John Comyn (Red Comyn)

Home > ... > History > Biographies > British and Irish History: Biographies > ...

John Comyn

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

John Comyn d. 1306, Scottish nobleman. He was called the Red Comyn, to distinguish him from his father, the Black Comyn. Aiding his uncle, John de Baliol , in the struggle against Edward I, he was for a time held hostage by the English. After the rout of the Scottish troops at Falkirk (1298), he was appointed one of the guardians of the realm. He renewed the struggle with Edward, but surrendered in 1304 on condition that he could retain his lands. He was murdered at Dumfries by Robert the Bruce (later Robert I ), probably because Robert feared him as a rival claimant to the throne. The name also appears as Cumming.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-ComynJ-Red" title="Facts and information about John Comyn (Red Comyn)">John Comyn (Red Comyn)</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"John Comyn." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 29 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"John Comyn." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 29, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ComynJ-Red.html

"John Comyn." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ComynJ-Red.html

Learn more about citation styles

Comyn, John

The Oxford Companion to British History | 2002 | | © The Oxford Companion to British History 2002, originally published by Oxford University Press 2002. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Comyn, John (d. 1303), known as the ‘Red Comyn’. A guardian (regent) of Scotland during the effective interregnum between Alexander III's death (1286) and John Balliol's accession (1292). Sometimes wrongly called the ‘Black Comyn’ by historians, he was in fact known to contemporaries as the ‘Red Comyn’, a title usually taken by the head of his family, the most influential baronial dynasty in 13th-cent. Scotland. He held the great Highland lordships of Badenoch and Lochaber, and estates in many other parts of Scotland. He helped to negotiate the treaty of Birgham and subsequently supported Balliol, his brother-in-law, as king of Scots. He submitted to Edward I in 1296, but had joined William Wallace by December 1297.

Keith J. Stringer

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O110-ComynJohn" title="Facts and information about John Comyn (Red Comyn)">John Comyn (Red Comyn)</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN CANNON. "Comyn, John." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 29 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Comyn, John." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (November 29, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-ComynJohn.html

JOHN CANNON. "Comyn, John." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-ComynJohn.html

Learn more about citation styles

Comyn, John

The Oxford Companion to British History | 2002 | | © The Oxford Companion to British History 2002, originally published by Oxford University Press 2002. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Comyn, John (d. 1306), known as the ‘Red Comyn’. Son and heir of John Comyn, he was a leading Scottish patriot, despite appearances to the contrary—not least his murder by Robert Bruce, the future king. A devoted supporter of his uncle King John Balliol, he remained steadfastly loyal after Balliol's enforced abdication, and served from 1298 as a guardian or regent of Scotland in Balliol's name. Though he had established himself as the most powerful political figure in Scotland, he was unable to halt Edward I's massive campaign against the Scots in 1304, when he and other Scottish leaders had to submit. John's murder by Bruce and his companions in the Franciscan church, Dumfries, has been variously interpreted. Most likely, it was provoked by his refusal to desert Balliol and support Bruce's bid for the throne.

Keith J. Stringer

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O110-ComynJohn1" title="Facts and information about John Comyn (Red Comyn)">John Comyn (Red Comyn)</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN CANNON. "Comyn, John." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 29 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Comyn, John." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (November 29, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-ComynJohn1.html

JOHN CANNON. "Comyn, John." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-ComynJohn1.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related topics

  Edit this list

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Comyn on trail of silver suedehead
Newspaper article from: The Independent - London; 1/22/1997; ; 700+ words ; ...disappearing beneath a red shirt. If that happens...different matter. Comyn, the Staffordshire...Conference part-timer, Comyn could afford to let...was the high point in Comyn's roller-coaster...Liverpool. Marking John Barnes. "My first...
POISON HORROR OF HIT MOVIE WRITER; SCOTTISH EXCLUSIVE Author fights for life after eating deadly mushrooms.(News)
Newspaper article from: Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland); 9/2/2008; 700+ words ; ...Sir Alastair became chief of the clan Cumming, or Comyn, six years ago. The Comyns are directly descended...the Conqueror. One of Sir Alastair's ancestors, John Comyn, known as The Red Comyn, was killed by Robert the Bruce in 1306 as the Comyn...
Football: Bolton catch Reds napping; Liverpool Res . . . . . . . . . 1 Bolton Res . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.(Sport)
Newspaper article from: Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England); 10/26/2004; 545 words ; ...second half, and skipper John Welsh missed a penalty as the Reds rallied after the break...deflection. Bolton defender Comyn-Platt then bundled Smyth...Livesey, Talbot, Laville, Comyn-Platt, Whitehead...CAPTION(S): PEN MISS: John Welsh
A crime of passion?
Newspaper article from: The Scotsman; 11/30/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...enmity of the powerful Comyn faction and a loss...caused by the slaying of Comyn because of a legal...ashamed of the act. John Barbour, who wrote...that Bruce had lured Comyn to the church to kill...Robert the Bruce met "Red" Comyn at the church...
Was the Bruce really English?; MILLENNIUMLIFE : He united a nation after destroying the English at Bannockburn, but Robert the Bruce may not have been a true Scot.(Features)
Newspaper article from: Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland); 2/13/1999; ; 700+ words ; ...chance to seize the throne came after John Balliol abdicated in 1296, following...Peace was kept when Robert and John "The Red" Comyn were appointed joint guardians of...secretly work with Scottish rebels, but John Comyn tipped off Edward about the...
Controversy is the destiny of this Stone.
Newspaper article from: The Daily Mail (London, England); 2/15/2006; 700+ words ; ...candidate for the throne, The Red Comyn. They had arranged to meet...Tony.' But Bruce and Comyn couldn't agree. So Bruce...misdoubt me so I have slain the Comyn.' 'I'll mak siccar...former Nationalist leader John Swinney has steam coming...
Take a trot into the past
Newspaper article from: The Scotsman; 6/27/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...life, from the murder of Red Comyn to the Declaration of Arbroath...between the warring Bruce and Comyn Scottish factions. On the...by Peter Brears. Built by John Adam for a dashing young...visitors the chance to see red squirrels and some of the...
Village's age-old story of unrequited love and war
Newspaper article from: Evening News - Scotland; 2/25/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...short of admirers. Sir John Segrave was a commander...Sir Simon Fraser and Sir John Comyn who then found the resistance...been decided that, whilst Comyn was to be given the title...dead made the burns run red with blood and originated...
Subject is stronger than technique in `Place of Weeping'
Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 3/13/1987; ; 700+ words ; ...Tokkie Van Rensburg Charles Comyn Father Eagen Norman Coombes...Tokkie Van Rensburg (Charles Comyn), who lords over his black...does underscore in bloody red letters the urgent stage...t see this film; see a John Hughes movie. And you can...
England call-up for Williams.(Football)
Newspaper article from: Birmingham Evening Mail (England); 3/30/1999; ; 700+ words ; ...with Hednesford Town defender Andy Comyn, in tonight's game against the...Subs: Gothard (Dag & Red), Comyn (Hednesford), Charles (Hayes...Nuneaton), Fishlock (Yeovil). JOHN McGRATH hauled himself out of retirement...

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: