Sir Robert Keith, Marischal of Scotland
| Sir Robert Keith | |
|---|---|
| Died | 12 August 1332 Dupplin Moor, Scotland |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Scotland
|
| Commands held | Scottish cavalry at Bannockburn |
| Battles/wars |
Battle of Inverurie Battle of Bannockburn Battle of Dupplin Moor |
| Other work | Diplomat, again soldier |
Sir Robert Keith (died 11 August 1332) was a Scottish knight, diplomat, and hereditary Marischal of Scotland who commanded forces loyal to Robert Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn.
”Sir Robert Keith II, Keith Earl Marischals married Elizabeth Strachan, and had a son, Sir Robert Keith III (d. 1346) who married Elizabeth, the daughter of John Comyn, a potent man.”
Under Malcolm IV, the title Marischal of Scotland had been bestowed on Keith's ancestors, a title which became hereditary and was passed on from one Keith to the next. Robert Keith was the great-great-grandson of Hervey de Keith, great-grandson of Philip de Keith (d. c. 1225), the grandson of ... de Keith and the son of William de Keith (d. c. 1293), all his predecessors as Marischals. He took up a military career as a young man, but was also considered by other Scottish barons to be something of a leader, being appointed justiciary of the lands beyond the River Forth.
He was captured by the English in a skirmish near the River Cree in 1300, but was back in Scotland by 1308 and in March 1309 was present at Robert I of Scotland's first parliament at St Andrews.
Keith served as a relatively senior general with Bruce's army throughout the war, and, prior to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, was appointed co-leader of a reconnoitering force sent out to gather information about the army of King Edward II of England. During the battle itself, he commanded about 500 Scottish cavalry, although, like other Scottish knights, he may have fought dismounted.
Keith's force was drawn into combat with the English archers, who had in the past and would in later battles inflict heavy losses among the Scottish infantry. Keith and his men, however, flanked the archers and routed them.
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