Robert Bruce, earl of Carrick

Born 1274

Given Carrick 1293 during Balliol kingship

Grandfather d. 1295

1296 - Bruces support Edward I

May-June 1297 - Bruce attempts to hijack Wallace/Moray revolt

1298 - Bruce at Falkirk? Guardian with Comyn by year’s close

1299 - July - Balliol release IAugust - dispute with Comyn in Council

1300 - by May Bruce replaced as Guardian by Umfraville

1301 - July-Oct - Balliol release II

1302 - Feb - Scots embassy to Paris; Bruce submits to Edward I - July - Courtrai - Dec - treaty of Amiens

1303-4 - Edward I reconquers Scotland (Bruce helps)

11 June 1304 - Cambuskenneth Bond

Bruce and Lamberton, bishop of St Andrews

… a revival of the kingship?

By May 1305 Bruce excluded from Parliament talks aboutOrdinance for Government.

10 Feb 1306 - Greyfriar’s Church, Dumfries

Bruce seeking Comyn support for kingship?

Or talks about share of power in Edward’sScotland?

Comyn betrayed Bruce canvassing to Edward?Did Bruce know?

Feb- March 1306 - provisions castles in south-west and Clydeside - absolved by Wishart of Glasgow

25-27 March 1306 - inauguration at SconeLamberton, Wishart, bishops of Dunkeld, Moray, Brechinabbots of Scone and Inchaffrey

4 brothers, Atholl, Menteith, Lennox, Mar, Steward,James Douglas, Boyd, Seton…

No earl of Fife - so Countess of Buchan!

Bruce on the Run…

19 June - Methven (English)

13 July - Dail Righ (Macdougalls)

Womenfolk, Neil Bruce, Atholl and Christopher Seton captured byearl of Ross.

Late-Autumn-winter 1306-7 - refuge in western Isles/Ulster

Feb 1307 - brothers Alexander &Thomas captured

Death of Edward I7 July 1307.

Buchaile Etive Mor; along Bruce’s march north to attack the Comyns in 1307-08.

Inverlochy and castle.

Key battle:- Inverurie May 1308Aberdeen taken

Pass of Brander -Bruce’s defeat of theMacdougalls, August 1308.

Ross submits thereafter.

Great Seal of Robert IChancellor - Bernard de Linton, Abbot of Arbroath

Bruce’s first Parliament, St Andrews 16-17 March 1309

- Declaration of the Clergy of Scotland - John Balliol had been imposedas King of Scots by Edward I by force; Bruces always thought to havebest claim to Alexadner III’s throne.

- Declaration of Nobility - “the inhabitants of the whole realm of Scotland” acknowledge allegiance to Robert as King - sealed by earls ofRoss, Lennox, Sutherland, Fife, Menteith, Mar, Caithness; key magnates like Edward Bruce, Thomas Randolph, Robert Keith, James Douglas,Robert Boyd, Campbells and Argyll men…

Restored Diplomatic relations:-

- French King writes to Robert seeking support for crusade 1309.

- Edward II complains about Flemish and German merchantssupplying Scots.

- 29 October 1312 - renewal of Treaty of Perth with Norwegians overWestern isles.

But…

- papacy refuses to recognise Robert as King of Scots

- No actual title as ‘Robert king of Scots’ from French...