Who was Robert-the-Bruce?
Robert de Brus (Bruce), a descendant of William the Lion, King of Scotland, is now known as one of the greatest military leaders of the world. Through Brus came the Royal House of Steward who produced the current British royal family.
All that is positively fascinating to me, but what fascinates me the most is knowing that Robert de Brus is my ancestor. My mother's family, the de Colvilles, are direct descendants of Robert's sister, The Lady Mary Brus. Mary Brus is my great- grandmother many generations back.
But what of her brother?
Brus became known as Robert-the-Brus, or The Brus. On July 11, 1274 on the Firth of Clyde, Brus was born into a nobel family. His father was Anglo-Norman, and his mother was the Celtic Countess of Carrick.
In the 13th century after the invasion of Edward I, the Scots held strong resentment toward the English for taking their lands. Many of the Scots were kicked out of their homes with nowhere to go. They needed a warrior to fight for them, and the Brus was their solution.
With a small crowd gathered, Robert-the-Brus was crowned King of Scotland at Scone, where all the kings of Scotland before him were crowned. History records the Countess of Buchan crowned Brus herself with a golden coronella.
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Brus captured the hearts of the Scots causing hope to stir in them once again, giving them visions of a future for their kingdom. Soon, the fighting began, but the English crushed the Scots. The Brus had to take refuge in the Highlands.
Unable to find the Brus, King Edward I, in a mad rage imprisoned Brus' wife, and young daughter, Lady Mary Brus, and the Countess of Buchan. The king, imprisoned the women in an open cage, and hung them from his castle walls for all to see.
To make matters worse, the heartless king executed three of Brus' brothers and other followers of the Brus, along with William Wallace. Later, when Edward I died, his son took the throne. Determined to do what his father couldn't, Edward II, charged to Scotland only to be defeated in Ayrshire.
The final battle came at a place called Bannockburn. The night before the great battle, the English made merriment - so sure they would beat the Scots. But, the Scots were silent on that night, and they gathered in prayer. Then Brus prepared his battleground for what was to come.
He divided his army into four units led by his brother, Edward Brus, who for a time was king of Ireland, Sir Thomas Randolph (Brus' nephew), Sir James Douglas, and Walter the Steward. They prayed and waited.
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Early the next morning, the English attack started off with a sky full of arrows sailing toward the Scots. Soon, men were charging one another, and the English and their horses plunged into the burrow and marsh of the bloody battleground. Their heavy armor prevented them from quickly jumping up, giving the Scots the upper hand.
Edward II, fled in fear of additional Scottish troops, and the Scots gained their independence. After the death of Edward II, Edward III, finally agreed to negotiate for peace, and Scotland became an independent kingdom.
Robert-The-Brus' dying request was that his heart be cut out and placed in a small leaden casket. He wanted it taken on the crusades against the infidel. After his death on June 7, 1329, Sir James Douglas carried out his king's wish, and before each battle it was thrown into the battleground.
The heart was later returned to Scotland, and today is interred in Melrose Abbey. The Brus' remains are at Dunfermline Abbey. Robert-the-Brus lived to lock horns with three English kings, and because of his brave heart, Scotland won their freedom.
The Brus' legacy will remain in the hearts of all Scots forever. Today he is remembered not only as Scotland's greatest warrior king, but the best-loved monarch in Scottish history.
Long live The Bruce.
Bib:
Prebble,John.The Lion In The North. London.
Lexicon Universal Ency.New York. 1988.
© jcpinkerton
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