William Oliphant
Encyclopedia
Sir William Oliphant was a Scottish
Knight
and leader during the Wars of Scottish Independence
.
in 1296, where the Scots, under their king John Balliol
, were defeated by the invading English. Following the battle he was captured and taken to Devizes
in England where he was imprisoned. He was eventually released, and returned to Scotland where he was appointed to the position of Constable of Stirling Castle
. Sir William led the 30-strong garrison which defended Stirling Castle during the siege of 1304
, when the castle was attacked by the forces of Edward I of England
. He and his garrison eventually surrendered to the English. He was captured once again, this time being imprisoned in the Tower of London
.
He was once again released, and was appointed Governor of Perth
by Edward II of England
. Perth was subsequently captured by King Robert the Bruce
and Sir William was exiled to the Western Isles. By 1313 he had returned, and served under Bruce in the ongoing Wars of Independence. He was subsequently rewarded with lands at Gallery and also Newtyle in Angus
, and Gask in Perthshire
. He was also given the lands of Muirhouse
near Edinburgh in compensation for lands taken by John Balliol in Kincardineshire
.
Sir William Oliphant was one of the signatories to the Declaration of Arbroath
on 6th April, 1320 and his seal is still visible.
Sir William's tomb is in Aberdalgie
Churchyard, in Perthshire, within the site of the original church. The effigy of Sir William, covering the tomb was moved into the present church in 1907. It is made from "Tournai marble" (named after its place of origin, Tournai in Belgium). It is the finest example of its kind in Scotland. The design of the armour on the effigy of Sir William is said to date from circa 1365, some 36 years after his death. That his heir waited so long to have the effigy commissioned is curious. Sir William's son Sir Walter Oliphant of Aberdalgie married Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of King Robert the Bruce. It is the belief in the family that the tomb had been embellished by Sir William's son to house the remains of his own royal wife, Elizabeth. Their descendent was created Lord Oliphant
in 1455.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
and leader during the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
.
Biography
William fought at the Battle of DunbarBattle of Dunbar (1296)
The Battle of Dunbar was the only significant field action in the campaign of 1296. King Edward I of England had invaded Scotland in 1296 to punish King John Balliol for his refusal to support English military action in France.-Background:...
in 1296, where the Scots, under their king John Balliol
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
, were defeated by the invading English. Following the battle he was captured and taken to Devizes
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
in England where he was imprisoned. He was eventually released, and returned to Scotland where he was appointed to the position of Constable of Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
. Sir William led the 30-strong garrison which defended Stirling Castle during the siege of 1304
Sieges of Stirling Castle
There have been at least sixteen sieges of Stirling Castle, a strategically important fortification in Stirling, Scotland. Stirling is located at the crossing of the River Forth, making it a key location for access to the north of Scotland...
, when the castle was attacked by the forces of Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. He and his garrison eventually surrendered to the English. He was captured once again, this time being imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
.
He was once again released, and was appointed Governor of Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
by Edward II of England
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
. Perth was subsequently captured by King Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
and Sir William was exiled to the Western Isles. By 1313 he had returned, and served under Bruce in the ongoing Wars of Independence. He was subsequently rewarded with lands at Gallery and also Newtyle in Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
, and Gask in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
. He was also given the lands of Muirhouse
Muirhouse
Muirhouse is a district in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is west of Granton and the housing estates of East Pilton and West Pilton, and East of Davidsons Mains...
near Edinburgh in compensation for lands taken by John Balliol in Kincardineshire
Kincardineshire
The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns was a local government county on the coast of northeast Scotland...
.
Sir William Oliphant was one of the signatories to the Declaration of Arbroath
Declaration of Arbroath
The Declaration of Arbroath is a declaration of Scottish independence, made in 1320. It is in the form of a letter submitted to Pope John XXII, dated 6 April 1320, intended to confirm Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state and defending Scotland's right to use military action when...
on 6th April, 1320 and his seal is still visible.
Sir William's tomb is in Aberdalgie
Aberdalgie
Aberdalgie is a village in the Scottish council area of Perth and Kinross. It is located southwest of Perth, to the south of the B9112 road in Strathearn....
Churchyard, in Perthshire, within the site of the original church. The effigy of Sir William, covering the tomb was moved into the present church in 1907. It is made from "Tournai marble" (named after its place of origin, Tournai in Belgium). It is the finest example of its kind in Scotland. The design of the armour on the effigy of Sir William is said to date from circa 1365, some 36 years after his death. That his heir waited so long to have the effigy commissioned is curious. Sir William's son Sir Walter Oliphant of Aberdalgie married Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of King Robert the Bruce. It is the belief in the family that the tomb had been embellished by Sir William's son to house the remains of his own royal wife, Elizabeth. Their descendent was created Lord Oliphant
Lord Oliphant
Lord Oliphant is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It has been created twice; both creations are extinct. It was first created in 1456 for Laurence Oliphant, but this creation became extinct on the death of the fifth lord in 1631...
in 1455.