Sir Robert de Thweng, Lord of Kilton

Sir Marmaduke Tweng was an English knight from Yorkshire who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

He fought on the English side at the Battle of Stirling Bridge and the Battle of Bannockburn. He achieved some fame at Stirling Bridge by a heroic escape. Over 100 English knights had been trapped, together with several thousand infantry, on the far side of the river, and were being slaughtered by the Scots. Tweng managed to fight his way back across the bridge and he thus became the only knight of all those on the far side of the river to survive the battle.

At Bannockburn, however, after the English defeat, Sir Marmaduke apparently made no attempt to escape. Instead he wandered over the battlefield until he located Robert the Bruce; only then was he prepared to surrender, and only to the victorious King. Robert recognised Sir Marmaduke and released him and Ralph de Monthermer, also captured, both without ransom, but not without first entertaining them at table.

Thwing [Thweng] familylocked
(per. 1166–c. 1234)
John Walker
https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/54514

Published in print: 23 September 2004
Published online: 23 September 2004

Also in this article

• Robert (I) of Thwing (d. in or before 1166)https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemoratio...

Robert de Thweng
Soldier
On the wall of the south aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey is the painted shield of Robert de Thweng (or Thwing). This shows "argent, a fess gules between three popinjays vert" (although the green colour of the birds has now turned to black). Earlier carved shields and later painted shields in the choir aisles and nave are traditionally those of benefactors who gave money towards the building of Henry III's new Abbey, constructed between 1245 and 1272. Although the nave is much later in date the scheme of remembering benefactors from the earlier reign was carried on. Robert (?1205-1268) of Kilton Castle in north Yorkshire, went on crusade with Richard, Earl of Cornwall, Henry III's brother in law, and led anti-Pope riots. His sons were Marmaduke and Richard.

Further reading for the Thweng family
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

OCCUPATION
Soldier

LOCATION
Nave

• Robert (II) of Thwing (d. 1172x99)
• Marmaduke (I) of Thwing (d. in or after 1234)