Scotland's Past    -> Famous Persons -> Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce (1274 - 1329)

Robert the Bruce or Robert I - it is the same man, the man who was crowned King of Scotland and made Scotland independent again after the submission of the English kings, who had ruled for several years.

Fact file:
Born 1274
Battle of Stirling Bridge, September 1297
Execution of Wallace, August 1305
Murder of John Comyn, February 1306
Coronation, 25th March, 1306
Battle of Methven, June 1306
Escape to Rathlin, September 1306
Return to Carrick, February 1307
Battle of Bannockburn, 23rd - 24th June 1314
The Pope acknowledges Bruce as King of Scots, January 1324
England acknowledges Bruce as King of Scots, 4th May 1328
Death, 7th June 1329

Robert the Bruce was born in Scotland on 11th July 1274. His father was a lord, and the family owned lands in both Scotland and England. As a child he enjoyed playing the leader of an army made up of his brothers and sisters. One day his grandfather was watching him playing, picked him up and said to him: "Perhaps one day you will lead an army. Never forget that you are descended from the old Scottish kings. The destiny of the Bruces lies in Scotland. By rights we should be its kings."
When Robert was a young man King Edward I of England captured King John of Scotland, brought him to the Tower of London, and Edward became king, the Overlord of Scotland.

Robert supported Wallace, when Wallace was defeated Robert swore loyalty to Edward I in 1305, but a year later he wanted to become King of Scotland. He invited John Comyn, one of the other noblemen, to meet him at Greyfriars Church of Dumfries. Robert made John an offer of more land, and promised that John would become one of the greatest men in Scotland - and Robert would become king. John Comyn refused and was murdered by Robert.

Robert the Bruce had close friends who helped him - the Bishop of Glasgow, the Bishop of St. Andrew and Sir James Douglas. A few weeks later on 25th March 1306 Robert went to the Abbey of Scone where the kings of Scotland had been crowned for centuries. Robert was now the king of Scotland, but the English King ruled his kingdom.

Robert was beaten in a battle at Methven, near Perth in June 1306. King Edward captured Robert's family and Robert himself had no army and had to flee to the island of Ratlin off the coast of Ireland in September 1306. He returned in February 1307 and fought Edward I and stormed the castles that were held by the English.

King Edward I died but his son Edward II kept up the war. In June 1314 it culminated in a big battle at Bannockburn. The English King arrived with a huge army. The battle lasted two days but Robert won and was now King of Scotland.