Clan Bruce facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clan Bruce
Clann Brùs
Crest: A lion stantan Azure armed and langued Gules
Motto	Fuimus (We have been)
Profile
Region	Lowlands
District	Fife
Chief
The Rt Hon. Andrew Douglas Bruce
The 11th Earl of Elgin
Seat	Broomhall House
Historic seat	Lochmaben Castle Clackmannan Tower
Septs of Clan Bruce Airth, Brews, Brix, Bruwes, Bruss, Bruc, Bruys, Brues, Brice, Bryce, Bruce, Bruice, Bruis, Bruze, Broce, Brois, Broiss, Brose, Broise, Brouss, Brus, Bruse, Brush, Carlyle, Carlysle, Cowden, Crosbie, Crosby, de Bruce, de Brus, de Brix, Leggat, Randolph, Stenhouse
Clan branches Bruce of Elgin (chiefs) Bruce of Annandale (historic chiefs) Bruce of Kincardine See also:Bruce baronets Counts Bruce of the Russian Empire
Allied clans Clan Campbell Clan Carruthers Clan Mar
Rival clans Clan Comyn Clan MacDougall Clan Lamont

Clan Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: Brùs) is a famous Scottish Lowlands clan. In the 1300s, it became a royal house, meaning its members were kings. Two kings of Scotland, Robert the Bruce and David II of Scotland, came from this clan. There was also Edward Bruce, who was a disputed High King of Ireland.

Where the Bruce Family Came From

The name Bruce comes from the French words de Brus or de Bruis. These words refer to a place in Normandy, France, now called Brix.

The Bruce family lines in both England and Scotland started with Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale. He arrived in England in 1106. Robert de Brus was a close friend of Prince David, who later became David I of Scotland. In 1124, Robert followed David north to help him claim his kingdom.

Later, a civil war started in England. David I of Scotland led an army into England. But Robert de Brus chose to join the English side. At the Battle of the Standard in 1138, he even captured his own son, who was fighting for Scotland. Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale, died in 1141.

How the Bruce Family Became Royal

The Bruce family's claim to the throne began in 1219. That year, Robert Bruce, 4th Lord of Annandale, married Isobel of Huntingdon. She was the daughter of David of Scotland, 8th Earl of Huntingdon and the niece of William the Lion, a Scottish king. This marriage brought the Bruce family a lot of wealth and land in both England and Scotland.

Their son, Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale, was known as "The Competitor." After Alexander III of Scotland died, both Bruce and John Balliol wanted to be king. Alexander's young granddaughter, Margaret, was named the heir. However, she died in 1290 while traveling to Scotland.

After Margaret's death, the Scottish leaders worried about a civil war between the Bruce and Balliol families. They asked Edward I of England to help decide who should be king. Edward I saw this as a chance to take control of Scotland. In 1292, Edward chose Balliol, who promised to be loyal to the English king. But Balliol soon rebelled against Edward. This led to Balliol's defeat and him giving up the throne after the Battle of Dunbar in 1296.

Robert the Bruce Becomes King

Robert the Bruce and Isabella of Mar

After John Balliol gave up the throne, Scotland had no king. Robert the Bruce first promised loyalty to Edward I. But he soon joined the Scottish fight for freedom. He later promised loyalty to Edward again, but then sided with the Scots during the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

After the English won the Battle of Falkirk, Edward I did not take Bruce's lands. It seemed Edward still hoped Bruce would join his side.

Bruce and John Comyn, who was also a rival for the throne, became leaders of Scotland after William Wallace. But their rivalry caused problems. They met at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, a neutral place. But Bruce stabbed Comyn, killing him. Because of this, the Pope removed Bruce from the church.

Even so, Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scotland at Scone, Perthshire in 1306. However, the English soon forced him to retreat. He tried to reach his allies, the Clan Campbell. But the Clan MacDougall, whose chief was the uncle of John Comyn, surprised Bruce. They defeated him at the Battle of Dalrigh. The king escaped but left behind a beautiful piece of Celtic jewelry, called the Brooch of Lorne. It became a treasure of Clan MacDougall.

Three years later, Robert the Bruce led three thousand experienced soldiers against the MacDougalls in Argyll. John MacDougall of Lorne set a trap for them. But in the Battle of the Pass of Brander, the MacDougalls were defeated and had to run away. The king then took the MacDougalls' lands and gave them to the Campbells for their loyalty.

Robert the Bruce led the Scottish army to a great victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The English army was defeated.

In 1334, Thomas Bruce, who was related to the royal Bruce family, led a rebellion with Robert Stewart (who later became Robert II of Scotland) against the English.

After Robert the Bruce's Reign

Robert the Bruce's son, David II of Scotland, became king after his father died in 1329. In 1346, David marched south into England to help France, as part of the Auld Alliance. But he was defeated at the Battle of Neville's Cross and taken prisoner. He stayed in England for eleven years.

David returned to Scotland after a peace agreement. He ruled until he died unexpectedly in Edinburgh Castle in 1371. He had no children, so the throne passed to the House of Stewart.

Later, Sir Edward Bruce was made a judge in 1597. He became a Lord of Parliament with the title Lord Kinloss in 1601. Edward Bruce went with James VI to claim the English throne in 1603. He was then made a judge in England. In 1608, he was given the title Lord Bruce of Kinloss.

In 1633, his son, Thomas, became the first Earl of Elgin. When the fourth Earl died without children, the title went to the family of Sir George Bruce of Carnock. This family already held the title Earl of Kincardine. In 1747, the two Earldoms were joined.

Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin was a diplomat and ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803. He spent a lot of money bringing marble sculptures from the Athens Parthenon out of the Ottoman Empire. These are now known as the Elgin Marbles. His son, James, was a Governor General of Canada and a Viceroy of India.

Clan Chief

The current leader of Clan Bruce is Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin. He is very active in Scottish affairs and leads the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

Bruce tartan

Bruce Family Castles

Here are some castles that belonged to the Clan Bruce:

• Fyvie Castle
• Airth Castle
• Muness Castle
• Thomaston Castle
• Culross Palace
• Clackmannan Tower
• Fingask Castle
• Kinross House
• Lochleven Castle
• Lochmaben Castle
• Turnberry Castle

See also

In Spanish: Casa de Bruce para niños

• Scottish Clan
• Earl of Elgin
• Earl of Kincardine
• Robert the Bruce
• Edward Bruce
• David Bruce
• Lord of Annandale