Scotland, "de BRUS" Robert I "The Bruce" King of

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Biographical Text:
Robert the Bruce, 2nd Earl of Carrick and grandson of the old Competitor had supported Edward I against Balliol but, when Wallace renounced the guardianship of Scotland Bruce and Balliol's nephew,John "Red" Comyn replaced him as joint guardians. After a quarrel with Comyn he returned to Edward's camp and obtained a pardon. Bruce, seeking a reconciliation with Comyn, impulsively stabbed him at Dumfries in a church. He was again outlawed by Edward and excommunicated. Bruce claimed the Scottish throne as great-great-grandson of David I and was crowned at Scone in 1306. He went into hiding in a cave on an island off Ireland after he killed Red Comyn. This is where we get the legend of Bruce and the spider. We do not know if this is a true story but it makes a good legend. He watched the spider spinning its web and attempting to fix the web to the ceiling. At last the spider succeeded. According to the legend, this inspired Bruce to overcome his many hardships and persevere until he had won back Scotland. He made plans to take back his original home, Turnberry Castle. As they made their way to the castle, the plan was that if all was well, a light would be showing at the castle wall. They did see the light but upon nearing the castle, discovered that it was an enemy fire. Nonetheless, Bruce attacked and by this surprise attack gained food, armour and horses. He learned that three of his brothers and his wife, daughter and two sisters had been imprisoned by the English. Although he was now King, he was not well supported by the nobles and so Scottish lands and castles remained in the hands of the English. He knew that he would have to fight castle by castle in order to regain Scotland and drive the English out. Through his perseverance, by 1324 all castles in Scotland except Stirling were in Scottish hands. By this time Edward II was on the throne of England and was much more ineffectual than his father.

Bruce's much smaller force spectacularly defeated Edward II's 20,000 strong army at Bannockburn. I will say no more here about the Battle as it has been so well written by Skye.

The Declaration of Arbroath, an affirmation of Scottish independence, was sent to the Pope but the Pope did not recognize Bruce for four years as the rightful king of Scotland. After Edward III ascended to the throne, Bruce's army harassed the English so much that Edward III was forced to acknowledge his sovereignty and Scotland's freedom.

Not long after the peace Bruce died. He was buried in Dunfermline Abbey. He had always wanted to go on a crusade. When he died his heart was placed in a silver casket and kept by Sir James Douglas who planned to take it on a crusade to the Holy Lands. Douglas joined the army of the King of Spain and while fighting a battle was killed. But before he died, he threw the casket in the midst of the battle crying, "Now go before, brave heart, as you always did, and I shall follow you or die." The casket was recovered
and returned to Scotland.

At the end of Bruce's life, he had achieved what he had fought for years to accomplish. Scotland was once again an independent kingdom. Scotland remembers him as "Good King Robert" and his triumph at Bannockburn is a rallying cry to Scots everywhere. Scotland would never again be conquered. Bruce's final legacy was to confirm "Scotland as separate and distinct, not just as a kingdom but as a community, a people and ultimately a nation."

Robert married Mar, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND Isabell (Matilda) of about 1295. Isabell (daughter of Mar, Donald Earl of and Llewelyn, COUNTESS OF CHESTER Elen (Helen) Verch) was born about 1278 in Of Kildrummy Castle, Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; died about 1320. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Bruce, Princess of Scotland Marjorie was born about 1297 in Dundonald, Kyle, Ayrshire, Scotland; died on 2 Mar 1316 in Scotland.

Robert married Selby, Annabella (Anabel) in Of, Northumberland, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Burgh, Elizabeth De in 1302 in Writtle, Near Chelsford, Essex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Robert De Brus and Margaret of Carrick are common ancestors to both of Michael Hervey's parents. Their child, Christina Bruce has descendants who are ancestors in the Humphrey line. Their child, Robert 1 Bruce, King of Scotland has descendants who are ancestors in the Hervey line.

Robert married Carrick, Margaret Countess of in 1271 in Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland. Margaret (daughter of Carrick, Neil Earl of and Stewart, Margaret) was born about 1252 in Of, Carrick, Ayrshire, Scotland; died before 27 Oct 1292. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Christened:
Y

Robert married Clare, Isabel De in May 1240 in Scotland. Isabel (daughter of Clare, EARL OF GLOUCESTER Gilbert De and Marshall, COUNTESS OF CORNWALL Isabel) was born on 8 Nov 1226 in Of, Gloucestershire, England; died after 10 Jul 1264. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Neil married Stewart, Margaret in 1234. Margaret (daughter of Stewart, HIGH STEWARD OF SCOTLAND Walter and Angus, Beatrix De) was born about 1206 in Of, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Huntingdon, PRINCESS OF SCOTLAND Isabelle about 1209 in Of, Huntingdonshire, England. Isabelle (daughter of Huntingdon, PRINCE OF SCOTLAND David Earl of and Meschines, COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON Maud De) was born about 1199 in Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England; was buried in Saltre Abbey, Huntingdonshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Birth:
Of, Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England

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Birth:
, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England

Gilbert married Marshall, COUNTESS OF CORNWALL Isabel on 9 Oct 1217 in England. Isabel (daughter of Marshall, EARL OF PEMBROKE William and Clare, COUNTESS OF PEMB Isabel Fitzgilbert De) was born in in Of, Pembrokeshire, Wales; was christened in Apr 1206 in , St. David's, Pembrokeshire, Wales; died on 16 Jan 1240 in , Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England; was buried in , Beaulieu, Southampton, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Duncan married Fitzwalter, Avelina about 1200. Avelina (daughter of Fitzwalter, HIGH STEWARD OF SCOTLAND Alan) was born about 1179 in Of, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Walter married Angus, Beatrix De. Beatrix (daughter of Angus, Gilchrist Earl of and Scotland, Marjory Princess of) was born about 1184 in Of, Forfar, Angusshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]