William FitzWarin

William FitzWarin was an English knight active during the early stages of the First War of Scottish Independence. He is best known for his military service under King Edward I in Scotland and as the first recorded constable of Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.

While history does not record when or where William FitzWarin was born, nor the identity of his parents, by 1296, he had been appointed constable of Urquhart Castle by Edward I and assigned the task of holding it for the English crown. Situated on Loch Ness along the Great Glen, Urquhart Castle served as a key stronghold for controlling the region. As constable, FitzWarin led the castle garrison and kept a firm grip on the area.

In May 1297, as unrest in Scotland intensified, Reginald le Chen, the English sheriff of Inverness, summoned area leaders, including FitzWarin, to Inverness Castle for discussions about Andrew Moray, a Scottish rebel. After the meeting, while returning to Urquhart Castle, FitzWarin and his men were ambushed a few miles from Inverness by Scottish forces under Moray and Alexander Pilche. In the ensuing clash, several men and horses were killed; however, FitzWarin managed to escape and reach the safety of Urquhart.

The following day, responding directly to the ambush, Andrew Moray besieged Urquhart Castle and demanded its surrender. Refusing to relinquish the stronghold, FitzWarin stood firm. Moray failed to capture the castle by force, despite mounting a night raid, and ultimately lifted the siege. The arrival of the Countess of Ross, whose husband was imprisoned by Edward I in the Tower of London, may have influenced this decision.

Soon after the first siege, Urquhart Castle came under attack once again by Andrew Moray. This time, with limited supplies, the garrison was eventually starved into surrender.

William FitzWarin was present at the Battle of Stirling Bridge on September 11th, 1297, fighting for the English. He survived the defeat at the hands of the Scots under William Wallace. After the battle, he was appointed by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, as the constable of Stirling Castle, with Marmaduke Thweng as his deputy. Soon after, FitzWarin and Marmaduke surrendered Stirling Castle and were taken as prisoners to Dumbarton Castle. Later, FitzWarin was exchanged for Henry St Clair, Baron of Roslin, in a prisoner exchange.

FitzWarin married Maria de Ergadia (Mary of Argyll) sometime before 1299. Maria was William's second wife, and he was her fourth husband. William is known to have had three children: Alan from his first wife, and Robert and John. Robert was killed during the Siege of Urquhart Castle in 1297.

William FitzWarin died around 1299 and was buried at Greyfriars Monastery in London, rebuilt as Christ Church Greyfriars after the Great Fire of London. His wife, Maria, was buried beside him after her death in 1302.