Isabella of Mar

Isabella of Mar
Countess of Carrick
Isabella and Robert I of Scotland as depicted in the 1562 Forman Armorial.
Born	c. 1277 Kildrummy Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Died	12 December 1296 (aged 18–19) Manor of Cardross, Dunbartonshire (Present Argyll and Bute), Scotland, (Present UK)
Burial	Paisley Abbey
Spouse	Robert de Brus, Earl of Carrick
Issue	Marjorie Bruce
House	Clan Mar
Father	Domhnall I, Earl of Mar
Mother	Elen the Younger ferch Llywelyn

Isabella of Mar (modern Scottish Gaelic: Iseabail) (c. 1277 – 12 December 1296) was the first wife of Robert the Bruce and the grandmother of Robert II of Scotland, founder of the royal House of Stuart. She died before Robert was crowned King of Scots, and never became the Queen.

She was the daughter of Domhnall I, Earl of Mar and Helen (or Ellen) of Wales (1246–1295), the illegitimate daughter of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ("the Great") Prince of Wales; she had previously been the wife of Maol Choluim II, Earl of Fife. Her father was one of the seven guardians of Scotland who believed Robert Bruce to be the rightful King of Scotland. Despite the considerable risks, the Earl of Mar could foresee the advantage of the two families joining in marriage and bearing an heir to the throne, and the marriage of Isabella and Robert was arranged. Mar was the first to sign over the estates of his family to the Bruce.

Isabella was married to Robert at the age of 18 and legend has it that they were much in love. Shortly after their marriage Isabella became pregnant. She had a healthy pregnancy but she died soon after giving birth to a daughter, Marjorie Bruce in 1296. She is buried at Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire.

Robert married his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh, six years later. Isabella's daughter Princess Marjorie (died 1316) married Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and their son became Robert II of Scotland. From him descend the monarchs of the House of Stewart and the later royal families of the United Kingdom.

Ancestry

Family of Isabella of Mar

16. Morggán, Earl of Mar               8. Donnchadh, Earl of Mar                       17. Agnes               4. Uilleam, Earl of Mar                             2. Domhnall I, Earl of Mar                                   20. Richard Comyn               10. William Comyn, Lord of Badenoch                       21. Hextilda of Tynedale               5. Elizabeth Comyn                             22. Fergus, Earl of Buchan               11. Marjory, Countess of Buchan                       1. Isabella of Mar                                         24. Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd               12. Iorwerth ap Owain Gwyneddioew                       25. Gwladys ferch Llywarch               6. Llywelyn the Great                             26. Madog ap Maredudd               13. Marared ferch Madog                       27. Susanna ferch Gruffydd               3. Elen the Younger ferch Llywelyn

See also

• Clan Mar

Sources

• Felix Skene, editor, Book of Pluscarden, 1877
• John of Fordun