Patrick Dunbar, 6th Earl of Dunbar ★

1210s–1240s

Born around 1213, son of Patrick II, Earl of Dunbar, and Euphemia de Brus. Married Cecily, daughter of John FitzRobert of Warkworth, before 1240. Did homage to Henry III for his English lands in 1249.

1250s–1260s

In 1255 he helped oust the Comyns and was named Regent and Guardian of the young King and Queen of Scots, until the Comyns regained power by 1258. Commanded the left of the Scottish army at Largs in 1263 and founded a Carmelite house at Dunbar that year; sealed the Treaty of Perth in 1266.

1280s

Signed Princess Margaret's marriage contract with Eric of Norway in 1281 and attended the 1284 parliament at Scone. Died at Whittingehame on 24 August 1289 and was buried at Dunbar.

Family Background

Patrick was born around 1213, son of Patrick II, Earl of Dunbar, and Euphemia de Brus, descending through Patrick I and Waltheof back to Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria. His family controlled the feudal barony of Dunbar in East Lothian and dominated the Scottish Borders militarily for generations.

Political Power and Regency

Patrick performed homage to Henry III of England in 1249 for his English lands, and in 1255 helped engineer the dismissal of the powerful Comyn faction from the Scottish government, being named Regent and Guardian of the young King and Queen that same year. His ascendancy proved short-lived: by 1258 the Comyns had regained control and pushed him out of government.

Military and Diplomatic Career

Patrick commanded the left division of the Scottish army at the Battle of Largs in 1263, the same year he founded a Carmelite monastery at Dunbar. His seal appears on the 1266 Treaty of Perth, by which Norway ceded the Hebrides and the Isle of Man to Scotland, and he remained politically prominent into old age, signing the 1281 marriage contract between Princess Margaret of Scotland and Eric of Norway, and attending the 1284 parliament at Scone that declared Margaret heir to the Scottish throne.

Marriages and Children

Patrick married twice: first, before 1240, to Cecily, daughter of John FitzRobert of Warkworth; and later to Christiana, daughter of Robert de Brus "the Competitor," though some sources dispute whether this second marriage is accurately recorded. His children included his heir Patrick, who succeeded him as earl and played a prominent role in the succession disputes following Alexander III's death, along with sons John and Alexander and daughters Agnes and Cecily, the latter marrying James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland.

Death

Patrick died August 24, 1289, at Whittingehame, and was buried at Dunbar.