At the dawn of the 14th century, Scotland was in turmoil. With over a dozen nobles vying for the throne, the country was on the brink of civil war. Meanwhile, the King of England saw an opportunity to expand his influence and unify Great Britain under his rule. Amidst this chaos, Robert the Bruce emerged as a pivotal figure, determined to secure Scotland’s independence.
Robert the Bruce was born on July 11, 1274, into a noble Scottish family. His early life was typical for a noble of the time, involving education in languages, arts, warfare, and politics. The sudden death of King Alexander III in 1286 left Scotland without a clear successor, leading to a power struggle among the nobles.
In 1292, after a lengthy arbitration process known as the Great Cause, John Balliol was declared King of Scots. However, the real power lay with King Edward I of England, who manipulated the situation to his advantage. Tensions between Edward and Balliol escalated, leading to conflict.
Robert the Bruce initially sided with Edward against Balliol, but the political landscape was ever-changing. In 1297, inspired by the rebellion led by William Wallace, Robert switched sides to support the Scottish cause. Despite initial setbacks, Robert’s strategic mind was always at work.
In 1306, a pivotal moment occurred when Robert killed his rival, John Comyn, in a church. This act of sacrilege forced Robert to make a decisive move for the throne. With the support of allies like Bishop Robert Wishart, Robert was crowned King of Scots at Scone.
Robert’s coronation was met with outrage in England. King Edward I declared him an outlaw and sent an army to crush him. Despite early defeats, including the loss of many followers, Robert remained resolute. He adopted guerrilla tactics, striking at English forces and avoiding open battles.
In 1307, Robert achieved a significant victory at the Battle of Loudoun Hill, defeating the English forces. The death of King Edward I and the ascension of the less formidable Edward II provided Robert with an opportunity to consolidate his power.
By 1314, Robert had regained much of Scotland, but the English still held Stirling Castle. Edward II marched north with a massive army to relieve the castle. Robert met him at Bannockburn, where his smaller force used strategic positioning and defensive tactics to achieve a stunning victory.
The Battle of Bannockburn was a turning point, solidifying Robert’s control over Scotland. The English were forced to negotiate, and in 1328, the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton recognized Robert as the legitimate King of Scots.
Robert the Bruce’s reign marked a new era for Scotland. Although he died in 1329, his legacy lived on through his descendants. His grandson, Robert II, founded the House of Stewart, which would eventually unite Scotland and England under one crown.
Robert the Bruce’s determination and strategic genius not only secured Scotland’s independence but also paved the way for future unity with England. His story is a testament to the power of resilience and leadership in the face of overwhelming odds.
Research and create a detailed timeline of the major events in Robert the Bruce’s life and the 14th-century Scottish struggle for independence. Include dates, descriptions, and the significance of each event. This will help you understand the chronological order and impact of these historical moments.
Engage in a role-playing debate where you take on the roles of different historical figures from the article, such as Robert the Bruce, King Edward I, and John Comyn. Debate the motivations and actions of each character, providing insights into their perspectives and decisions during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
Create a strategic map of the Battle of Bannockburn. Use the map to illustrate the positions and movements of both the Scottish and English forces. Analyze how Robert the Bruce’s tactics led to his victory and discuss what lessons can be learned from his strategic decisions.
Conduct a research project on the use of guerrilla warfare by Robert the Bruce. Compare his tactics to other historical or modern examples of guerrilla warfare. Present your findings in a report or presentation, highlighting how these tactics contributed to his success against larger forces.
Write a creative story from the perspective of a Scottish soldier in Robert the Bruce’s army. Describe a day in their life during the campaign for independence, focusing on their experiences, challenges, and motivations. This will help you empathize with the individuals who lived through this historical period.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
—
This video is brought to you by Blinkist. The first 100 people to go to blinkist.com/biographics will get one week to try it out. You’ll also get 25% off if you want the full membership, which you probably will.
Now, let’s get into it. It is the dawn of the 14th century. The Kingdom of Scotland is in chaos. Over a dozen nobles have made claims for the throne, threatening to plunge the country into civil war. Meanwhile, the King of England is making a play for control of his northern neighbor, hoping to take advantage of the power vacuum to unify all of Great Britain under a single ruler. But as Sun Tzu said, in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Robert the Bruce, a member of a Scottish noble family, certainly took this to heart. Using a mix of determination, tactical acumen, and political savvy, Bruce fought off all internal rivals and then made war on England, establishing himself as the one true ruler of Scotland. By doing this, he not only became the most important king in the history of Scotland, but his actions had far-reaching consequences that continue to be felt to this day.
Robert was born on July 11, 1274, the eldest son of Robert de Bruce, the Lord of Annandale, a powerful noble in Scotland. Little is recorded of his early life, though we can assume he was brought up in much the same way as most nobles of the period—educated in multiple languages, the arts, skills of war, and the politics and customs of the royal court.
In 1286, the King of Scots, Alexander III, died suddenly after falling off his horse. His only living descendant was a young granddaughter, Margaret, who was the daughter of the King of Norway. As was customary when a child ascended to the throne, a council of regents called the Guardians of Scotland were appointed to govern until Margaret was old enough to rule. However, Margaret died in 1290 at the age of seven, never having set foot in the kingdom she was supposed to rule.
Now the Guardians faced a huge problem. The 250-year reign of the House of Dunkeld had ended, and a new monarch needed to be crowned. A total of 13 nobles made claims on the throne of Scotland, one of which was Robert de Bruce. The Guardians were afraid that any attempt to resolve the matter internally would lead to civil war, so they asked King Edward I of England to arbitrate in the dispute. Edward, known as Longshanks, was eager to take advantage of the chaotic situation for his own ends.
Before agreeing to the arbitration, he forced the Guardians to make concessions to him, stopping just short of declaring Scotland a client state. Edward then set up a court of 104 auditors to decide who should be declared king of the Scots. The process that followed was known as the Great Cause. For two years, the court heard arguments from various claimants and decided in favor of John Balliol, Lord of Galloway, in 1292. But the real winner had been Edward.
Over the next four years, Edward continued to assert pressure on Scotland, forcing further concessions, and relations between Edward and John Balliol soon began to deteriorate. The Bruces sided with Edward in the disputes, as they hated Balliol and considered him a usurper. This put them into conflict with the powerful Clan Comyn, staunch supporters of Balliol.
In 1296, the Bruces were living in Carlisle Castle, an English fort given to them by King Edward. After being driven out of Scotland by the Comyns, Carlisle was attacked by members of the Comyn faction, who hoped to eliminate their rivals. The attack failed, but the incursion onto English soil gave Edward an excuse to invade Scotland and take over the whole country. He personally deposed John Balliol and imprisoned him in the Tower of London, believing that Scotland had been pacified.
In May 1297, a rebellion against English control of Scotland began, led by William Wallace and Andrew de Moray. Robert, ordered by Edward to suppress the rebellion, had a change of heart and decided to join the Scots. Wallace and de Moray won a great victory over the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in July, but the Bruces, along with most other nobles, were not there; they were engaged in intense negotiations with King Edward.
William Wallace fell from grace after being defeated by Edward at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. In his place, two new Guardians of Scotland were appointed: Robert the Bruce and John Comyn of Badenoch. This attempt at national unity backfired, as the two men were mortal enemies and couldn’t agree on anything.
In early 1302, Robert switched sides again and swore loyalty to King Edward, likely for two reasons: the nobles in Scotland were increasingly rallying around the idea of John Balliol being returned to the throne, and if that happened, Robert would lose his chance to wear the crown himself. Also, it appeared that Edward was winning the war, and Robert believed the smart play was to bide his time, perhaps waiting until the 63-year-old Edward died before making his move.
Robert was now playing a delicate game. Outwardly, he supported Edward’s hold on Scotland, but behind the scenes, he was rallying support for his own bid for the throne. A significant obstacle presented itself in the form of John Comyn, Robert’s rival and considered the most powerful noble in the country. In the summer of 1305, shortly after the capture and execution of William Wallace, Robert made a deal with Comyn: Comyn would renounce his claim to the throne in exchange for all of the Bruce lands in Scotland if he supported a revolt led by Robert. However, Comyn later betrayed Robert’s intentions to King Edward, forcing Robert to flee the English court to avoid arrest.
Outraged, Robert set a meeting with Comyn at the Grey Friars Monastery in Dumfries on February 10, 1306. During the meeting, Robert accused Comyn of treachery, and the two men came to blows. In a fit of rage, Robert drew his dagger and stabbed Comyn. His retainers rushed in and killed the man. Immediately, Robert realized the gravity of what he’d done—he had shed blood in a church, the ultimate sacrilege. Furthermore, he had killed one of the most powerful men in Britain, guaranteeing the animosity of Comyn’s allies and relatives on both sides of the border.
The die had been cast; he needed to make his play for the throne. Robert went to Glasgow and met with Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, who was a friend and ally. Wishart granted him absolution for the killing and made arrangements for Robert to be crowned. Six weeks later, at Scone, the traditional coronation location of Scottish kings, Robert was crowned Robert I, King of Scots, with all the usual pomp and ceremony.
In England, the news was met with outrage. Edward believed that Robert had committed an egregious sin by murdering his rival in a church and was compounding that sin by claiming a crown that Edward believed belonged to him. He called Robert an outlaw and sent an army north under the command of his son, the Prince of Wales, to crush him. The Prince was flying the dragon banner, a symbol that the usual rules of chivalry did not apply—no prisoners would be taken, and any enemies captured would be executed.
What had been a political conflict would now become very personal. Robert had not yet heard that he had been excommunicated by the Pope or that King Edward considered him an outlaw. He raised an army of about 4,500 men and marched to Perth, where an English force of about 3,000 was garrisoned, commanded by one of Edward’s trusted lieutenants, the Earl of Pembroke. Robert called on Pembroke to come out of Perth and do battle, a chivalric tradition, but Pembroke claimed it was too late in the day and that they would fight tomorrow.
Sir Robert’s army made camp for the night about six miles away near the village of Methven. While the Bruce’s army was settling in for the night, the English fell upon them in a surprise attack. Sneak attacks and night fighting were not in keeping with the chivalric code, but since the English claimed that Robert was an outlaw, they didn’t have to act chivalrously towards him or any of his followers. Taken completely by surprise, the Scots stood no chance. Of the 4,500 that made up Robert’s army, at least 4,000 were either killed or taken captive and executed. The Bruce was forced to flee with a small group of men, having lost many of his most loyal followers.
More bad news followed. The Prince of Wales captured and killed Robert’s family members who were sheltering in a castle, taking them to England.
Now, before we continue with today’s video, I want to take a moment to tell you about today’s fantastic sponsor, Blinkist. I know it’s not always easy to sit down and read a book; we all lead busy lives. The good news is I have the Blinkist app, which provides 15-minute summaries of the best non-fiction books. There are over 3,000 of them available, and you can either read or listen to them. Many users find it easier to listen while doing other tasks.
The first 100 people to go to blinkist.com/biographics will get a week to try it out for free, and you’ll also get 25% off if you want the full membership. Again, it’s a 7-day trial, and you can cancel at any time at blinkist.com/biographics.
Now, back to the story. Robert spent that winter in hiding, likely in the Hebrides Islands off the western coast of Scotland. The year had been a disaster for him, and he seemed destined for obscurity as a leader of yet another failed rebellion against English rule in Scotland. But even at this low point, Robert was convinced of the righteousness of his cause.
He realized that before he could take on the English again, he needed to deal with his enemies in Scotland, the Comyns. Lacking support, he couldn’t hope to win in traditional battle, so he relied on hit-and-run tactics to loot, burn, and destroy support for his enemies from the civilian population. In February 1307, Robert’s forces returned to mainland Scotland. Initially, things didn’t go well, as one part of his army was destroyed, and two of his brothers were killed.
Robert went to his family’s ancestral lands to raise men and supplies for his campaign. The English pursued him with an army of 3,000 commanded by Pembroke, who had beaten the Bruce the year before. But this time, Robert was ready. At Loudoun Hill on May 10, he trapped Pembroke’s army in a narrow causeway surrounded by marshland, killing hundreds of English knights and forcing the rest to retreat in confusion.
With the English army subdued, Robert turned his attention to the Comyns. Meanwhile, King Edward decided to go north himself to fight the Bruce, but while traveling, he became ill with dysentery and died on July 7 at the age of 68. The Prince of Wales was now crowned Edward II. This was good news for Robert, as Edward II was not as intimidating as his father and was more interested in consolidating his hold on power in England.
Robert systematically crushed all internal opposition to his authority, capturing and destroying every stronghold the Comyns had. Now that the Comyns were defeated, the Scots rallied to the Bruce in droves. It was time to take on the English, who still occupied most of southern Scotland. Over the course of ten years of war, Robert noticed a pattern: the English would invade in the spring and leave in the winter, leaving castles lightly garrisoned.
He decided on a novel strategy: when the English armies invaded, he would refuse to fight them, melting his army into the hills and engaging in guerrilla-style warfare. When the English left, Robert would come down from the hills and attack their castles. From 1309 to 1313, using this method, he took one English fortress after another, systematically pushing the English out of the country without ever fighting them in open battle.
In 1314, the only major castle left in English hands in Scotland was Stirling, and Robert’s brother Edward laid siege to it. Robert felt secure enough in his power to issue a proclamation that any noble in Scotland who hadn’t yet acknowledged him as King of Scots would lose their lands in one year’s time. Meanwhile, the commander of the English garrison at Stirling, recognizing the hopelessness of his position, made an agreement with Edward Bruce: unless he was relieved by June 24, he would surrender the castle. If Stirling was lost, the English would lose any control they had left in Scotland.
Edward II, distracted by squabbles with his own nobility, decided to act. He raised a massive army of 15,000 to 20,000 men and headed north to attempt to relieve Stirling. Robert recognized that everything he had done so far could be undone by this, so he knew he had to stop Edward before he reached Stirling. He marched his army, about half the size of the English, to a position a few miles south of Stirling, near the Bannock Burn.
On June 23, the English arrived. An advanced screen of cavalry came upon one of the Scottish schiltron formations, a defensive phalanx of pikemen blocking the road to Stirling. King Robert was with them, rallying his troops. An English knight, Henry de Bohun, charged at the king and challenged him to single combat. Robert accepted, dodged Bohun’s lance, and killed him instantly with his battle axe.
The Earl of Hereford, witnessing his nephew’s death, attacked the Scottish infantry, unaware that he had been led into a trap. The ground around the road had been dotted with pit traps, and when the English cavalry tried to spread out, many fell into pits with wooden stakes at the bottom. The Scottish schiltron advanced, killing many English horsemen who had no room to maneuver. Hereford was forced to retreat.
Meanwhile, another contingent of English cavalry attempted to encircle the Scottish position but was opposed by another part of Robert’s army, forcing the English to retreat again. The English heavy cavalry, the kings of the medieval battlefield, had been defeated by peasant infantrymen armed with spears. The English morale took a huge dip.
A Scottish knight in the English army, Alexander Sutton, deserted to the Scots during the night and advised Robert to attack the demoralized English the next day. On June 24, King Edward began forming his lines to charge the Scottish position. The Scots emerged from the woods and marched towards the English across the open field. It seemed suicidal, and the argument on the English side was not whether to charge the Scots, but who would have the honor of leading the attack.
The Earl of Gloucester, determined to win glory, charged with many knights, running right into the Scottish schiltron, which stood fast. The cavalry was impaled on the long pikes, and Gloucester and most of his contingent were dead within minutes. Edward ordered a general advance, but the English understanding of Scottish tactics was flawed; the schiltron was not just a defensive formation.
Once again, when the English cavalry charged, they were met by a wall of spears. The English archers, who might have been able to break up the Scottish formations, were ineffective because they couldn’t fire without hitting their own men. The Scottish infantry pushed the English back, trapping them between the Bannock Burn and the Pell Stream. The cavalry had nowhere to maneuver and began to break ranks, deciding that the battle was lost.
This triggered the collapse of the entire English army into a chaotic rout. It is estimated that over 10,000 English soldiers were killed during the battle, and fewer than 5,000 made it out of Scotland alive. It was the greatest triumph in Scottish military history.
In exchange for the English nobles he captured at Bannockburn, Robert negotiated the release of his wife, daughter, and sisters after eight years of captivity. Stirling Castle quickly fell, and all of Scotland now belonged to the Bruce. The Scots were now conducting raids into northern England and even mounted a serious invasion of Ireland, which lasted for years before they were defeated in 1318.
The war with England continued until 1327 when Edward II was deposed by his wife Isabella, and their 14-year-old son was crowned Edward III. Robert forced the issue by attacking northern England and defeated the young Edward at the Battle of Stanhope Park on August 4, 1327. Finally, the English were forced to the bargaining table, and Robert and Edward signed the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328. The English formally recognized Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland and renounced all claims of overlordship to the country.
The war, which had consumed Robert’s entire adult life, was finally over. Around the same time, the Pope lifted the order of excommunication against Robert from over 20 years before. Unfortunately for the Bruce, he wasn’t able to enjoy the peace for long. A lifetime of campaigning had taken its toll, and he grew ill in 1327, possibly with leprosy or tuberculosis. The illness claimed his life on June 7, 1329, at the age of 54. His five-year-old son, David, succeeded him to the throne of Scotland and had a turbulent reign.
However, it was his grandson, Robert II, the son of the Bruce’s daughter Marjorie, who had a lasting impact on history. Robert II was the first king of the House of Stewart, which would rule Scotland for over 300 years until James VI of Scotland was also crowned King of England in 1603. A hundred years later, the two countries were formally joined together as the Kingdom of Great Britain. Today, Queen Elizabeth II can trace her ancestry all the way back to Robert the Bruce, who is her 19th great-grandfather.
It is interesting to note that despite all of the English attempts to subjugate Scotland in the 13th and 14th centuries, it ended up being a Scot that sat on the throne of England and unified the two countries that way. But we’re sure that’s just the way Robert the Bruce would have wanted it.
I hope you found this video interesting. If you did, please hit that thumbs up button below, and don’t forget to subscribe. Also, please check out our fantastic sponsor, Blinkist, linked below. Thank you for watching!
—
This version removes promotional content and maintains a focus on the historical narrative.
Scotland – A country that is part of the United Kingdom, known for its distinct cultural and historical identity. – Scotland’s rich history includes significant events such as the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Independence – The state of being free from outside control or not subject to another’s authority. – The American colonies declared their independence from British rule in 1776.
Battle – A military fight between groups as part of a war or conflict. – The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War.
Crown – A symbolic representation of the monarchy or the state, often associated with royal authority. – The crown played a crucial role in the governance of medieval Europe.
Nobles – Individuals belonging to the aristocracy, often holding titles and significant social and political influence. – During the Middle Ages, nobles were granted land by the king in exchange for military service.
Conflict – A serious disagreement or argument, often a protracted one, which can occur between nations, groups, or individuals. – The Cold War was a prolonged conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Legacy – Something handed down by a predecessor, often referring to cultural, social, or political contributions. – The legacy of the Roman Empire is evident in modern legal systems and architectural styles.
Strategy – A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim, especially in military or political contexts. – General Eisenhower’s strategy for the D-Day invasion was crucial to the Allied victory in World War II.
Victory – The act of defeating an opponent or enemy in a battle, game, or other competition. – The victory at the Battle of Waterloo marked the end of Napoleon’s rule in Europe.
Betrayal – The act of being disloyal or treacherous to a person, group, or principle. – The betrayal of Julius Caesar by Brutus and other senators is one of history’s most famous acts of treachery.
