Robert the Bruce - King of Scotland
http://www.scottishweb.net/articles/6/1/Robert-the-Bruce---King-of-Scotland/Page1.html
By Scotland Editor
Published on 12 February 2008
Robert the Bruce led his Scottish army to victory at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Scottishweb looks at the story behind his struggle to gain the throne of Scotland. From troubles and murder in Scotland to the looming threat from England, Robert the Bruce was embroiled in Scotland's fate.
The turn of the 14th century was a time of change and turmoil in Scotland. The English king Edward I, the "Hammer of the Scots", had reduced Scotland to a vassal state. In 1297 William Wallace had defeated the English army at the battle of Stirling Bridge, and became Guardian of Scotland, but not for long...
The turn of the 14th century was a time of change and turmoil in Scotland. The English king Edward I, the "Hammer of the Scots", had reduced Scotland to a vassal state. In 1297 William Wallace had defeated the English army at the battle of Stirling Bridge, and became Guardian of Scotland, but not for long...
Scottish History - Robert The Bruce
The turn of the 14th century was a time of change and turmoil in Scotland. The English king Edward I, the "Hammer of the Scots", had reduced Scotland to a vassal state. In 1297 William Wallace had defeated the English army at the battle of Stirling Bridge, and became Guardian of Scotland, but not for long. The Battle of Falkirk on 22nd July saw Wallace defeated by Edwards army, and he fled underground, after resigning the position of Guardian so recently bestowed upon him. Two men then became joint Guardians - John ' the Red ' Comyn and Robert the Bruce - until 1300 when the place of Robert the Bruce was taken by Ingram de Umfraville.
John Balliol, the uncle of John ' the Red ' Comyn, was technically king of Scotland from 1292-1296, but had surrendered Scotland to Edward I in 1292, and with the royal arms stripped from his coat, he became known as 'Toom Tabard' or 'Empty Coat'. He went into exile, and it was also this man who William Wallace was attempting to restore as King of Scotland. So Robert the Bruce, after the death of his father in 1304, found himself in competition for the Scottish throne with the Comyn/Balliol family.
Wallace evaded capture for years, until finally in 1305 he was betrayed and captured as he slept by a well in Robroyston, near Glasgow. He was tried for treason and brutally executed on the 24th August 1305, after seven years in hiding. After the trial, he was taken to Smithfield, and subsequently hung, drawn and quartered, then beheaded. As a warning to all others, the ruthless King Edward I sent the body parts of William Wallace to Berwick, Stirling, Perth and Newcastle to be put on display. His head was impaled on a spike on London Bridge.
William Wallace inspired many men in his time, with his courage and brilliant military tactics. Robert the Bruce was inspired by him as well. In 1302 Bruce had submitted to the English in exchange for a pardon, partly because at that time, and with Wallace on the run, he could not see the point in fighting for an independent Scotland if it meant his rivals, the Balliol/Comyn family, would be on the throne. However, following the execution of Wallace, everything changed.
Bruce knew that if he was to realise his claim on the Scottish throne, he had to eliminate his biggest problem in order to clear the path for him to rule. The problem was John 'the Red' Comyn, the nephew of the exiled Balliol. Comyn was powerful, he had influence and many powerful allies and friends. Bruce knew he had come to a cross-roads. He must come to an agreement with Comyn, in the shape of a proposal which outlined Bruce's plan to become king. Under Bruce's plan, Bruce would give his lands to Comyn, in return for his support in making Bruce king. A meeting was set for 10th of February 1306, at Greyfriars, a Franciscan church in Dumfries. Comyn agreed to come and listen to Bruce's proposal.
The two men met at the alter of the church and when Comyn heard Bruce's proposal, he was enraged. So enraged in fact, that a heated argument was ignited between himself and Bruce. This filled Bruce with anger, and in the heat of the moment he reached for his dagger and thrust it into John Comyn, killing him on the spot. Sir Robert Comyn, John's uncle, rushed to defend his nephew and was killed by Bruce's followers.
With that killing, Robert the Bruce had placed himself in a vulnerable position, and changed the history of Scotland. In his temper he had killed a well-respected noble, and worse still, killed him in a church. He knew that he was now under threat from Comyn's kinsmen, as well as being an outlaw for the murder. He was also excommunicated from the church by Pope Clement V for the murder of Comyn. Nevertheless, on the 25th of March, 1306, a mere six weeks after the killing, Robert the Bruce was crowned king of Scotland in Scone palace.
Things were only to turn from bad to worse for King Robert the Bruce, including being outlawed by Edward I, hunted under Edwards command by the brother-in-law of Comyn, Aymer de Valence, defeated by him in a battle at Methven, and nearly being captured at Tyndrum by more of Comyn's kinsmen.
He sent his family to Kildrummy Castle in Aberdeenshire for safety, but by September, his wife and daughter were in prison, his brother Neil had been hung and beheaded, and his sister Mary and Countess Isabella put in cages. Bruce then travelled from Kintyre to the island of Rathlin, just off the Irish coast. His movements are unknown after that until his return to Scotland in February 1307. It was during this uncertain time that tales of Bruce were abound, including many that were innaccurate or just fanciful talk of a leader by inspired followers. These stories included the famous observation by Bruce of a spider while hiding in a cave. Bruce was said to have watched the spider persistently attempt to bridge a gap at the mouth of the cave. The spider failed in its first two attempts, but was successful on the third. This, allegedly, inspired Bruce, and no doubt many of his supporters.
After returning to Scotland in February 1307, Bruce was aware of his position and the strength of the English army, coupled with the followers and kinsmen of Comyn. He knew that the only way to succeed was to conduct a guerilla war, with the intention of frightening and demoralizing the forces allied against him. However, several important victories followed for Bruce. He defeated John Mowbray's forces in Glen Trool, Galloway, by ambush.
More important still, he defeated Aymer de Valence at Loudon Hill near Kilmarnock, even though he was greatly outnumbered, and then the Earl of Gloucester shortly afterwards. It must have seemed as though things just couldn't have gone better for Bruce, but they were about to take a significant turn. The news that Bruce, as well as many others, had been hoping for finally came to pass - King Edward I - the 'Hammer of the Scots' - was dead.
John Balliol, the uncle of John ' the Red ' Comyn, was technically king of Scotland from 1292-1296, but had surrendered Scotland to Edward I in 1292, and with the royal arms stripped from his coat, he became known as 'Toom Tabard' or 'Empty Coat'. He went into exile, and it was also this man who William Wallace was attempting to restore as King of Scotland. So Robert the Bruce, after the death of his father in 1304, found himself in competition for the Scottish throne with the Comyn/Balliol family.
Wallace evaded capture for years, until finally in 1305 he was betrayed and captured as he slept by a well in Robroyston, near Glasgow. He was tried for treason and brutally executed on the 24th August 1305, after seven years in hiding. After the trial, he was taken to Smithfield, and subsequently hung, drawn and quartered, then beheaded. As a warning to all others, the ruthless King Edward I sent the body parts of William Wallace to Berwick, Stirling, Perth and Newcastle to be put on display. His head was impaled on a spike on London Bridge.
William Wallace inspired many men in his time, with his courage and brilliant military tactics. Robert the Bruce was inspired by him as well. In 1302 Bruce had submitted to the English in exchange for a pardon, partly because at that time, and with Wallace on the run, he could not see the point in fighting for an independent Scotland if it meant his rivals, the Balliol/Comyn family, would be on the throne. However, following the execution of Wallace, everything changed.
Bruce knew that if he was to realise his claim on the Scottish throne, he had to eliminate his biggest problem in order to clear the path for him to rule. The problem was John 'the Red' Comyn, the nephew of the exiled Balliol. Comyn was powerful, he had influence and many powerful allies and friends. Bruce knew he had come to a cross-roads. He must come to an agreement with Comyn, in the shape of a proposal which outlined Bruce's plan to become king. Under Bruce's plan, Bruce would give his lands to Comyn, in return for his support in making Bruce king. A meeting was set for 10th of February 1306, at Greyfriars, a Franciscan church in Dumfries. Comyn agreed to come and listen to Bruce's proposal.
The two men met at the alter of the church and when Comyn heard Bruce's proposal, he was enraged. So enraged in fact, that a heated argument was ignited between himself and Bruce. This filled Bruce with anger, and in the heat of the moment he reached for his dagger and thrust it into John Comyn, killing him on the spot. Sir Robert Comyn, John's uncle, rushed to defend his nephew and was killed by Bruce's followers.
With that killing, Robert the Bruce had placed himself in a vulnerable position, and changed the history of Scotland. In his temper he had killed a well-respected noble, and worse still, killed him in a church. He knew that he was now under threat from Comyn's kinsmen, as well as being an outlaw for the murder. He was also excommunicated from the church by Pope Clement V for the murder of Comyn. Nevertheless, on the 25th of March, 1306, a mere six weeks after the killing, Robert the Bruce was crowned king of Scotland in Scone palace.
Things were only to turn from bad to worse for King Robert the Bruce, including being outlawed by Edward I, hunted under Edwards command by the brother-in-law of Comyn, Aymer de Valence, defeated by him in a battle at Methven, and nearly being captured at Tyndrum by more of Comyn's kinsmen.
He sent his family to Kildrummy Castle in Aberdeenshire for safety, but by September, his wife and daughter were in prison, his brother Neil had been hung and beheaded, and his sister Mary and Countess Isabella put in cages. Bruce then travelled from Kintyre to the island of Rathlin, just off the Irish coast. His movements are unknown after that until his return to Scotland in February 1307. It was during this uncertain time that tales of Bruce were abound, including many that were innaccurate or just fanciful talk of a leader by inspired followers. These stories included the famous observation by Bruce of a spider while hiding in a cave. Bruce was said to have watched the spider persistently attempt to bridge a gap at the mouth of the cave. The spider failed in its first two attempts, but was successful on the third. This, allegedly, inspired Bruce, and no doubt many of his supporters.
After returning to Scotland in February 1307, Bruce was aware of his position and the strength of the English army, coupled with the followers and kinsmen of Comyn. He knew that the only way to succeed was to conduct a guerilla war, with the intention of frightening and demoralizing the forces allied against him. However, several important victories followed for Bruce. He defeated John Mowbray's forces in Glen Trool, Galloway, by ambush.
More important still, he defeated Aymer de Valence at Loudon Hill near Kilmarnock, even though he was greatly outnumbered, and then the Earl of Gloucester shortly afterwards. It must have seemed as though things just couldn't have gone better for Bruce, but they were about to take a significant turn. The news that Bruce, as well as many others, had been hoping for finally came to pass - King Edward I - the 'Hammer of the Scots' - was dead.