Robert I of Scotland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robert I of Scotland |
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| King of the Scots | |||||
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| Reign | 1306–1329 | ||||
| Coronation | 25 March 1306 | ||||
| Predecessor | John | ||||
| Successor | David II | ||||
| Born | 11 July 1274 Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland |
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| Died | 7 June 1329 (aged 54) Cardross |
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| Burial | Dunfermline Abbey (Body) -- Melrose Abbey (Heart) | ||||
| Issue | Marjorie Bruce with Isabella, David, John, Matilda and Margaret with Elizabeth and several illegitimate children | ||||
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| Gaelic | Roibert a Briuis | ||||
| Middle English | Robert the Bruys | ||||
| House | Bruce | ||||
| Father | Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale | ||||
| Mother | Marjorie of Carrick | ||||
Robert I of Scotland (born July 11, 1274 – died June 7, 1329) was the King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329. He is much better known as Robert the Bruce. He is famous for defeating the English army at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This important battle took place near Stirling.
Contents
Early Life
Robert the Bruce was born at Turnberry Castle on July 11, 1274. He was the oldest son of Robert Bruce (the sixth person in his family with that name) and Marjorie, the Countess of Carrick.
Robert the Bruce's family originally came from France. They were from a place called Brus in Normandy, which is in northern France. An ancestor, also named Robert de Brus, came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. Another Robert de Brus came to Scotland with David I of Scotland. His family became very powerful lords in Scotland.
In 1286, King Alexander III of Scotland died. His granddaughter was supposed to become Queen of Scotland, but she also died. In 1292, the Bruce family and another family called the Balliols (BAY-lee-ols) asked King Edward I of England to decide who should be the new king of Scotland. King Edward chose John Balliol.
In 1292, Robert's family decided that he should be the main leader of all the Bruces in Scotland. In 1297, King Edward I of England wanted Scotland to go to war against France. Many Scottish leaders disagreed and fought against the English king. Robert joined this fight. Edward won most of the battles against the Scottish fighters. In the end, Robert had to agree to what Edward wanted.
Becoming King of Scots
In 1306, Robert the Bruce met a man named John Comyn (KOHM-in) in a church. John Comyn also wanted to be King of Scotland. They had a big argument, and Robert killed John. Soon after, Robert went to Scone (skoon). There, Scottish lords brought out the royal clothes they had hidden from the English. Then, Robert was crowned King of Scots.
Robert the Bruce then fought many battles to make Scotland a free country. He did not want Scotland to always do what the English king wanted. He fought against King Edward I, and then against Edward's son, King Edward II. In 1314, Robert the Bruce's army won a great victory over Edward II's army at the Battle of Bannockburn.
In 1315, Robert the Bruce sent his army to Ireland. At that time, the English were in control of Ireland. Robert fought with them and made his brother, Edward Bruce, the High King of Ireland in 1316. However, the Scottish army did not treat the Irish people well. They were forced to leave Ireland after Edward Bruce was killed in 1318.
Robert the Bruce's Legacy
On June 7, 1329, Robert the Bruce died. After a life of fighting, he had wanted to make up for his past by joining the Crusades. He realized he was too sick to go himself. So, he asked his trusted friend Sir James Douglas to take his heart in a small silver box on a crusade.
Sir James Douglas took the heart and left with several knights to honor Robert's wish. But during a battle in Spain, Sir James was killed. Robert's heart was then returned to Scotland. Robert the Bruce's body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey. His heart is buried in Melrose Abbey.
Robert did not want any fighting over his kingdom after he died. He had planned for his brother Edward Bruce to become king after him. But after Edward died in 1318, Robert's son David became his heir. David became king as David II of Scotland. After David, Robert's grandson, Robert II Stewart, became king as Robert II of Scotland. Robert the Bruce left behind a well-organized kingdom.
Family Life
In 1295, Robert married Isabella of Mar. She was the daughter of Donald, the 6th Earl of Mar. They had one daughter:
- Marjory Bruce (died March 2, 1316). She married Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland.
In 1302, Robert married his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh. She was the daughter of Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster. Together they had:
- Matilda Bruce, who married Thomas Isaac.
- Margaret Bruce, who married William Earl of Sutherland.
- David II of Scotland, who became King of Scotland after his father.
- John Bruce, who died as a child.
Robert also had other children.
- Robert, killed at Dupplin on August 12, 1332.
- Nigel of Carrick, killed at the Battle of Durham on October 17, 1346.
- Margaret, who married Robert Glen.
- Elizabeth, who married Sir Walter Oliphant of Aberdalgie.
- Christian of Carrick.
Images for kids
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The remains of Turnberry Castle, Robert the Bruce's likely birthplace.
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Robert the Bruce and his first wife Isabella of Mar, from a 1562 book.
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A bust (sculpture) of Robert the Bruce at the National Wallace Monument.
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Bruce being crowned King of Scots; a modern scene at Edinburgh Castle.
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Bruce reading stories to his followers; from a 19th-century Scottish history book.
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A picture from the Holkham Bible showing the Battle of Bannockburn (1314).
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Bruce talks to his troops, from Cassell's History of England.
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A statue of Bernard de Linton and Robert holding up the Declaration of Arbroath.
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King Robert I is buried in Dunfermline Abbey.
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A statue of Bruce at the entrance to Edinburgh Castle.
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A drawing of Robert the Bruce watching a spider.
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A cartoon by Cecil Glossop.
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See also
In Spanish: Roberto I de Escocia para niños
