Origins and Journey to Prominence
Following Norway's defeat by King Alexander III of Scotland in the Battle of Largs in 1263, the Boyds were rewarded with lands in Cunningham, comprising of areas of what is now North and East Ayrshire. Sir Robert Boyd emerged as a hero from the battle after his successful leadership of the Scots against Norwegians at the Gold Berry Hill skirmish, near Largs.
Some 30 years later in 1290, Sir Robert is said to have been hanged alongside many other Scottish nobles, including other members of the Boyd family and Wallaces in atrocities committed at Ayr by Edward I of England and his men.
Afterwards, his son (also Sir Robert, d. 1296) joined with William Wallace in his fight for Scottish independence against Edward I, where he deputised as leader of the Scots army in Wallace's absence and took part in a revenge attack on the English forces. He is mythologised in Blind Harry's epic poem The Wallace where he is described as 'wys' (wise) and 'wicht' (strong).