{{Short description|Scottish noble}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} '''Neil de Brus''' (c. 1279 – September 1306), also '''Niall''' or '''Nigel''', was a younger brother of King Robert I of Scotland. Born at Carrick, Ayrshire, Scotland, he was a son of Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale and Margaret, Countess of Carrick. He supported his older brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland and fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence.
In 1306, he was captured by English forces at Kildrummy Castle, where he and his garrison held off Edward's forces who had been seeking Robert the Bruce's wife Elizabeth, daughter Marjorie, sisters Mary and Christina, and Isabella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan.<ref name=alba>[http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/warsofindependence/elizabethdeburgh/index.asp "Elizabeth de Burgh and Marjorie Bruce", Foghlam Alba] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711203416/http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/warsofindependence/elizabethdeburgh/index.asp |date=11 July 2015 }}</ref> Their actions enabled the women to escape, although the women were soon captured and betrayed to the English by William, 3rd Earl of Ross in the chapel of St Duthac at Tain in Ross.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tain Through the Centuries|publisher=Birlinn Limited|location=Edinburgh|date=2005|first1=R.|last1=Munro|first2=Jean|last2=Munro|url=https://www.scalan.co.uk/tainpilgrimage.htm|accessdate=11 July 2015}}</ref>
After his capture he was executed for high treason by being hanged, drawn, and quartered in September 1306 at Berwick-upon-Tweed.<ref name=alba/>
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brus, Neil De}} Category:1270s births Category:1306 deaths Neill Category:People of the Wars of Scottish Independence Category:People executed by the House of Plantagenet Category:People executed by the Kingdom of England by hanging, drawing and quartering Category:Executed Scottish people
{{Scotland-royal-stub}}