1306-1313 Robert the Bruce

Submitted by Owen McCafferty on Thu, 2010-01-14

After the death of Wallace, The Scots once again had no one to lead them.

Robert the Bruce had a claim to the throne as well as John Comyn of Badenoch, who had a more direct claim to the throne. In 1306 Bruce agreed to meet Comyn in a church at Dumfries to resole their differences, but the two men argued and Comyn was stabbed to death. Although Bruce was excommunicated for this, he still declared himself King of Scots at Scone in 1306. His small army was defeated at the Battle of Methven (1306), and then scattered at the Battle of Dalry (1306). Bruce had very few followers and was forced to flee the country. His three brothers and sister were executed by the English, and the rest of his family and their family were imprisoned.

After the death of Edward I in 1307, Bruce returned to Scotland and won Battles at Loudoun Hill (1307) the Pass of Brander (1307), where he defeated the MacDougalls; in Galloway, where the MacDowalls were crushed; and at Inverurie (1307) he destroyed the power of the Comyns, and their allies. Bruce continued his quest through out Scotland, gathering more support as he started expelling English Garrisons from Scotland.