5 robert bruce

Robert the Bruce

Background

• 1297: Bruce rebels against Edward I – but submits at Irvine.

• 1298/1300: Joint Guardian with Comyn of Badenoch.

• c. Feb 1302: Bruce submits to Edward I to protect lands and the ‘right’.

• 1303-04: Aids English reconquest of Scotland – but Edward does not trust him. Clear to Bruce that Edward will not give him the crown.

• 11 Jun 1304: Cambuskenneth Bond – Bishop Lamberton of St Andrews to aid each other in future “urgent enterprises”.

Big Questions

What side is Bruce on?

– He plays a double game – sides with those that serve his interests both – he is brought up to believe that one day he will be King.

– Bruce is distrusted by both sides.

Murder in the Church

Murder

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Comyn, John Balliol’s nephew, practically ruled most of northern Scotland.

Since Edward Balliol had shown no interest in the Scottish throne (at this point), Comyn was seen to be the favoured claimant on the throne Bruce controlled most of the south west and central lowlands of Scotland.

Neither could effectively rule Scotland without the consent of the other.

Murder

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So Robert invited his rival to a meeting at Greyfriars Abbey in Dumfries in 1306 (10 February).

We don’t know what the two men had planned for the meeting The fact that it is in a Church is significant – neither party should have been bearing arms It is possible that the discussion was regarding a trade – the right to wear the crown for the other’s land

Murder

Murder

Murder

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What actually happened at the meeting is unclear, but at some point Robert lost his temper and stabbed Comyn.

• It meant that Robert was an instant criminal.

• Worse, Bruce was now excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

• This caused Robert to lose a lot of support in the south and most of the north of Scotland.

Murder

However, Bruce got word that Comyn wasn’t dead and sent two of his followers to finish him off.

Murder

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After the murder – Bruce rushed off to Bishop Wishart of Glasgow Wishart absolved Bruce for his sins but he made Bruce agree to a deal Bruce had to agree that the Church would have a special position in an independent Scotland with regards to taxes etc

Murder

In order to prevent himself from being arrested Robert rushed to get himself crowned at Scone.

• This was a political move: as king he could not be arrested for the murder of Comyn.

• He was inaugurated by Bishop Wishart and the Countess of Buchan.

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Early Defeats

Edward’s Reaction

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Edward was by no means happy at hearing of yet another rebellion – esp. since it was Bruce Edward confiscated all of Bruce’s lands, executed three of his brothers and captured his wife and sister at Kildrummy Castle, placing them in a wooden cage.

By June 1306, Bruce’s small army had been destroyed by Sir Aymer de Valence’s English army at Methven, near Perth.

Edward’s Reaction

The Countess of Buchan was captured and placed in a steel cage which was hung from the castle at Roxburgh

Campaigns Kildrummy Bruce’s brother and family are captured after the castle is betrayed Defeat

Dalry Bruce is defeated and flees Scotland Defeat

Kirkintilloch Wishart pays for siege engines; Bruce captures the castle Kirkintilloch VICTORY Carrick Bruce and his two brothers try to win back their castle. His brothers are captured and executed Defeat

Couper

Couper captured

by Bishop Wishart VICTORY Methven Woods Bruce is surprised and defeated Defeat

King Hob (King Nobody)

Big Questions

• We aren’t sure where Bruce went to during the winter of 1306-07

Some argue that he hid on Skye, raising troops from the enemies of the MacDougal clan

Others argue that he hid in Orkney

He could have spent time in Ireland – his father-in-law was Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster

He might have hid on Rathlin – a small island north of Ireland

Big Questions

No-one knows why Bruce returned – it might have been that he had no other place to go, or because his family were being held by Edward I

Return of the Bruce

Return of the Bruce

• Bruce arrived back in Feb 1307 • He goes straight to his Earldom in Carrick and recaptures his castle at Turnberry

Return of the Bruce After gaining more support from his tenants, Bruce established a camp at GlenTrool forest

From here, Bruce defeated an English patrol that had been sent to look for him

Return of the Bruce

Big Questions Bruce continued his march northwards and encountered Valance’s army for a second time – at Loudoun Hill on 10 May 1307

This time, Bruce chose his ground carefully and forced Valance’s cavalry to fight in a narrow stretch of land – making them useless

Return of the Bruce

Return of the Bruce

• After this defeat, Valance fled to Bothwell • Bruce followed this victory up with another over the Earl of Gloucester’s army • Gloucester similarly retreated to Ayr • This causes Edward I to gather his army and march north

Edward I’s March to the North

Big Questions

• Bruce’s victories spurred up support for his cause amongst the Scots • However, Edward I was not as healthy as he once was – he was very frail and ill.

Big Questions Edward never made it to Scotland – he died 7 miles from the border on 7 July 1307

Big Questions • As he died, Edward I made his son, the future Edward II, promise that he would continue with the invasion • However, he decided to take his father’s body to Richmond and leave it with the Archbishop of York • During the time it took to get to Richmond, Bruce moved his army north • Edward II could not be bothered to chase Bruce’s army • His army went back south and Edward arranged his marriage and coronation

Bruce’s Civil War

Civil War

• When Bruce killed Comyn, he started something that all the Guardians before him sought to avoid – civil war • After the failed English invasion, Bruce had to focus on defeating the Comyn faction and win the allegiance of the Scottish nobility

Civil War

• Bruce moved North to attack the Comyn heartland

Civil War Bruce began by destroying Nairn Castle

Failed to capture Duffas Castle in Elgin twice

Bruce’s forces met Buchan for a second time at Inverurie

At Banff, Bruce fell ill. Edward Bruce led the army against the Earl of Buchan – Buchan forced Edward Bruce to retreat to Huntly

Robert Bruce managed to seize Balvenie Castle and Duffas Castle (Elgin)

Civil War

• The precise date of the battle of Inverurie is not known – either 24 March or 23 May 1308 • Bruce was once again ill before this battle, but he was strapped to his horse and led his army into battle

Civil War

After the battle, Bruce ordered his army to lay the entire Earldom of Buchan to waste This would have taken weeks to complete – anyone who supported the Comyns were killed

Civil War

• Bruce sent Sir William Douglas to Galloway and the borders to attack the enemy castles • They defeated the Macdowell clan and captured Douglas Castle

Civil War

• In March 1309, Bruce held his first parliament in St Andrews • King Philip IV of France officially recognised Bruce as the King of Scotland over John Balliol and invited him to go on crusade • The Bishops proclaimed publically Bruce’s right of succession, granted him remission of his sins and issued a declaration of approval of his kingship • This showed how much of Scotland supported Bruce – but many powerful nobles were not present

Civil War

• The civil war was effectively over in 1309 – but the war with England began to resume • In 1309 and 1310, Edward II raised an army to march from Berwick into Scotland • However, Bruce did not engage Edward’s army – this really annoyed him • Instead, Bruce carried out several raids across the border – this proved that Edward could not protect his own subjects

Civil War

• With these victories, the castles which were still in English hands began to fall – – – – – –

Dundee in early 1312 Perth in January 1313 Dumfries in February 1313 Isle of Man in May 1313 Linlithgow in September 1313 Edinburgh and Roxburgh fell in early 1314

Civil War

• Only two castles remained: Stirling and Berwick • Edward Bruce had been conducting a siege of Stirling Castle • He made an agreement with the commander Sir Philip Moubray – He would surrender the castle to Bruce if Edward II did not relieve the castle by midsummer day 1314

Reasons for Bruce’s Success

Reasons for Success

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Death of Edward I – Edward had been the driving force behind English opposition.

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Edward II had little or no interest in continuing the conflict.

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Robert proved to be an excellent commander .

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Robert rewarded his followers by giving them large grants of land taken from his enemies.

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Robert took the brave decision to destroy Scottish castles rather than risk them falling into the hands of the English.

Reasons for Success

• Roberts’s enemies in Scotland may have been powerful, but they were located in isolated areas. Thus, they couldn’t support each other.

• Bruce quickly controlled Moray, allowing him internal lines of communication.

• The Scottish Church supported him and Bishop Wishart claimed fighting the English was the equivalent of going on a crusade.

• Bruce gained important foreign aid through Aberdeen.

• As long as Bruce controlled the north he had a reservoir of manpower and a place to escape.