R OBE RT t he BR U C E
born 11 July 1274, Ayrshire – died 7 June 1329, Dumbarton
Sculptor: David Watson Stevenson (1842-1904)
Donated by: The Marquess of Bute, 1887
According to myth, at some point while he was on the run during
the winter of 1305-06, Bruce hid himself in a cave on Rathlin
Island off the north coast of Ireland. While there he observed a
spider spinning a web, trying to make a connection from one area
of the cave's roof to another.
Each time the spider failed, it simply started all over again until it
succeeded. Inspired by this, Bruce returned to inflict a series of
defeats on the English. The story serves to illustrate the maxim: "if
at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
The birthplace of Robert the Bruce remains unclear.
The predomiant view is that he was born within the
walls of Turnberry Castle in Ayrshire on 11 July
1274. However, there is also the possibility that he
was actually born in the seat of the Bruce family Lochmaben Castle, Annandale, Dumfrieshire.
Robert the Bruce leant support to William Wallace
and became 'Guardian of Scotland' (with John
Comyn), but when Edward offered a truce in 1302,
Robert accepted and joined Edward as part of the
'Scottish Council'.
After murdering John Comyn during an argument,
Robert about-faced and declared himself King of
Scotland. After being crowned at Scone in 1306, he
began his rule by staging a guerilla war against
Edward I and the English army.
Robert's army achieved its first major victory in 1314
when they successfully routed the English in the
famous Battle of Bannockburn.
In 1320, the Scottish nobility created the 'Declaration of Arbroath', and sent the document to the Pope
asking that he recognise Robert the Bruce as the King
of an independent Scotland. The Pope agreed eight
years later.
Edward II, who succeeded his father fifteen years
previously, refused to acknowledge Robert as King of
Scotland, and invaded the Scots in 1322. The
Scottish army hindered the advancing English by
destroying the local crop and food sources using a
'scorched earth' policy.
King Robert died at Cardross at 1329. His body was
interred within Dumfermline Abbey.
At Robert's request, his heart accompanied James
Douglas on his journey to the Crusades. However,
Douglas was killed while battling the Moors in Spain,
and Robert's embalmed heart was returned to his
homeland, Scotland.