Scottish Wars of Independence - Rise of Robert the Bruce

LEARNING INTENTIONS• Describe the events which helped Robert the Bruce

become King of Scotland

• Describe the problems that Bruce faced early in his reign as king

After the death of William Wallace, King Edward took control of Scotland, overcoming most opposition to him. Scotland’s lack of a national leader hindered

rebellion, until the rise of Robert the Bruce.

Robert the Bruce came from a prominent Scottish family.

Bruce’s family owned land in Scotland and

England. They also had family links to previous Scottish monarchs and his grandfather, Robert, was a candidate in the

Great Cause.

Bruce initially had a mixed role in the independence

campaign.

Bruce knew and had fought alongside Edward

(similar to many other Scottish nobles).

His family had also been angry at Edward’s failure

to give them the crown after Balliol's abdication.

With the death of Wallace, the two most prominent leaders in Scotland were

Robert the Bruce and John Comyn.

Both men were bitter rivals but agreed to meet

to discuss how to win Scotland’s independence,

and also who would become king.

Bruce and Comyn met in Greyfriars Church in

Dumfries on 10 February 1306.

Something caused a row between the men and

Bruce stabbed Comyn. One of Bruce’s men

apparently went to check that Comyn was dead, to

kill him if not.

Comyn’s killing was a disaster for Bruce.

It meant he would be excommunicated (thrown out) of the Catholic Church,

meaning he could not become king. It would

also make winning Scotland’s

independence harder to achieve.

Bishop Wishart of Glasgow believed that

Bruce was Scotland’s only hope, so he gave him

forgiveness on behalf of the Catholic Church.

He also persuaded Bruce that his only hope to unite

Scotland was to crown himself as the country’s

king.

On 25 March 1306, Bruce’s followers went to

Scone.

Although they lacked the Stone of Destiny, they

crowned Bruce as Scotland’s king, with the ceremony being carried out by the Countess of Buchan (John Comyn’s

cousin’s wife, who defied her husband).

There is a debate about whether Bruce planned to

kill Comyn, but it is unlikely he set out to kill his main rival in a church.

Many believe Bruce killed Comyn either because

Comyn would not back his plans, or because Comyn wanted to be Scotland’s

king.

Bruce was also angry at Edward’s treatment of him.

Bruce had been very supportive of Edward, long before Comyn was. However when Edward

began to give more power to Scotland – including

appointing its own sheriffs – it was Comyn’s men who

got these posts.

Bruce’s early period as king was not a successful one for him or Scotland.

He faced two main challenges: one, from

Edward, angry at various Bruce actions and, two, from supporters of John

Comyn.

Bruce began his reign by attacking Edward’s

troops in different parts of Scotland.

He won control of Cupar Castle in Fife

and also forced supporters of Comyn to

pay homage to him.

Cupar

King Edward, angry with Bruce’s actions, appointed Aymer de

Valance as his Special Luitentant in Scotland.

Valance was the brother-in-law of John Comyn and so desperate

to see action taken against Bruce.

Valance travelled through Fife, undermining much of

Bruce’s work.

Bruce planned to fight Valance but it almost

ended Bruce’s life. In June 1306 Valance’s men

attacked as Bruce’s army prepared camp in

Methven, and most of Bruce’s men were killed.

Bruce and the few survivors escaped and

travelled west. However they were attacked near Dalrigh by men led by John MacDougal of

Argyll.

MacDougal was related to John Comyn. The attack in August 1306 killed many of Bruce’s remaining men.

Bruce was now without many supporters. He sent members of his family to

Kildrummy Castle in the north east for their

protection, but they were betrayed and captured by

Valance’s forces.

Edward now planned to take firm action against

Bruce’s supporters.

Male supporters of Bruce, including his brother Neil,

were executed in the same way as William

Wallace.

Bruce’s wife and daughters were locked up, including

in nunneries. The Countess of Buchan was

locked in a hanging cage at Roxburgh Castle.

Bruce’s whereabouts in late-1306 and early 1307 are unknown.

Many believe he went to Ireland, or an island off the coast of Scotland.

Bruce was also given a nickname by the

English: King Hob (meaning King Nobody).

Bruce’s disappearance has led to a famous

story (which there is no evidence for).

Whilst hiding, Bruce is said to have a spider

trying to build its web, even though it kept

failing. He was said to be inspired by the spider’s actions to

return home and fight.