Titles


• Robert Bruce(1274 to 1329), Earl of Carrick, one of the seven Celtic earldoms of Scotland. Crowned King of Scots in 1306. Descended indirectly from King William the Lyon of Scotland. Spent early part of life in court of Edward 1 of England, after Bruce lands were dispossesed by King John Baliol. Eliminated life rival to the throne John Comyn (The Red) by murdering him at the altar of Greyfriar's Kirk in Dumfries.


Marriage


• Married twice. Isabella of Mar, died in childbirth leaving him one daughter Marjory Bruce. Later married Elizabeth de Burgh of Ulster, one male heir David, later David II of Scotland. Marjory married Walter the Steward, whose son later became Robert II of Scotland, from this union was the Royal House of Stewart/Stuart descended and the current British royal family. Bruce also had a number of bastard children.


Allies


• Bruce's staunchest lieutenant was Sir James Douglas, son of Douglas 'Le Hardi'. Known as the Black Douglas, he was a brilliant guerilla fighter. The factor Isles Lamberton second was Thomas Randolph, the Earl of Moray, Bruce's nephew. Both played a key role at Bannockburn in 1314 and their raiding into the north of England was a key in bringing Edward 111 to the negotiating table. Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of the was an early supporter of the Bruce cause. Others include Sir Neil Campbell of Lochawe and Sir Andrew de Moray. Bishop William , primate of Scotland was also a close supporter.


Enemies


• Edward I, II and III of England. The first was called the Hammer of the Scots, the second hated Scotland as much as his father but lacked the other's will and the third later gained fame as the Black Prince. In the words of a Scottish poet Bruce 'outfaced three English kings and kept a people's faith.' Domestically the Comyns were the main family against Bruce although he had many other lesser enemies.


Warfare


• The period between 1291 and 1328 is described as the Wars of Independence. Sir William Wallace fought major engagements at Stirling Bridge and Falkirk. Bruce fought his first action at Methven in 1305 and lost heavily. After wandering in the Highlands and Islands, he began a series of brisk actions including Glen Trool, Loudoun Hill, the Harrying of Buchan, the Pass of Brander and culminating at Bannockburn in 1314, one of the great battles of all time. Raiding continued against the north of England until 1327. Bruce also fought in Ireland with his brother Edward, who for a time was King of Ireland.


Command


• Bruce was a great military leader and Bannockburn was a classic example of applications of the principles of war. He was also a great trainer of men and took great pains to know personally his veteran soldiers and their officers. It is understood he spoke some Gaelic in addition to Latin, Norman-French and the crude Inglis, forerunner fo modern English. Modern reconstructions of his face show him to have a very pronounced jaw and strong, noble features. His compassion and sense of humour are also well documented.


Legends


• The legend of Bruce's spider is the most famous. Bruce saw a spider in a cave try to spin its web a number of time and fail to succeed. It was eventually successful encouraging Bruce to continue his campaign against the English when his fortunes were at a low ebb. There are many stories that Bruce may have been a leper. This is untrue, Bruce fathered a number of children late in his life, none of them or his wife ever showed signs of the disease. It is more likely that he had syphilis, the 'disease of kings'.
  
  Bruce is also said to have slain Sir Henry de Bohun, the English champion on the first day of the Battle of Bannockburn. He faced the heavily armed knight on a light pony and killed him with one blow from his battle axe.
  
  Modern historians strongly dispute that de Bohun ever existed.


Freedom


• Bruce was a convert to the patriotic cause. In the 13th century Scotland and England were good friends before Edward I invaded and declared the country a vasaal kingdom in 1296. Anglo-Norman nobles held lands in both countries. The example of William Wallace, son of a Paisley knight, may well have inspired Bruce to do his duty by Scotland. He was only half Norman, his mother being the Celtic Countess of Carrick, which may also account for something.


Declaration of Arbroath


• In 1320 the Scottish nobility signed a declaration drawn up by Bishop Lamberton and other clergy. It is a long document but its most quoted lines may be translated as follows: "For so long as one hundred of us remain alive, we shall never in any wise submit to the domination of the English, for it is not for glory we fight, for riches or for honours, but freedom alone, which no good man loses but with his life."


Treaty of Edinburgh


• In 1328 Bruce, by now an old and stricken man, witnessed the culmination of a lifetime's work when England signed the treaty acknowledging Scotland's Independence. The next five hundred years would see both nations fight one another in more wars but never again would Scotland's very existance be denied. This is Bruce's true legacy. He was the best loved monarch in all Scotland's long and bloody history.


Braveheart


• It was Bruce's wish to go on a crusade against the Infidel, once Scotland was free, but he could not fulfil this pledge. Instead his heart was carried into battle in a leaden casket by James Douglas. Douglas died in battle hurling the casket into the heart of foe. It was brought back to Scotland by Sir Keith Graham of Gawliston and is now interred in Melrose Abbey. Bruce's remains are at peace in Dunfermline Abbey.


700 Years


• In 1997, some 700 hundred years after it was stolen by Edward I, the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland. According to legend, where lies the stone rests the destiny of the kingdom.


Date Update


• Two things related to dates.
  Wars of Independence dates are listed on the factfile as 1291 to 1328. The dates can vary according to your perspective, some view the start as the crowning of Baliol but Scotland was not in rebellion until 1296 and the Battle of Dunbar. So 1296 to 1328 would be more accurate. I have seen 1286 to 1329 given in addition to your 1291 to 1328.
  
  Others might argue the wars did not finish until 1334 with the death of the last Baliol claimant.