Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis

Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis (died April 1633), also known as the Black Baron, is traditionally thought to have been the 18th Baron of Foulis in Scotland. He was a soldier of fortune, who served in the Holy Roman Empire under the banners of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden. It is not certain how he got his epithet of the 'Black Baron'; it may have been from the colour of his hair rather than any perceived ferocity. Although this Robert Munro is traditionally 18th Baron and 21st overall chief of the Clan Munro, he is only the 11th Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.

Other Munros

Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis is often confused with his more famous cousin Robert Monro of the Munro of Obsdale branch of the same clan, who died sometime around 1675/1680, and also served in the Swedish army in this period, writing a famous history on his exploits. During the Thirty Years' War of 1618–1648 there were as many as 27 field officers and 11 captains with the name of 'Munro' in the Swedish army.

Youth in Scotland

While still very young, in 1603, Robert became the 18th Baron of Foulis, after the death of his father Hector Munro, 17th Baron of Foulis. Being a minor, he was by dispensation and special warrant from James VI of Scotland, dated 8 January 1608, served heir male and provision to his father, all of the lands of Easter Fowlis.

He married Margaret Sutherland, daughter of William Sutherland, 9th of Duffus on 24 November 1610.

At a meeting of the Privy Council held on 27 March 1612, a commission was granted to Robert Munro of Foulis, along with others, including Alexander Gordon, brother of John Gordon, 13th Earl of Sutherland, John Munro of Lemlair, George Munro of Tarlogie and Andrew Munro of Novar for the apprehension of two men charged with stealing from George Munro of Tarrell, and bringing the alleged thieves before the Council to be delivered to the Justice for trial. He used the mixed Highland and Lowland contingent in a spectacular assault on the enemy which finally broke the siege. Robert Monro recorded:

Sir Alexander Leslie being made governour, he resolved for the credit of his countrymen to make an out-fall upon the Enemy, and desirous to confer the credit on his own Nation alone, being his first Essay in that Citie.

Battle of Breitenfeld

In 1631 the Scottish brigades in the Swedish main (Crown) army marched to Leipzig, while other Scots and English units served with James 3rd Marquis Hamilton in an auxiliary British Army guarding the rear of the army.

Robert Munro's successful military career came to an end when during one of the many skirmishes of the Thirty Years' War he was wounded in the right foot by a musket ball while crossing the Upper Danube river with Swedish troops. He was carried to Ulm, Germany, where his wound was dressed, but soon fell into a low fever and died in March 1633, aged about forty-four years. This concurs with 19th-century historian Alexander Mackintosh-Shaw's account that Lachlan Mor Mackintosh's daughter, Marjory, married Munro of Foulis.

Robert Munro was succeeded by his brother, Sir Hector Munro, 1st Baronet of Foulis who was made a baronet by King Charles I. Hector continued to command his brother's old infantry regiment in Germany, but it was disbanded very soon after.