Sir Andrew Leslie, 3rd Baron of Balquhain (1380-1419)
1380--1419 (man)
Sir Andrew Leslie, 3rd Baron of Balquhain
Birthdate: cirka 1380
Birthplace: Leatherhead, Surrey, Scotland
Death: Died 20 januari 1419 in Braco, Scotland
Cause of death: Killed at Braco
'The Wicked Laird of Balquhain', and the story goes as follows:
"On the west bank of the River Urie, almost directly opposite the battlefield of Harlaw, stands a lonely ruined tower. It is the castle of Balquhain, ancient home of the Leslies, now derelict and forgotten, but in times past, the very mention of its name struck terror in all who lived in the Garioch."
"The family settled in Aberdeenshire in the twelfth century, when one Bartolf (Bartholomew), received a grant of the lands of Leslie, from which they eventually took their name. The Leslies were a wild and lawless family, wielding great power and exercising their feudal rights relentlessly over their wide domains."
"The most notorious member of the family was, perhaps, Sir Andrew Leslie, 3rd of Balquhain. Known throughout the Garioch as 'Red Andrew', he bowed to no authority and did exactly as he pleased, terrorising the countryside for miles around. 'Red Andrew' devoted his entire life to fighting his neighbours, the Forbeses, only interrupting this self-appointed task to take part in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, when, it is said, he was accompanied by eleven of his sons (they say 6 elsewhere), all of whom were killed. This brief diversion over, Leslie returned to his tower and continued with his life's work - the extermination of the Forbeses." (Life was so much simpler in those days! No mortgage, global warming, baggage handler strikes, international finance problems etc etc to worry about!)
"Sir Andrew lived for rapine and bloodshed (we all have our hobbies I suppose!), and when the word went round the Garioch - 'Balquhain's out' - there was a hasty gathering in of stock, barring of doors and shuttering of windows. Wives and daughters had to be hidden too, for, although 'Red Andrew' was married to gentle Isobel Mortimer (daughter of Bernard Mortimer) of Craigievar, he liked a pretty face, and no woman was safe from his clutches." (Continued next photo) | |
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