Robert Monro

Last updated

Robert Monro
Born1601
Rosshire, Scotland
Died1680
County Down, Ireland
AllegianceThirty Year's War: Scotland/Sweden

Bishop's Wars: Covenantor

Irish Confederate Wars: Covenantor
RankGeneral
Battles/wars Siege of Stralsund (1628)
Siege of Schivelbein
Siege of Neubrandenburg
Battle of Frankfurt an der Oder
Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)
Battle of Nördlingen (1634)
Siege of Spynie Palace
Siege of Drum Castle
Siege of Edinburgh Castle
Siege of Newry
Siege of Belfast
Battle of Benburb
Siege of Carrickfergus
Relations Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis (grandfather)
George Munro, 1st of Newmore (nephew)
Sir Robert Munro, 3rd Baronet (nephew)
Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis (cousin)

Robert Monro (died 1680), 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. [1]

Contents

Early life

Robert Monro was the second son of George Munro, 1st of Obsdale and grandson of Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis, chief of Clan Munro. [2] As a cadet of the Munro of Obsdale family, Robert is sometimes referred to as Robert Monro of Obsdale. [3] He was seated at Contullich Castle. [4]

Thirty Years War

Early Skirmishes

During the Thirty Years' War Robert Monro gained a lieutenancy in the regiment that was raised by Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay for services in the Bohemian army, along with his chief of a similar name, Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis. [2] On 10 October 1626 the regiment embarked from Cromarty and after a sail of five days arrived at Glückstadt on the River Elbe. [2] On 10 July 1627, a division of the regiment was sent to join their comrades who were stationed at a fortification in Boitzenberg, near Hamburg, where Monro had his first brush with the enemy. [5] The Scots after a desperate struggle gained a victory over an overwhelming force of their assailants although they themselves also had to retire, carrying with them their guns and ammunition. [5]

Monro next comes into notice at a severe engagement at the Pass in Oldenburg where he was wounded, receiving a wound to his own account, a "favourable mark" to the inside of the knee, while his partisan was broken in his hand by a cannonball. [5] Robert's elder brother John Munro, 2nd of Obsdale, distinguished himself highly on this occasion and escaped unhurt. [5] The Danes were defeated and had to retire however as they did so the Imperialists returned, this time mounted on cavalry. [6] Robert Monro realising the gravity of the situation resolved a plan to bring his men to safety. [6] Monro ordered his pike-men to advance steadily and charge the horsemen, whom they quickly forced over the shelving edges of the pier. [7] Monro and his men then escaped via ship to escape the Imperialists who had been reinforced by more cavalry. [7]

Siege of Stralsund

In 1628 Robert Monro, then a major, along with his cousin, Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis, both led their men at the Siege of Stralsund where they defended the town for six weeks against the Imperialists. [8] One such assault on the city was made on 26 June when Imperialist General, Albrecht von Wallenstein arrived on the scene. [9] The defenders having heard of his arrival expected a severe attack on their position. [9] The assault was made that night between ten and eleven o'clock, directed chiefly against the post guarded by the Highlanders under Major Monro. [9] The enemy advanced with above one thousand men and Highlanders were immediately called to arms, and after a severe battle which lasted for an hour and a half the Imperialists were driven back. [9] However the Imperialists returned and continued to attack until the next morning when they finally forced open the gate and managed to get inside the "outworks" but were finally beaten back by the Highlanders with great loss, with swords, pikes and butts of muskets. [9] The Imperialists retired having lost over a thousand men, while the Highlanders lost nearly two hundred. [9] Relief for the defenders came when Alexander Leslie arrived with contingents of Scots, Swedes and Germans from the Swedish army. [10] Leslie reorganised the defences and was made governor of the city. He used the Highland contingent in a spectacular assault on the enemy which finally broke the siege. As Monro recorded:

Sir Alexander Leslie being made governour, he resolved for the credit of his countrymen to make an out-fall upon the Enemy, and desirous to conferre the credit on his own Nation alone, being his first Essay in that Citie. [11]

After the siege Major Robert Monro was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. [9]

Siege of Schivelbein

In 1630, the MacKay and Munro Highlanders had marched to Schivelbein (Schiefelbein, now Świdwin) a small fortified place in Pomerania, known as Schivelbein Castle, in order to obstruct the passage of the Austrians, who were advancing for the relief of Kołobrzeg. [12] They were commanded to hold the town as long as possible and to defend the castle or fort to the last man. [12] How well they fulfilled this task an eloquent Latin Ode tells us, printed in front of Monro's Memoirs and bearing the title: "Schiefelbeinum urbs et arx Marchiae Brandenburgicae a generoso Domino Roberto Munro bene defensae". The five hundred Highlanders under Monro are said to have withstood a siege from an enemy of 8000 Imperialists [12]

Siege of Neubrandenburg

In January 1631, the King accompanied by Colonel Monro, proceeded to besiege Neubrandenburg (New Brandenburg). [13] The Highlanders soon stormed the palace and forced the defenders to retire from the town. [13] The defending Austrians then sent a messenger to ask for a truce, which was granted. [13] The garrison which according to Monro was a "brave little band of five hundred horse, and twelve hundred foot, being as complete to look at as you wish", allowed to "march out with bag and baggage, horse and foot, with full arms and a convoy to Havelburgh. [13] The Swedish King left a small garrison in the town and the army proceeded on its way. [13]

Frankfurt and Leipzig

Robert Monro later fought at the Battle of Frankfurt on the Oder, [14] and the Battle of Breitenfeld in Leipzig in 1631, [15] where the Scots and Swedes took victory on both occasions. [14] [15] However the Swedish army was later defeated at the Battle of Nördlingen (1634), Robert Monro survived and returned to Scotland. [16] He returned to Swedish service in May 1637 with fresh recruits. [17]

Bishops Wars

Robert returned to Scotland about 1638, and took part in some of the early incidents of the Bishops Wars against Charles I and also in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in service of the Scottish Covenanters. During the Bishops' Wars, in 1638 Dalkeith was won by Monro with 500 men, [18] and in 1639 Monro was with Alexander Leslie when he captured Edinburgh Castle. [19] General Robert Monro laid siege to the fortified Spynie Palace forcing Bishop John Guthrie to surrender to his forces. [20] This marked the end of Spynie Palace as a seat of power, which had been home to the Bishops of Moray for over 500 years. [21] [22] Also in 1640 General Monro laid siege to Drum Castle of the royalist Clan Irvine which was surrendered after two days and also occupied Huntly Castle of the Clan Gordon, along with a captain called James Wallace. [23] [24] Monro also led the forces that left Inchdrewer Castle, the family seat of George Ogilvy, 1st Lord Banff, in ruins. [25]

Irish Confederate Wars

Rebellion in Ulster

In 1642 he went to Ireland, nominally as second in command under Alexander Leslie, but in fact, in chief command of the Scottish army sent to put down the Catholic Irish rebels who had massacred Scottish settlers in Ulster during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. [26] Monro's campaign in Ireland was largely confined to the northern province of Ulster. After taking and plundering Newry in April 1642, and ineffectually attempting to subdue Sir Phelim O'Neill, Monro succeeded in taking prisoner the Earl of Antrim who was Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim at Dunluce Castle. [26] [27]

The arrival of Owen Roe O'Neill in Ireland strengthened the cause of the rebels, now organised in Confederate Ireland, and Monro, who was poorly supplied with provisions and war materials, showed little activity. [26] Moreover, the English Civil War was now creating confusion among parties in Ireland, and the king was anxious to come to terms with the Catholic rebels, and to enlist them on his own behalf against the parliament. [26] The Earl of Ormonde, Charles's lieutenant-general in Ireland, acting on the king's orders, signed a cessation of hostilities with the Catholic Confederates on 15 September 1643, and exerted himself to despatch aid to Charles in England. [26]

Conflict in Ulster

Monro's strategy was just as ruthless and no measure was spared in his campaign against O'Neill. The conflict led to thousands of innocent people being killed on both sides. O'Neil waged a guerilla-type offensive in Ulster, whereas Monro, superior in numbers systematically destroyed castles and villages throughout the land. Some accounts tell of him laying waste to Antrim and Down in what we would now call a "scorched earth policy". Monro attacked and took Newry in 1642 and took Belfast in 1644. After taking Newry Robert Monro then raised the Siege of Coleraine, a town which later became the centre of military activities and the headquarters of Major Daniel Munro during the coming years. [26]

Belfast is seized

Monro in Ulster, holding his commission from the Parliament of Scotland dominated by the Covenanters, did not recognize the armistice, and his troops accepted the Solemn League and Covenant, in which they were joined by many English soldiers who left Ormonde to join him. In April 1644 the English parliament entrusted Monro with the command of all the forces in Ulster, both English and Scots. He thereupon seized Belfast, made a raid into the Pale, and unsuccessfully attempted to gain possession of Dundalk and Drogheda. In response, the Irish confederates sent an armed expedition to Scotland to join the Scottish Royalists there under James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. [26]

Battle of Benburb

Monro's force was weakened by the necessity of sending troops to Scotland to withstand Montrose. [26] Meanwhile, Owen Roe O'Neill was strengthened by receiving supplies from the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Giovanni Battista Rinuccini. [26] On 5 June 1646 the Battle of Benburb was fought, on the Blackwater, where O'Neill routed Monro, inflicting over 2000 dead on the Scottish force but allowing him to withdraw in safety to Carrickfergus. [26]

Conflict at Carrickfergus

In 1647 Ormonde was compelled to come to terms with the English parliament, which sent commissioners to Dublin in June of that year. [26] Monro supported the royalist "Engager" movement and sent men under the command of his nephew George Munro, 1st of Newmore back to Scotland to support the Engagers against the English Parliamentarians. Meanwhile, the Scots under Monro held out stubbornly at Carrickfergus and refused to surrender Carrickfergus Castle and Belfast. They were besieged by the forces of George Monck. [26] In September 1648 Carrickfergus was delivered over to Monck by treachery: a number of Monro's officers were divided and some aided the parliamentary commander Monck, and as a result, Monro was taken prisoner. [26] He was committed to the Tower of London, where he remained a prisoner for five years. [26] In 1654 he was permitted by Oliver Cromwell to reside in Ireland, where he had estates in right of his wife, who was the widow of Hugh Montgomery, 2nd Viscount Montgomery of Ardes. [26] Monro continued to live quietly near Comber, County Down, for many years, and probably died there about 1680. [26]

Family

Robert Monro married after 1642 Lady Jean Alexander, daughter of William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling and Janet Erskine, and widow of Viscount Montgomery. He is known to have at least two children:

  1. Andrew Monroe, a colonel who was killed at the Siege of Limerick (1690). [28]
  2. Ann Monro, who married her cousin, George Munro, 1st of Newmore. [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven</span> Scottish military officer and peer

Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven was a Scottish military officer and peer. Born illegitimate and raised as a foster child, he subsequently advanced to the rank of field marshal in Swedish Army, and in Scotland became Lord General in command of the Army of the Covenanters, a 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). Leslie served in the Thirty Years' War, the Bishops' Wars, and most of the English Civil War, fighting primarily in the First English Civil War. Leslie would live a long life, dying roughly at the age of 80 or 81.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark</span> Scottish cavalry officer

David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark was a Scottish military officer and peer. During the Thirty Years' War, he joined in the Swedish Army in 1630 and served under Alexander Leslie. Returning to Scotland in the final days of the Bishops' War, Leslie fought in the English Civil War and Scottish Civil Wars on the side of the Covenanters and Royalists. After the Stuart Restoration, Leslie was raised to the peerage of Scotland as Lord Newark by Charles II of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chanonry of Ross</span>

Castle Chanonry of Ross, also known as Seaforth Castle, was located in the town of Fortrose, to the north-east of Inverness, on the peninsula known as the Black Isle, Highland, Scotland. Nothing now remains of the castle. The castle was also known as Canonry or Chanonrie of Ross, the former county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Leslie</span> Lowland Scottish clan

Clan Leslie is a Lowland Scottish clan. The progenitor of the Clan, Bartolf, was a nobleman from Hungary, who came to Scotland in 1067. He built a castle at Lesselyn, from which the clan name derives.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Stralsund (1628)</span> 1628 siege during the Thirty Years War

The siege of Stralsund was a siege laid on Stralsund by Albrecht von Wallenstein's Imperial Army during the Thirty Years' War, from 13 May 1628 to 4 August 1628. Stralsund was aided by Denmark and Sweden, with considerable Scottish participation. The lifting of the siege ended Wallenstein's series of victories, and contributed to his downfall. The Swedish garrison in Stralsund was the first on German soil in history. The battle marked the de facto entrance of Sweden into the war.

Sir George Munro of Culcairn was a Scottish soldier of the 18th century from Ross-shire, Scotland. He commanded the 3rd Independent Highland Company from 1714 to 1716, fought at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719, led the 6th Company in formation of the "Black Watch" in 1725, the 8th Company of Black Watch when it was regimented in 1739 and again commanded an Independent Highland Company in 1745–46. He was shot in error in 1746.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Munro, 1st of Newmore</span> Scottish soldier and member of parliament

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, 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.

Contullich Castle was a castle located a few miles north-west of the town of Alness, on the eastern side of the county of Ross-shire, Scotland.

Sir Robert Munro, 3rd Baronet of Foulis, 21st Baron and 24th chief of the Clan Munro was a 17th-century Scottish soldier and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Lisnagarvey</span>

The Battle of Lisnagarvey was fought on 6 December 1649, near Lisnagarvey during the Irish Confederate Wars, an associated conflict of the 1638 to 1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Forces loyal to the Commonwealth of England defeated an army supporting Charles II of England, composed of Royalists and Scots Covenanters.

Sir Hector Munro, 2nd Baronet of Foulis was a Scottish noble and clan chief of the highland Clan Munro. He is also by tradition the 20th Baron and 23rd overall chief of the clan. However, he is actually the 13th chief of the Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munro of Obsdale</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Munro</span> Highland Scottish clan

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Inverness (1562)</span>

The siege of Inverness Castle took place in 1562. When Mary, Queen of Scots, visited Inverness on 9 September 1562 the gates of the castle were shut in her face by Alexander Gordon upon the orders of George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, who was chief of Clan Gordon and Sheriff of the county. The castle was subsequently besieged by supporters of the Queen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Inverness (1649)</span> Scottish Civil War conflict

The siege of Inverness took place in 1649 as part of the 17th-century Scottish Civil War that was, in turn, part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Nithsdale</span>

Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Nithsdale, was a Scottish nobleman. He succeeded his brother as 10th Lord Maxwell in 1613, and was created Earl of Nithsdale in 1620. General of Scots in Danish-Norwegian service during the Thirty Years' War. A loyal supporter of Charles I and a prominent Catholic, he lost his titles and estates in 1645, dying on the Isle of Man in 1646.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotland and the Thirty Years' War</span>

There was a complicated involvement between Scotland and the Thirty Years' War of 1618–1648. Scotland and the Scots were heavily entangled in both the diplomatic and military events which centred on the Holy Roman Empire. There were a number of reasons for this participation.

The Munros of Kiltearn were a minor noble Scottish family and a branch of the ancient Clan Munro, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.They were seated at Kiltearn House which was a manor house that shared the same name of the parish it was situated in, Kiltearn. In Scottish Gaelic the Munros of Kiltearn are known as the Sliochd-Alastair-Mhic-Uistean. The most famous member of the Munro of Kiltearn family was Donald Monro, High Dean of the Isles.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ MacKay. (1885). An Old Scots Brigade. Edinburgh. Quoting: Monro, Robert. (1637). Monro, His Expedition with the Worthy Scots Regiment. London.
  2. 1 2 3 Mackenzie. pp. 210.
  3. ↑ "Monro, Robert [SSNE 94]". University of St Andrews . Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  4. ↑ Munro, R.W. (1987).
  5. 1 2 3 4 Mackenzie. pp. 211.
  6. 1 2 Mackenzie. pp. 212.
  7. 1 2 Mackenzie. pp. 213.
  8. ↑ Mackenzie. pp. 215 - 216.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mackenzie. pp. 217 - 219.
  10. ↑ Steve Murdoch and Alexia Grosjean, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish Generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648 (London, 2014), pp.47-51.
  11. ↑ Monro, His Expedition, I, pp.77-78 cited in Steve Murdoch and Alexia Grosjean, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish Generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648 (London, 2014), p.49
  12. 1 2 3 Mackenzie. pp. 223 - 224.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Mackenzie. pp. 224.
  14. 1 2 Mackenzie. pp. 225 - 226.
  15. 1 2 Mackenzie. pp. 227 - 228.
  16. ↑ Mackenzie. pp. 232.
  17. ↑ Murdoch and Grosjean, p.87
  18. ↑ History of Tantallon Castle electricscotland.com. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  19. ↑ Robert Monro - British Civil Wars british-civil-wars.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  20. ↑ Mackenzie. pp. 240.
  21. ↑ Robert Monro - Spynie Palace Archived 30 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine mysteriousbritain.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  22. ↑ Spynie Palace & Mary, Queen of Scots marie-stuart.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  23. ↑ Domestic Annals of Scotland - Reign of Charles I. 1637 electricscotland.com. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  24. ↑ Huntly Castle and the 2nd Marquis - ScotWars scotswars.com. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  25. ↑ Lewis (1846), p. 111
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Chisholm 1911.
  27. ↑ Mackenzie. pp. 243 - 248.
  28. ↑ Mackenzie. pp. 263.
  29. ↑ Mackenzie. pp. 264.

Bibliography

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Munro, Robert"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 10–11.; Endnotes:

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.