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Birth:          ABT 1240 
Death:          1323 Delny, Scotland

Notes
familysearch.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_II,_Earl_of_Ross
William, Earl of Ross (Gaelic: Uilleam; died c. 1323) was ruler of the province of Ross 
in northern Scotland, and a prominent figure in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

William was the only child of William I, Earl of Ross and his wife Jean Comyn, 
daughter of William, Earl of Buchan. He succeeded to the earldom on the death of his 
father in 1274. In 1284 he joined with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged 
Margaret, Maid of Norway as the heir to the unfortunate Alexander III.[1] Following 
Margaret's death, he sided alternately with the Scottish and English interests. In 1291 
he paid homage to Edward I of England at Berwick recognising him as overlord of 
Scotland.[2] He was chosen as an auditor at the trial between John Balliol and Robert 
Bruce, when they competed before Edward to decide who would take the throne of 
Scotland.

William was one of the leaders of the Scottish army at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296, 
when Edward invaded Scotland to punish John Balliol for refusing to support the 
English invasion of France. After the Scottish defeat, he was captured by the English 
and sent to the Tower of London, where he remained until September 1303, when an 
order was issued for his escort to Scotland. He reached Perth in December, and 
stayed there with Edward, Prince of Wales until he was sent home in February. Later 
in 1304 he was with King Edward at Dunfermline, who bestowed upon him a horse, 
armour, and other presents, as well as appointing him Warden beyond the Spey.[2]

In 1306, Robert's wife Elizabeth, his daughter Marjorie, and other Bruce supporters 
took refuge from the advancing English army in the chapel of St Duthac at Tain in 
Ross, while on their way to the safety of Orkney.[3] However, William violated the 
sanctuary, and had them arrested and handed over to the English. They were sent as 
prisoners to England where two of the women were caged outdoors for four years, and 
the women were not liberated until 1312.[2][4][5]

This put William in a dangerous position when the Bruce revival began in the same 
year, 1306. He found himself being attacked by Bruce in the south, and by Lachlann 
Mac Ruaidhrí in the west. In 1308, Edward II wrote to him thanking him for his 
services and requesting further aid, but when Bruce came north, William submitted to 
him. William later wrote to Edward apologising for the truce with Robert, and 
requesting help to repel Bruce's invasion of Ross.[2]

Nevertheless, William is one of the eight earls whose name appears on the 
Declaration of Arbroath of 1320, which was sent to the Pope requesting he recognise 
Scotland's independence, which he did. William died three years later, at Delny in 
Ross. He had married a lady named Euphemia, who was likely the daughter of Sir 
Hugh de Berkeley, Justiciar of Lothian.[6] They had three sons and two daughters:[2]
Hugh, Earl of Ross
Sir John Ross, married Margaret Comyn, daughter of John, Earl of Buchan
Sir Walter Ross, killed at Bannockburn
Isabella Ross, married Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick
Dorothea Ross, married Torquil MacLeod of Lewis

Parents
ROSS William (ABT 1203 - May 1274)
COMYN Jean (ABT 1198 - ABT 1274)

Siblings
ROSS William II (ABT 1240 - 1323)

Marriage To DE BERKELEY [BARCLAY] Euphemia (ABT 1250 - )
    m.  

Notes


Children by DE BERKELEY [BARCLAY] Euphemia ABT 1250 - 
ROSS Hugh (ABT 1275 - 19 Jul 1333)

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