at Avoch.

• Andrew Moray escaped from Chester Castle.
• His rising began at Avoch on the Black Isle.
• His rising began separately from Wallace's.
• He and Wallace jointly commanded the Scots at Stirling Bridge.
• His name comes first on the Lübeck letter of October 1297.
• The Lübeck letter is the only surviving original document of the Stirling Bridge victors.
• His son was born after his death and later became Guardian of Scotland.
• There is no national monument to Andrew Moray.

• Do not describe Moray as Wallace's lieutenant; he was joint commander.
• Do not give a precise date of death; it is unknown.
• Do not say his rising was planned with Wallace's; they began separately.
• Do not list the northern castles he took as certain; sources disagree.
• Do not rely on Blind Harry's figures for Stirling Bridge.