Benedict Munro, Baron von Meikeldorf

Last updated March 14, 2019

Sir Benedict Munro, Baron von Meikeldorf was a Scottish soldier of the English and Scottish Civil War who settled in Germany during the mid 17th century. [1] He is believed to have been born between 1615 and 1630. [1]

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Sharing a border with England to the southeast, Scotland is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, by the North Sea to the northeast and by the Irish Sea to the south. In addition to the mainland, situated on the northern third of the island of Great Britain, Scotland has over 790 islands, including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe, lying between the Baltic and North Seas to the north, and the Alps to the south. It borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France to the southwest, and Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west.

Benedict was the youngest son of Robert Munro, Commissary of Caithness, who in turn was the third son of John Mor Munro, 3rd of Coul, a descendant of George Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis. [2]

A commissary is a government official charged with oversight or an ecclesiastical official who exercises in special circumstances the jurisdiction of a bishop.

Caithness is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland.

George Munro of Foulis is traditionally the 10th Baron and 13th successive chief of the Clan Munro. However he is only the third successive chief of the clan who can be proved by contemporary evidence. He was the eldest son of Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis and was seated at Foulis Castle.

Benedict was in the prime of his life when he fought in the royalist army at the Battle of Worcester in 1651 against the army of Oliver Cromwell. The royalists were defeated, however Benedict escaped to Germany. [1] He grew to become Baron Benedict von Meikeldorf, lord of a petty German dukedom, the like of which once divided the country. In 1900 his descendants still held a baronial state there. [1]

The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England, and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian New Model Army, 28,000 strong, defeated King Charles II's 16,000 Royalists, of whom the vast majority were Scottish.

Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader. He served as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 until his death, acting simultaneously as head of state and head of government of the new republic.

One of Benedict's older brothers William Munroe was captured at the Battle of Worcester and deported to America where he became a successful land owner. [1]

William Munroe was a 17th-century Scottish soldier who later became a settler in the United States and a Freemason.

Related Research Articles

Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.

Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven Scottish soldier in Dutch, Swedish and Scottish service

Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven was a Scottish soldier in Swedish and Scottish service. Born illegitimate and raised as a foster child, he subsequently advanced to the rank of a Swedish Field Marshal, and in Scotland became Lord General in command of the Army of the Covenanters, privy councillor, captain of Edinburgh Castle, Lord Balgonie and Earl of Leven. In England he commanded the Army of the Solemn League and Covenant and was senior commander of the Army of Both Kingdoms (1642-1647).

Clan Grant is a Highland Scottish clan.

Robert Monro, was a famous Scottish General, from the Clan Munro of Ross-shire, Scotland. He held command in the Swedish army under Gustavus Adolphus during Thirty Years' War. He also fought for the Scottish Covenanters during the Bishop's Wars in Scotland and commanded the Scottish Covenanter army during the Irish Confederate Wars. He was the author of a diary recounting his military experiences during the Thirty Years' War, published as Monro, His Expedition With the Worthy Scots Regiment Called Mac-Keys.

Clan Leslie is a Lowland Scottish clan.

Clan Cochrane is a Lowland Scottish clan.

Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis, also known as the Black Baron, was traditionally the 18th Baron of Foulis in Scotland. He was a soldier of fortune, who served in Germany under the banners of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden. It is not certain how he got his epithet of the 'Black Baron', but quite possibly it was from the colour of his hair rather than any perceived martial ferocity. Although this Robert Munro is traditionally 18th Baron and 21st overall chief of the Clan Munro, he is only the 11th Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.

Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore (1602–1693) was a 17th-century Scottish soldier and member of parliament from the Clan Munro, Ross-shire, Scotland. He was seated at Newmore Castle. Between 1629 and 1634 Munro held command in the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War, and from 1642 in the Scottish Covenanter army during the Irish Confederate Wars before changing his allegiance to the Royalist cause of Charles I in 1648 during the Scottish Civil War and Irish Confederate Wars.

Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis (d.1588), and 18th chief of the Clan Munro was a 16th-century Scottish chief. He was known as Robert Mor on account of his large stature. He was the eldest son of Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis. Although this Robert Munro is traditionally 15th Baron and 18th overall chief of the clan, he is only the 8th Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.

Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis was a 14th – 15th century Scottish soldier and said to be 12th chief of the Clan Munro in the Scottish Highlands. Hugh was seated at Foulis Castle in Ross-shire, Scotland. Although Hugh is traditionally the 9th Baron and 12th overall chief of the clan, he is only the 2nd Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.

Robert Munro, 6th Baron of Foulis was the 8th traditional chief of the Scottish Highland, Clan Munro. Robert is said to have been the son of George Munro, 5th Baron of Foulis who he succeeded in 1269.

The Munros of Auchinbowie are a distinguished branch of the Scottish, highland Clan Munro. From this family three Professors of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland were produced, as well as several other doctors and military officers.

The Munros of Obsdale were a Scottish family and a cadet branch of the Clan Munro, a Highland Scottish clan. Their base was at Obsdale House, situated just north of the town of Alness in the Scottish Highlands. Some of the members of the Munro of Obsdale family were amongst the most distinguished Scottish military officers of the 17th century.

Clan Munro is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically the clan was based in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional origins of the clan give its founder as Donald Munro who came from the north of Ireland and settled in Scotland in the eleventh century, though its true founder may have lived much later. It is also a strong tradition that the Munro chiefs supported Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The first proven clan chief on record however is Robert de Munro who died in 1369; his father is mentioned but not named in a number of charters. The clan chiefs originally held land principally at Findon on the Black Isle but exchanged it in 1350 for Estirfowlys. Robert's son Hugh who died in 1425 was the first of the family to be styled "of Foulis", despite which clan genealogies describe him as 9th baron.

Glencairn's rising was a Royalist revolt in Scotland against the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell from 1653 to 1654. It was led by William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn (1610–64), who was given command of the Royalist forces in Scotland by Charles II. Initially successful it began to suffer divisions when John Middleton arrived to replace Glencairn as commander, resulting in a series of duels between officers. It was defeated when Thomas Morgan caught Middleton's army at Dalnaspidal on 19 July 1654. Although the rising was unsuccessful it forced a change of policy by the Cromwellian regime, which now looked for a reconciliation with former Royalists and Engagers.

John Munro, 2nd of Lemlair was a Scottish soldier who fought as a Colonel in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. His seat was at Lemlair House.

The Battle of Drumchatt, or Druim-a-Chait was a Scottish clan battle claimed by non-contemporary historians to have taken place in the year 1501 near Strathpeffer, in the Scottish Highlands. It was allegedly fought between the Clan Mackenzie and the Clan Munro. Mackenzie chronicles have claimed a signal victory.

References

1 2 3 4 5 Munro, James Phinney. (1900). A Sketch of The Munro Clan, also of William Munro who deported from Scotland settled in Lexington, Massachusetts, and some of his Posterity. Published in Boston. pp. 19 - 21.
↑ Mackenzie, Alexander. (1898). History of the Munros of Fowlis. pp. 342–347.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[MunroSketch-1] 1 2 3 4 5 Munro, James Phinney. (1900). A Sketch of The Munro Clan, also of William Munro who deported from Scotland settled in Lexington, Massachusetts, and some of his Posterity. Published in Boston. pp. 19 - 21.

[2] Mackenzie, Alexander. (1898). History of the Munros of Fowlis. pp. 342–347.