Another Damsel in Distress? Katherine Beaumont, a Disinherited noblewoman in fourteenth-century Scotland

On 30 November 1335 Katherine Beaumont, countess of Atholl, entered Lochindorb Castle, an island fortress in the Scottish Highlands.i On the same day, her husband, David Strathbogie, Disinherited earl of Atholl, was killed at the battle of Culblean against the forces of Andrew Murray, the Bruce guardian of Scotland.ii Katherine remained at Lochindorb until 15 July 1336, during which period she was besieged by Murray’s forces before being rescued by those of King Edward III of England.iii Modern historians of Edward have described his rescue of Katherine as a great chivalric exploit, yet the event is not well represented in the medieval chronicle narrative.iv Indeed, little is known about Katherine at all in comparison to other besieged noblewomen during the 1330s whose deeds were recorded far better. This chapter will reconsider Katherine Beaumont by discussing her time in Scotland and contextualising her experience alongside that of other women active in the Second Scottish War of Independence. It will also compare Katherine’s experience with historic and literary tropes to more fully understand depictions of this brief but important facet of the Anglo-Scottish conflict and Katherine’s role in it.