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
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...