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You are here : People » Bruce, Robert (the Bruce, I, King of the Scots 1306-1329)

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Born

11 Jul 1274

Born At

Died

7 Jul 1329

Buried At

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Robert I of Scotland was a member of the Bruce family. A certain amount of confusion can occur when reading about the Bruce family because the elder son in each generation is commonly called Robert. When Edward I, king of England, had taken control of Scotland in 1296 Robert swore loyalty to the English king. A year later Robert supported William Walace's rebellion against the English in Scotland. The rebellion failed when the Scots were defeated at the battle of Falkirk. Edward and Robert put aside their differences and Robert was made one of several regents to control the affairs of Scotland. One of the other regents was John Comyn but during an argument in Grayfriars Church Dumfries Robert stabbed and killed Comyn.

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Family Tree Details

Bruce, Robert (the Bruce, I, King of the Scots 1306-1329) (b.1274 - d.1329)
         +Isabella (1st wife of Robert I of Scotland)
         |        =Marjorie (Daughter of Robert I, the Bruce) ( - d.1316)
         |                 +Walter (6th High Steward) ( - d.1325)
         |                          =Robert (II, King of the Scots 1371-1390) ( - d.1390)
         |                                   +Mure, Elizabeth
         |                                   |        =Robert (III, King of Scotland 1390-1406) ( - d.1406)
         |                                   |                 +Drummond, Annabella (b.1350 - d.1401)
         |                                   |                          =Stewart, David (Duke of Rothesay) ( - d.1402)
         |                                   |                          =James (I, King of Scotland 1406-1437) (b.1394 - d.1437)
         |                                   +Ross, Euphemia
         +Elizabeth (2nd wife of Robert I of Scotland)
                  =David (II, King of the Scots 1329-1371) ( - d.1371)
                  |        +Joan (Daughter of Edward II)
                  =Margaret (Daughter of Robert I, the Bruce)
                  =Matilda (Daughter of Robert I, the Bruce)

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1274	Jul 11	Birth of Robert the Bruce
		Robert the Bruce, the future King of Scotland, was born at Turnberry Castle, Ayreshire on the west coast of Scotland. ¹
1291	May 10	Edward I meets Scottish Claimants
		Edward I met the claimants for the Scottish crown at Norham. There were three main claimants to the throne all of whom were descended from David Earl of Huntingdon, the brother of William the Lion who died in 1214. The three men were John Balliol, Robert Bruce and John Hastings. The decision was delayed until the following year to allow all the facts to be taken into account.²
1306	Feb 10	John Comyn murdered by Robert Bruce
		Robert Bruce murdered John Comyn.
	Mar 25	Robert Bruce is crowned Robert I of Scotland
		Robert Bruce was crowned King of Scotland At Scone Abbey.
1308		Bruce takes Urquhart Castle
		Robert Bruce captured Urquhart Castle and placed it in the care of Sir Thomas Ranpolph, the Earl of Moray.³
1309		Robert Bruce recognised as King
		Robert Bruce was formally recognised as King of Scotland by the Scottish parliament at St. Andrews.⁴
1311		Bruce attacks the north
		The conflict within England gave Robert Bruce the opportunity to attack towns and forts in the north of England. He was commonly paid large sums of money by the towns' people to leave them alone. In this way he was able to raise enough money to buy better weapons for his army.⁴
1312	Qtr 1	Edward looks to Scotland for help
		Gaveston's return to England forced the Archbishop of Canterbury to honour his threat of excommunication and the Earls to prepare for civil war against the king. Edward and Gaveston travelled to Scotland to seek help from Robert the Bruce but were not welcome. At Tynemouth the King and Gaveston took a boat to Scarborough leaving behind them everything including Isabella, Edward's wife. Gaveston took refuge at Scarborough Castle and Edward went to York.⁴
1313		The Scots regain ground
		Using stealth and surprise tactics Robert Bruce's army recaptured Perth, Dundee, Edinburgh and Roxburgh from English occupation.⁴
1314		Bruce orders destruction of castles
		To prevent Scottish castles falling into English hands, Robert Bruce ordered that the castles at Roxburgh, Linlithgow and Edinburgh should be destroyed.⁵
1319	Jun	Edward marches to free Berwick
		The last Scottish town to be held in English hands had been captured by Robert the Bruce. The loss of Berwick brought Edward and Lancaster together. Their common goal was to recapture the town and together with the Earl of Pembroke and Surrey they marched north.⁴
1320	Apr	Declaration of Arbroath
		Robert the Bruce drew up the Declaration of Arbroath which defined Scotland's sovereignty and Robert's right to be King. This was sent to the Pope in the hope that he would lift the excommunication order under which Robert was still held for the death of John Comyn in 1306.
1322	Jul	The Scots invade
		The two year truce that had been agreed after the failed siege by the English at Berwick expired and Robert the Bruce invaded the north of England.⁴
	Aug	Edward advances into Scotland
		In response to Robert the Bruce's attacks in the north of England, Edward called for an army and took them into Scotland. The Scots were prepared for the English and had burnt land and supplies in front of Edward's army making it difficult for the English to survive.⁴
	Oct	Edward almost captured
		After returning from Scotland, Edward and Queen Isabella rested at Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire. The Scots were still nearby and met the English army led by the Earl of Richmond near Old Byland. The Scots defeated the English army and Edward had to flee to escape capture. Isabella too escaped.⁴
1323	Mar	Peace negotiations
		Edward and Robert the Bruce began negotiations for a peaceful settlement of their differences. There were difficulties because Robert claimed the title of King of Scotland but Edward initially refused this because he had inherited the title from his father Edward I. The execution of the Earl of Carlisle had led to the start of negotiations. Carlisle had approached Robert with the intention of preparing the ground for peace talks but had not informed the king of his intentions. His actions were discovered and the king assumed his actions were treasonable. Carlisle was executed as a traitor.⁴
1324	Mar 5	David (II) born
		The birth of David (II), the future king of Scotland to Robert I and Elizabeth de Burgh.
1328	May	Treaty of Northampton
		England recognised the Declaration of Arbroath drawn up by Robert the Bruce in 1320. Scotland was accepted as an independent country under the rule of Robert.
1329	Jun 7	David II becomes king of Scotland
		Robert I (the Bruce) of Scotland died and was followed by David (II). David was only 5 years old and so Edward Balliol claimed his right to the throne being the son of John who was king of Scotland from 1292 to 1296.⁶