Famous Scots - Robert the Bruce

Thursday, December 26th, 2019

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1274 - 1329
	Along with contemporary William Wallace, Robert the Bruce is considered a founder of Scottish independence. Bruce gained control of Scotland from the English in 1306 and ruled it for twenty-three years. Bruce had a hereditary claim to the Scottish throne; his grandfather had asserted his claim to the throne whenAlexander III died. Although he served the English king, Edward I, for four years, Bruce remained conscious of the movement for national independence, and of his own claim to lead the country. He was crowned in March of 1306, and wore down his enemies through brilliant guerilla and 'scorched earth' tactics. One account of Robert the Bruce during an English assault on Edinburgh Castle illustrates his spirit as a warrior: "As the English approached Bruce was riding a small mount, not expecting any attack at that point. Sir Henry de Bohun, an English knight, recognised Bruce and seized the chance to fight him as, unlike Bruce, he was dressed in full armour and riding a great war horse. On seeing the oncoming attack, Bruce turned and rising in his stirrups, with one blow, clove de Bohun's skull in two with his battle axe, which consequently broke." (from Scotweb) Bruce's most famous battle took place at Bannockburn, where he decisively defeated the English and thwarted Edward II's attempt to take over Stirling Castle. The situation at Bannockburn looked so bad for the Scots that the English spent the night before the battle celebrating their anticipated victory. As it turned out, they should have anticipated the terrain instead. Although English troops outnumbered the Scots, Bruce's forces had the advantage in the boggy marshes of Bannockburn. They arranged themselves in four 'schiltrons' or circles, with access to safe retreat. Retreat was not necessary, however. Once hand-to-hand combat began, Scots had a clear advantage. English soldiers, weighed down with heavy armor, were trapped by the bogs. As their ranks fell into disorder, a group of Scots observing the battle from a hilltop ran toward the battle, yelling Bruce's battle cry. Thinking that reinforcements had arrived, the English fled the battle. The victory at Bannockburn solidified Bruce's claim to the throne. Further attempts by the English to make inroads into Scottish territory were defeated, and Robert the Bruce died as king of an independent Scotland.