Robert the Bruce Biography

This is the story of Robert the Bruce, Scotland's most famous warrior king. Born on the 11th of July 1274 in Ayrshire, Robert the Bruce came from a long family of Robert the Bruces, who were all very powerful and very rich, what we call aristocratic. After King Alexander III fell off his horse and died, Bruce's grandfather believed he should be the next king of Scotland. Problem was, 12 different Scotsmen believed they should also be the next king. So to stop a war from outbreaking, they asked the English king, Edward I, to choose the next king for them. Edward I chose John Balliol. Some people say that Edward chose John Balliol because he was weak and easy to boss about. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised, look at him. Anyone who wears a hat like that does not deserve to be the king, I'm sorry. Robert the Bruce's dad, and Robert the Bruce, who was around 18 years old at the time, refused to support John Balliol. And instead he supported King Edward's invasion of Scotland, so that John Balliol would have to surrender. John Balliol was forced to give up the crown, and King Edward was now the ruler of Scotland. Yes, Bruce got rid of one rival, but he was now faced with another one. So he decided to support William Wallace's uprising against the English, so that King Edward would be defeated. Unfortunately for Bruce, Wallace was defeated at the Battle of Falkirk. Despite this, Bruce still had his eye on the crown. But so did many others, including John Comyn, who was John Balliol's nephew, and Robert the Bruce's greatest competitor to the throne. But Bruce was determined to become the king. In 1306, Bruce got into an argument with John Comyn at a church in Dumfries, before Bruce stabbed Comyn inside the church. The Pope banned Bruce from all churches because of his unacceptable behaviour. Now that Comyn was gone, Bruce was crowned the King of Scotland at Scone, the place where all Scottish kings were crowned. King Edward, now a very old man, was angry when he heard that Bruce had been crowned. He thought that the Scottish Wars of Independence were over when he executed William Wallace. He announced that anyone who fought against England would be beheaded, and anyone suspected of helping Bruce would be hanged. Eddie, calm down. Edward ordered Bruce's wife and sisters to be regarded as outlaws, which meant that anyone could rob or even kill them without any punishment. Bruce's wife and sisters fled to join Bruce in the mountains. It was a tough life, hunting for deer and fishing for food. They had little choice but to live in caves. Life got so rough that Bruce took his wife and sisters to a nearby castle, which belonged to Bruce's brother. Here, Bruce thought that he would be safe, but he was wrong. The castle was captured by King Edward's army, and Bruce's wife and sisters were taken prisoners where they lived in wooden cages. Three of Bruce's brothers were also executed. Things looked very bleak for Bruce, and a lesser man may have given up. But one night, as legend has it, Bruce sat in a cave and watched a spider spin its web. The spider failed, time after time, but it never gave up. Eventually, the spider spun all of its web. Bruce was inspired. A turning point came when Edward I died of old age. On his tombstone, it read, Hammer of the Scots. Edward I was replaced by his son, Edward II, but he was not the hammer his father was. People in Scotland hated Robert the Bruce because he killed John Comyn, but he was inspired by the spider, and he got up, he gathered his support, and he took Scottish castle after Scottish castle back off from the English. Before Bruce could capture Stirling Castle, the English had had enough. In June 1314, King Edward II sent the largest army England had ever produced to Stirling. When the army arrived, it was a lovely June day. King Edward II sent out his knights to check out the area. An English knight called Henry the Bohun rode ahead and crossed the Bannockburn. Much to his surprise, he spotted Robert the Bruce inspecting his army lines. He had come face to face with the King of Scotland himself. Bohun charged towards Bruce with his lance. Bruce, who was only carrying an axe, calmly waited for Bohun to get nearer to him before swerving his horse to one side and striking the English knight with his battle axe, which cut through Bohun's helmet and killed him instantly. Both armies were stunned into silence until a great cheer erupted amongst the Scottish soldiers. The Scots and English charged towards each other and fought for their lives in the baking heat of the sun. Bruce had one more trick up his sleeve and called on lots of untrained Scots to join the battle who ran out from a nearby forest. When the English saw another large force of Scots joining the battle, they scattered. Against all the odds, Scotland had beaten England at the Battle of Bannockburn. The English left lots of equipment worth millions and millions of pounds. Think of all the cars they could have bought. Think of all the pigs. You know what, just keep the money. More valuable were all the hostages that Bruce caught and he was able to swap them back for his sisters and his wife. How amazing that must have been to see them again. The Scots sent a letter to the Pope declaring that Robert the Bruce was our new and rightful This was known as the Declaration of Arbroath and it read The Pope accepted the declaration and Scotland was an independent country and no longer a servant of the English. The Scots enjoyed a much needed time of peace. Bruce had succeeded in his life's work. His determination had taken him from living alone in a cave to becoming the beloved King of Scotland. Scotland would be independent for another 275 years until the Scottish King became the King of Britain. Robert died a happy man on He was buried at Dunfermline. He requested that his heart be taken to the Holy Land but it only got as far as Spain. It was returned to Scotland and buried in Melrose Abbey.