Alexander Seton (military)

Sir Alexander Seton († around 1348 ) was a Scottish military, diplomat and courtier.

Origin and changing attitudes during the First Scottish War of Independence

Alexander Seton came from the Seton family , who had possessions east of Edinburgh since the late 12th century . In 1308 he joined Robert Bruce , who had risen as Robert I to King of Scots during the Scottish War of Independence in 1306. In 1309, however, Seton switched sides and fought on the English side. Presumably he wanted to remain in possession of his goods, which were in Lothian , which was still under English control . During the Battle of Bannockburnhe ran over to the Scots on the night of July 23rd to 24th, 1314 and informed them of the inadequate leadership and bad morals in the English camp. This encouraged Robert I to face the English for open battle the next day.

Counselor, courtier and diplomat in the service of Robert I.

After the Scottish victory in the battle, Seton quickly became one of Robert I's closest advisers. In 1317 the king appointed him Steward of the Royal Household . In September 1317, together with the Earl of Dunbar, he unsuccessfully besieged the important border town of Berwick . In August 1328 he became steward of the underage David , the heir to the throne. Between 1317 and 1320 Seton served several times as negotiator in armistice negotiations with the English. In 1320 he sealed with the Declaration of Arbroath . 1328 he was a member of Parliament that in Edinburgh the peace with England approved. Seton received from the king land holdings at Tranent , Myles , Elphinstone and Falside in Haddingtonshire , as well as land holdings at Barns and Haddington . In addition, the king raised his property at Seton to the rank of a free barony, while he gave the city of Seton the status of a Burghal .

Role during the Second Scottish War of Independence

Before January 1328 Seton became the commandant of Berwick. During the Second Scottish War of Independence , his son Alexander was killed in action at Kinghorn in 1332 . During the siege of Berwick in 1333, his son William died while repelling an attack by an English fleet. Then the English besiegers hanged his third son, Thomas , who had served as a hostage, in front of the Scottish garrison. After the victory of the English at the Battle of Halidon Hill and the surrender of Berwick, Seton switched sides in the battle against the English despite the loss of his sons. In 1334 he took part in a parliament of the aspirant to the throne, supported by England, Edward Balliol . When the Scots gained the upper hand in the fight, he changed sides again and swore allegiance to his former protégé David II.

Descendants

Seton had outlived all of his sons. His heiress became his granddaughter Margaret Seton .

Web links

CA McGladdery: Seton, Sir Alexander (dc 1348). In: Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Harrison (Eds.): Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , from the earliest times to the year 2000 (ODNB). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, ISBN 0-19-861411-X , ( oxforddnb.com license required ), as of 2004

Individual evidence

^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 319.
^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 399.
↑ Michael Penman: Robert the Bruce. King of the Scots . Yale University Press, New Haven 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-14872-5 , p. 182.
^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 427.
^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 366.
^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 400.
^ Ranald Nicholson: Edward III and the Scots. The formative Years of a Military Career . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1965, p. 83
^ Ranald Nicholson: Edward III and the Scots. The formative Years of a Military Career . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1965, p. 126.
^ Ranald Nicholson: Edward III and the Scots. The formative Years of a Military Career . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1965, p. 152.

personal data
SURNAME	Seton, Alexander
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Seton, Sir Alexander
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Scottish military, diplomat and courtier
DATE OF BIRTH	13th Century
DATE OF DEATH	around 1348

[1] Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 319.

[2] Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 399.

[3] Michael Penman: Robert the Bruce. King of the Scots . Yale University Press, New Haven 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-14872-5 , p. 182.

[4] Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 427.

[5] Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 366.

[6] Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 400.

[7] Ranald Nicholson: Edward III and the Scots. The formative Years of a Military Career . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1965, p. 83

[8] Ranald Nicholson: Edward III and the Scots. The formative Years of a Military Career . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1965, p. 126.

[9] Ranald Nicholson: Edward III and the Scots. The formative Years of a Military Career . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1965, p. 152.