Robert the Bruce facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert I
The face of Robert the Bruce by forensic sculptor Christian Corbet
King of Scots
Reign	25 March 1306 – 7 June 1329
Coronation	25 March 1306
Predecessor	John (1296)
Successor	David II
Born	11 July 1274 probably Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland
Died	7 June 1329(1329-06-07) (aged 54) Manor of Cardross, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Burial	– Dunfermline Abbey (Body)  – Melrose Abbey (Heart)  – St Serf's Church, Dumbarton (Embalmed Viscera)
Spouse	Isabella of Mar Elizabeth de Burgh
Issue more...	Marjorie Bruce David II of Scotland Elizabeth Bruce Robert Bruce, Lord of Liddesdale Niall Bruce of Carrick
House	Bruce
Father	Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale
Mother	Marjorie, Countess of Carrick
Religion	Catholicism
Guardian of Scotland (Second Interregnum)
In office 1298-1300

Robert I (born 11 July 1274, died 7 June 1329), also known as Robert the Bruce, was the King of Scots from 1306 until his death. He was a brave warrior who led Scotland in its fight for freedom against England. Robert worked hard to make Scotland an independent kingdom again. Today, he is seen as a national hero in Scotland.

Robert was a great-great-great-great-grandson of King David I. His grandfather, Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale, was one of the people who claimed the Scottish throne during a time called the "Great Cause".

As the Earl of Carrick, Robert the Bruce supported his family's claim to the throne. He joined William Wallace's rebellion against Edward I of England. In 1298, Robert became a Guardian of Scotland. He shared this role with John Comyn, who was also a rival for the throne. Robert left this role in 1300 due to arguments with Comyn.

After his father died, Robert inherited his family's claim to the throne. A conflict with John Comyn in February 1306 led to Comyn's death. This caused Robert to be excommunicated by Pope Clement V. However, he received absolution from Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow. Robert quickly took the throne and was crowned King of Scots on 25 March 1306.

Edward I's forces defeated Robert at the Battle of Methven. Robert had to hide, but he returned in 1307. He defeated an English army at Loudoun Hill. He then fought a very successful guerrilla war against the English.

Robert I defeated his other enemies, destroying their castles and lands. In 1309, he held his first parliament. From 1310 to 1314, he won many military victories. These wins gave him control of most of Scotland. At the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Robert defeated a much larger English army led by Edward II of England. This battle confirmed Scotland's independence. After this, Robert's armies raided northern England. He also sent armies to Ireland to fight against English rule.

Even after Bannockburn and capturing Berwick in 1318, Edward II still claimed to rule Scotland. In 1320, Scottish nobles sent the Declaration of Arbroath to Pope John XXII. This letter declared Robert as their rightful king and stated Scotland was an independent kingdom.

In 1324, the Pope recognized Robert I as king of an independent Scotland. In 1326, the alliance between Scotland and France was renewed. In 1327, Edward II was removed from power in England. His son, Edward III, became king. Peace was made between Scotland and England with the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328. In this treaty, Edward III gave up all claims to rule over Scotland.

Robert I died in June 1329. His son, David II, became the next king. Robert's body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey. His heart was buried in Melrose Abbey. His internal organs were placed in St Serf's Church in Dumbarton.

Robert's Early Life (1274–1292)

Where Was Robert Born?

We know when Robert the Bruce was born, but not exactly where. It was probably at Turnberry Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland. This was his mother's family home. Some people think he might have been born in Lochmaben or Writtle in England.

Robert's family, the Bruces, settled in Scotland in 1124. They were given the Lordship of Annandale. Robert was one of ten children and the oldest son. His parents were Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale, and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick. From his mother, he inherited the Earldom of Carrick. Through his father, he got the Lordship of Annandale. His family also had a royal connection to King David I. This gave him a claim to the Scottish throne. The Bruces also owned land in England and Ireland.

Robert's Childhood and Education

We don't know much about Robert's early life. He likely grew up learning about both Anglo-Norman and Gaelic cultures. In Annandale, people spoke an early form of the Scots language. In Carrick, people spoke Gaelic.

Robert probably learned three languages early on. He would have spoken, read, and written in Anglo-Norman language, like his noble friends. He also spoke Gaelic from his mother's family and early Scots. Since he was from a noble family, he would also have learned some Latin. This was the language of official documents and church services. This education taught him about law, politics, scripture, philosophy, history, and chivalry.

As a young noble, Robert would have learned outdoor skills. He had teachers for horsemanship, sword fighting, and hunting. He also learned courtly manners like dress, speech, and dance. His main teacher was likely an experienced knight. This knight probably came from his grandfather's group of crusaders. Robert's skills in war later showed how well he learned tactics and fighting.

The family moved between their castles, like Lochmaben Castle and Turnberry Castle. Robert and his brothers might also have been fostered by Gaelic families. This was a common practice in Scotland and Ireland. This Gaelic influence might explain Robert's love for using small, sturdy ponies in raids. It also explains his interest in sea power, using war-galleys.

Historians think that when Robert and his brother Edward were around twelve, they might have lived with English noble families. This was to train for knighthood. One historian said Robert was a "young bachelor of King Edward's Chamber" around 1292. This suggests he might have spent time at Edward's court.

Robert first appears in history as a witness to a document when he was sixteen. This was around the time Margaret, Maid of Norway, died in 1290. It was also around this time that Robert became a knight. He began to take part in politics for his family's claim to the throne.

The "Great Cause"

Robert's mother died in early 1292. In November of that year, Edward I of England decided who would be the next King of Scotland. He chose John Balliol. This decision was made after a long process called the "Great Cause".

Right after this, Robert's grandfather gave up his claim to the Scottish throne to his son. In turn, Robert's father gave up his earldom of Carrick to young Robert. This was done to protect the Bruce family's claim to be kings. Even though the Bruces did not get the throne, this event brought the eighteen-year-old Robert the Bruce into politics.

Earl of Carrick (1292–1306)

The Bruces and England

Even after John Balliol became king, Edward I still tried to control Scotland. Relations between the two kings got worse. The Bruces sided with King Edward against King John and his Comyn allies. Robert the Bruce and his father saw John as a king who had taken the throne unfairly.

Edward I demanded that King John appear before the English Parliament. Then, Edward asked Scottish nobles to fight in England's war against France. The Scots refused and instead made an alliance with France.

The Comyn family, who were powerful in Scotland, took control of King John's army. The Bruces refused to join. Robert's family left Scotland for a while. The Comyns took their lands. Edward I gave the Bruces a safe place at Carlisle Castle. Around early 1296, Robert married his first wife, Isabella of Mar. She died soon after, possibly when their only child, Marjorie Bruce, was born.

Starting the Wars of Independence

The war between Scotland and England began with an attack on the Bruces. On 26 March 1296, Scottish earls attacked Carlisle. This was an attack by the Comyn family against their Bruce enemies. Robert Bruce knew the city's defenses well. Years later, in 1315, Robert the Bruce would lead an attack on Carlisle himself.

Edward I responded by invading Scotland in March 1296. He took the town of Berwick in a very bloody attack. At the Battle of Dunbar, Scottish resistance was crushed. Edward removed King John from power and put Englishmen in charge of Scotland. This English victory was only temporary.

In August 1296, Robert Bruce and his father swore loyalty to King Edward I of England. But when the Scottish revolt against Edward I began in July 1297, young Robert Bruce joined the rebels. He seemed to be acting on his own, as his father did not join. Robert Bruce was influenced by his grandfather's friends, who inspired him to resist.

Edward I ordered Bruce to support his commander, but Bruce continued to support the revolt. In July, Bruce and his friends made a deal with Edward. They would not have to fight overseas and were forgiven for their rebellion if they swore loyalty to Edward. Bruce was supposed to give his infant daughter Marjorie as a hostage, but he never did.

When King Edward returned to England, he did not take the Bruce family's lands. Some say Robert fought for Edward at the Battle of Falkirk. However, no Bruce is listed as being in the English army there. Some historians believe Bruce did not fight. They say he instead destroyed his own lands to prevent the English from using them.

Becoming a Guardian

William Wallace stepped down as Guardian of Scotland after his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk. Robert Bruce and John Comyn became joint Guardians. But they could not get along. Comyn was Bruce's enemy because he was King John's nephew and also claimed the throne. In 1299, William Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, was made a third Guardian to keep peace between them.

The next year, Bruce resigned as Guardian. Sir Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus replaced him. In 1301, Sir John de Soules became the sole Guardian. He was chosen because he was not part of either the Bruce or Comyn groups. He tried to get King John back on the Scottish throne.

In July 1301, King Edward I invaded Scotland again. He captured some castles but did not stop the Scots from fighting. In January 1302, he agreed to a nine-month truce. Around this time, Robert the Bruce submitted to Edward, along with other nobles. There were rumors that John Balliol would return, but nothing came of it.

In March 1302, Bruce wrote a letter apologizing for calling monks to serve in his army without a national call-up. He promised not to do it again unless it was for national defense. That same year, Bruce married his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh. They had four children: David II, John, Matilda, and Margaret.

In 1303, Edward invaded again. He marched through Scotland, forcing the country to submit. All the leading Scots, except William Wallace, surrendered to Edward in February 1304. John Comyn, who was Guardian again, also submitted. The laws of Scotland were to be as they were in the time of Alexander III. Any changes would need Edward's approval and the advice of Scottish nobles.

On 11 June 1304, Bruce and William Lamberton made a secret agreement. They promised to be friends and allies against all others. This pact is often seen as a sign of their loyalty to Scotland, even though they had surrendered to the English. More nobles swore loyalty to Edward. A parliament was held to set rules for governing Scotland. Meanwhile, William Wallace was captured near Glasgow and executed in London in August 1305.

In September 1305, Edward ordered Robert Bruce to put his castle at Kildrummy under someone he could trust. This suggests Edward suspected Bruce was plotting against him. Edward also took back land he had given to Bruce. Robert Bruce, as Earl of Carrick and Lord of Annandale, held vast lands in Scotland and England. He also had a strong claim to the Scottish throne.

The Death of John Comyn

Bruce believed strongly in his right to be king. His ambition was blocked by John Comyn, who supported John Balliol. Comyn was the most powerful noble in Scotland. He was related to many other powerful nobles in Scotland and England. Comyn also had a strong claim to the Scottish throne.

Some stories say that in 1305, John Comyn agreed to give up his claim to the throne to Robert Bruce. In return, Bruce would give Comyn his lands in Scotland if an uprising happened. Whether this agreement is true or not, King Edward tried to arrest Bruce while Bruce was at the English court. A friend warned Bruce, and he fled to Scotland.

According to one story, Comyn told King Edward I about his agreement with Bruce. When Bruce met Comyn on 10 February 1306, in a church in Dumfries, Bruce accused him of betrayal. They fought, and Comyn died.

Bruce and his group then attacked Dumfries Castle, and the English soldiers surrendered. Bruce went to Glasgow, where his friend Bishop Robert Wishart forgave him. The bishop also asked church leaders to support Bruce. However, Bruce was still excommunicated by the Pope for this act.

Robert's Early Reign (1306–1314)

Fighting for Scotland's Freedom

Six weeks after Comyn's death, Bruce was crowned King of Scots. This happened at Scone, near Perth, on 25 March 1306. The royal robes that Robert Wishart had hidden from the English were brought out. Bishops and earls attended the ceremony.

Isabella, Countess of Buchan, arrived too late for the coronation. She claimed her family had the right to crown the Scottish king. So, a second coronation was held, and Robert Bruce was crowned again.

Edward I marched north again in spring 1306. He gave Bruce's Scottish lands to his own followers. He also announced that Bruce was excommunicated. In June, Bruce was defeated at the Battle of Methven. His wife, daughters, and other women were sent to Kildrummy Castle for safety. Bruce fled with a small group of loyal men, including Sir James Douglas and his brothers.

A strong English force captured Kildrummy Castle in September 1306. Bruce's youngest brother, Neil Bruce, was captured and executed. Other captured men were also executed. The Queen and Robert's sisters were also captured and held in harsh conditions.

It is not certain where Bruce spent the winter of 1306–07. He likely stayed in the Hebrides, possibly with Christina of the Isles. She was related to Bruce's first wife's family. Ireland is also a possibility. Bruce and his followers returned to Scotland in February 1307. One group, led by Bruce and his brother Edward, landed at Turnberry Castle. They began a guerrilla war in southwest Scotland. Another group, led by his brothers Thomas and Alexander, landed further south but were captured and executed.

In April, Bruce won a small victory at the Battle of Glen Trool. He then defeated Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, at the Battle of Loudoun Hill. At the same time, James Douglas attacked and burned his own castle in Douglasdale. Bruce then traveled north, capturing castles and burning towns. On 7 July 1307, King Edward I died. Bruce now faced Edward's son, Edward II.

In late 1307, Bruce moved his operations to Aberdeenshire. He became seriously ill but recovered. He then defeated John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan, at the Battle of Inverurie in May 1308. He then took over Buchan and defeated the English at Aberdeen. Bruce ordered the Harrying of Buchan to remove all support for the Comyn family. Most Comyn castles were destroyed, and their people killed. In less than a year, Bruce had destroyed the Comyns' power in the north. He then defeated the MacDougalls, allies of the Comyns, at the Battle of Pass of Brander. He captured Dunstaffnage Castle, their last major stronghold.

In March 1309, Bruce held his first parliament. By August, he controlled all of Scotland north of the River Tay. The next year, the Scottish church recognized Bruce as king. Their support was very important. Over the next three years, English-held castles were captured: Linlithgow in 1310, Dumbarton in 1311, and Perth in 1312. Bruce also raided northern England. He captured Castle Rushen on the Isle of Man in 1313.

Bruce's strategy of avoiding direct battles with the English for eight years made many see him as a great guerrilla leader. This was a big change for someone raised as a feudal knight.

The Battle of Bannockburn

By 1314, Bruce had taken back most of the castles in Scotland from the English. He was also sending raiding parties into northern England. In response, Edward II planned a large military campaign. He gathered an army of 15,000 to 20,000 men. In spring 1314, Edward Bruce besieged Stirling Castle. Its governor agreed to surrender if not relieved by 24 June 1314.

In March, James Douglas captured Roxburgh. Randolph captured Edinburgh Castle. In May, Bruce raided England again and took the Isle of Man. News of the Stirling Castle agreement reached Edward II. He decided to march north quickly to help the castle. Robert, with about 5,500 to 6,500 soldiers, mostly spearmen, prepared to stop Edward's forces.

The battle began on 23 June. The English army tried to cross the high ground near the Bannock Burn, which was surrounded by marshland. Fighting broke out, and Robert killed Sir Henry de Bohun in a personal fight. Edward continued his advance the next day. He met the main Scottish army as they came out of the woods. The English did not expect the Scots to fight here. Their army was in marching order, not battle order. Their archers, who usually break up enemy formations, were at the back. The English cavalry found it hard to move in the tight space. They were crushed by Robert's spearmen. The English army was overwhelmed, and its leaders lost control.

Edward II was pulled from the battlefield and chased by Scottish forces. He barely escaped. Historians call the English defeat a "calamity of stunning proportions." Their losses were huge. After the defeat, Edward retreated. Stirling Castle quickly fell.

Robert's Mid-Reign (1314–1320)

Fighting England and the Irish Conflict

With English threats reduced, Scotland's armies could now invade northern England. Bruce also pushed back an English expedition and raided Yorkshire and Lancashire. Encouraged by his military wins, Robert sent his brother Edward to invade Ireland in 1315. This was to help Irish lords fight English rule and open a second front against England. Edward was even crowned High King of Ireland in 1316. Robert later went to Ireland with another army to help his brother.

Bruce also promoted the idea of a "Pan-Gaelic Greater Scotia." This was a vision of his family ruling both Ireland and Scotland. This idea was helped by his marriage to a family from Ulster in Ireland. Also, Bruce himself was descended from Gaelic royalty in Scotland and Ireland. His Irish ancestors included Aoife of Leinster. So, Bruce tried to create an alliance between Scottish and Irish Gaelic people under his rule.

This plan worked somewhat in Ulster, where the Scots had some support. An Irish chief, Domhnall Ó Néill, later told Pope John XXII that "the Kings of Lesser Scotia all trace their blood to our Greater Scotia and retain to some degree our language and customs."

At first, the Scot-Irish army seemed unstoppable. They defeated the English and destroyed towns. However, the Scots failed to gain support from chiefs outside Ulster. People in the south of Ireland could not see the difference between English and Scottish occupation. A famine hit Ireland, and the army struggled for supplies. They raided and burned settlements, whether English or Irish. Eventually, the army was defeated when Edward Bruce was killed at the Battle of Faughart. Irish records from that time said the defeat of the Bruces was a great thing for the Irish nation. It ended the famine and raiding caused by both the Scots and the English.

Robert's Later Reign (1320–1329)

Robert Bruce's reign also included important diplomatic successes. The Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 strengthened his position, especially with the Papacy. Pope John XXII eventually lifted Bruce's excommunication. In May 1328, King Edward III of England signed the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton. This treaty recognized Scotland as an independent kingdom and Bruce as its king.

In 1325, Robert I traded lands to build a manor house at Cardross. This became his favorite home in his final years. Records from 1328 describe the manor house. It had king's and queen's rooms, a chapel, kitchens, and a hunting park. There was also a dock for his fishing boat and a larger ship. Most of Scotland's major royal castles had been destroyed around 1313–14. So, Cardross manor was built as a modest home. This showed respect for his people, who had suffered from long wars, famines, and animal diseases. Before Cardross was ready, Robert mainly lived at Scone Abbey.

Robert had been sick since at least 1327. Some old writings say he had leprosy. However, in the 1300s, the word "leprosy" was used for almost any major skin disease. An early letter from 1327 said Robert was so weak he could barely move anything but his tongue. But none of the accounts from people who were with him in his last years mention any skin problems. One writer said his illness started from being cold during his years of hiding.

In October 1328, the Pope finally lifted the interdict from Scotland and Robert's excommunication. The king's last journey was a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Ninian at Whithorn. He might have been seeking a miracle cure or trying to make peace with God. With his friend Moray, Robert traveled from Cardross to Tarbert on his 'great ship'. Then he went to the Isle of Arran for Christmas 1328. He then sailed to the mainland to visit his son and his young wife at Turnberry Castle. He traveled overland by litter to Inch. Houses were built there, and supplies brought, suggesting his health was getting worse. In early April, he reached the shrine of St Ninian at Whithorn. He fasted and prayed before returning by sea to Cardross.

Stories say Robert called his church leaders and nobles to his bedside for a final meeting. He gave many gifts to religious houses. He also gave silver to religious groups so they would pray for his soul. He regretted not being able to go on a crusade to fight in the Holy Land. Robert's last wish was a common religious practice. It was also perhaps meant to keep his memory alive.

Robert also arranged for special masses to be paid for forever. These would be held at the chapel of Saint Serf, in Ayr, and at the church in Berwick. He also arranged them for Dunfermline Abbey.

Robert's Death (1329)

His Death and What Happened Next

Robert died on 7 June 1329, at the Manor of Cardross, near Dumbarton. He died feeling successful. The main goal of his life's struggle – to have the Bruce family's right to the crown fully recognized – had been achieved. He was confident that he was leaving Scotland safe with his trusted friend, Moray, until his young son grew up. Six days after his death, the Pope allowed future Scottish Kings to be anointed with oil at their coronation.

It is still unclear what caused Robert's death. He was almost 55. Some English writers at the time said he had leprosy. But none of the Scottish stories mention leprosy. Historians say it's hard to believe Robert had infectious leprosy. He was a king who fought in wars, met people face-to-face, held parliaments, traveled widely, and had several children.

A team of researchers has studied Robert the Bruce's skull and a foot bone. They found no signs of leprosy. This suggests he did not have the disease.

Where Robert Was Buried

The king's body was embalmed. His sternum (breastbone) was opened to remove his heart. Sir James Douglas placed the heart in a silver box to wear around his neck. Robert's internal organs were buried in the chapel of Saint Serf in Dumbarton. This was near his manor house.

The king's body was carried east from Cardross in a black carriage. Stops were made at Dunipace and Cambuskenneth Abbey. The funeral was a grand event. Many mourners, including Robert Stewart and knights in black robes, followed the funeral party into Dunfermline Abbey. A special structure was built over the grave. Robert I's body, in a wooden coffin, was buried in a stone vault under the floor. A marble tomb from Paris was placed over it. On top was a white alabaster statue of Robert I, painted and gilded. A Latin message was carved around the tomb. It said: "Here lies the invincible blessed King Robert / Whoever reads about his feats will repeat the many battles he fought / By his integrity he guided to liberty the Kingdom of the Scots: May he now live in Heaven." Ten pieces of alabaster from the tomb are now in the National Museum of Scotland.

When a planned international crusade did not happen, Sir James Douglas and his group went to Spain. They were helping Alfonso XI of Castile fight against the Moorish kingdom of Granada. In August 1330, the Scots joined the Castilian army. They were attacking the castle of Teba. Sir James and most of his friends were killed. Stories say that the remaining Scots found Douglas's body and the box with Bruce's heart. The heart, along with Douglas's bones, was brought back to Scotland.

As Bruce had asked, his heart was buried at Melrose Abbey in Roxburghshire. In 1920, archaeologists found the heart and reburied it. In 1996, a box was found during construction work. Studies showed it contained human tissue of the right age. It was reburied in Melrose Abbey in 1998, as the King had wished.

Finding Bruce's Tomb

During the Scottish Reformation, the abbey church was damaged. By 1563, parts of it were roofless. In 1672, parts of the east end collapsed. The central tower fell in 1753.

On 17 February 1818, workers building a new church at Dunfermline Abbey found a vault. It was under the floor, where the abbey's main altar used to be. The vault was covered by two large stones. Inside, there was a body completely covered in lead. A decayed shroud of cloth of gold was over it. The lead over the head was shaped like a crown. Pieces of marble and alabaster had been found nearby years earlier. These were linked to Robert the Bruce's tomb, which was bought in Paris.

Officials ordered the vault to be sealed and guarded. In November 1819, an investigation took place. The shroud and lead covering were decaying quickly. The body was lifted out. It was covered in two thin layers of lead. The lead was removed, and the skeleton was examined by doctors. They found that the breastbone had been sawn open. This allowed the king's heart to be removed after death. A plaster cast was made of the skull. The bones were measured. The king's skeleton was measured to be about 5 feet 11 inches long. As a young man, Bruce was estimated to be about 6 feet 1 inch tall. This was very tall for medieval times.

The skeleton was then placed on a wooden board. A large crowd of curious people were allowed to view the king's remains. Some small pieces, like teeth and finger bones, were taken from the skeleton at this time. Robert the Bruce's remains were formally reburied in the vault at Dunfermline Abbey on 5 November 1819. They were placed in a new lead coffin. About 1,500 pounds of melted pitch were poured in to preserve the remains.

Scientists have created reconstructions of Robert the Bruce's face.

Robert's Children

Child by Isabella of Mar
Name	Birth	Death	Notes
Marjorie	1296	2 March 1316	Married Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland. They had one child, Robert II of Scotland.
Children by Elizabeth de Burgh
Name	Birth	Death	Notes
Margaret	unknown	1346/47	Married William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland. They had a son, John.
Matilda (Maud)	by 1327	1353	Married Thomas Isaac. They had two daughters. Buried at Dunfermline Abbey.
David	5 March 1324	22 February 1371	Became king after his father. Married (1) Joan of England; no children. Married (2) Margaret Drummond; no children.
John	5 March 1324	Before 1327	David II's twin brother.
Elizabeth Bruce	unknown	After 1364	Married Sir Walter Oliphant of Aberdalgie and Dupplin.
Children born outside marriage
Name	Birth	Death	Notes
Robert Bruce, Lord of Liddesdale		1332	Killed at the Battle of Dupplin Moor.
Walter of Odistoun			Died before his father.
Margaret Bruce			Married Robert Glen. She was alive in 1364.
Christina Bruce			Her mother is unknown. She might be Christina de Cairns or Christina Flemyng.
Niall Bruce		1346	Possibly a son of Robert's brother Neil. Killed at the Battle of Neville's Cross.

All later Scottish kings and all British kings and queens since 1603 are descended from Robert Bruce. Many families today are also his descendants.

Robert's Legacy

Remembering Robert the Bruce

Robert I was first buried in Dunfermline Abbey. This was the traditional burial place for Scottish kings. His tomb was very fancy, made of gilded alabaster from Paris. It was destroyed during the Reformation. But some pieces were found in the 1800s and are now in the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The spot of his tomb in Dunfermline Abbey is marked by large carved stone letters. These spell out "King Robert the Bruce" around the top of the bell tower. In 1974, the Bruce Memorial Window was put in the north transept. This marked 700 years since his birth. It shows stained glass images of Bruce with his main men, Christ, and saints connected to Scotland.

A statue of Robert the Bruce from 1929 is on the wall of Edinburgh Castle. It is next to a statue of Sir William Wallace. In Edinburgh, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery also has statues of Bruce and Wallace. The building has paintings showing scenes from Scottish history, including Bruce at Bannockburn.

A statue of Bruce is in the Hall of Heroes at the National Wallace Monument in Stirling.

There is a statue of Robert Bruce in the High Street in Lochmaben. Another was put up in Annan in 2010.

Since 2006, an annual dinner has been held in Stirling to honor him.

Swords with Robert's name on them likely date from the 1500s, not earlier. One is in the Wallace Collection.

Famous Legends

A famous legend says that when Bruce was hiding after the 1305 Battle of Methven, he saw a spider. The spider was trying to spin a web from one part of the cave roof to another. It tried and failed twice. But it tried again and succeeded on the third try. This inspired Bruce to keep fighting. He then won many battles against the English. This story teaches us to "if at first you don't succeed, try try try again."

This legend first appeared in a book called Tales of a Grandfather by Sir Walter Scott (published 1828–1830). It might have originally been told about his friend Sir James Douglas. He also hid in caves. The story might be a common type of tale used in royal biographies. Similar stories are told about King David in Jewish texts. They are also told about Władysław I the Elbow-high in Polish stories and Tamerlane in Persian folklore.

Another story says that before the Battle of Bannockburn, Bruce was attacked by the English Knight Sir Henry de Bohun. De Bohun charged at Bruce, who only had his battle-axe. Bruce quickly dodged the lance. He then swung his axe with great force. He hit de Bohun so hard that he split his iron helmet and his head in two. The blow was so powerful it shattered Bruce's axe. Afterward, the King only regretted breaking his favorite axe. This story shows the determination of the Scottish people.

Robert in Modern Culture

Opera

• Robert Bruce (1843), an opera by Gioacchino Rossini.

Poems

• Robert Bruce, the King of Scotland [uk] (1893), written by Lesya Ukrainka.

Fiction

• The Bruce Trilogy (1985), by Nigel Tranter.

Films

• Braveheart (1995), directed by Mel Gibson, features Angus Macfadyen as Robert the Bruce. This film is known for not being very historically accurate.
• The Bruce (1996) focuses on Robert I's rise to power. It ends with the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
• Outlaw King (2018), directed by David Mackenzie, stars Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce. The film ends with the Scottish victory at Loudoun Hill in 1307.
• Robert the Bruce (2019), directed by Richard Gray, stars Angus Macfadyen again as Robert the Bruce.

Television

• In Rise of the Clans (2018), a history series, David Paisley plays Robert the Bruce in the first episode.

Video Games

• In Sid Meier's Civilization VI, Robert the Bruce is the leader of Scotland.

See Also

In Spanish: Roberto I de Escocia para niños

• Competitors for the Crown of Scotland
• Cultural depictions of Robert the Bruce
• Scottish monarchs' family tree
• People on Scottish banknotes