The ambition of the Bruce 9119 The ambition
The ambition of the Bruce
9/1/19 The ambition of the Bruce AIM – Learn about the political moves Bruce made in his ambition to gain Scotland’s crown. SUCCESS CRITERIA – • Be able to describe Bruce’s changes in allegiance from 1296 -1306. • Be able to explain why Bruce changed sides from 1296 -1306. • Be able to describe the events at Greyfriars Kirk on 10 th February, 1306. • Be able to explain if Bruce did or did not plan his actions at Greyfriars. TASKS 1. Copy today’s aim and heading into your jotter. 2. Through class questioning, recap Scottish resistance from the aftermath of Wallace’s defeat at Falkirk through to Wallace’s capture and execution in 1305. 3. Go through today’s PPt, listening to the background of the events at Greyfriars Kirk in 1306. Add the handout to your jotter / notes. 4. Continue with the PPt from the ‘Murder of Comyn’, taking notes of information given in bold. 5. Use what we’ve learned and apply it to today’s ‘big question’.
The Bruce’s claim • The Bruces were a powerful Scots noble family, who owned extensive lands in both Scotland England. • As the great cause showed, they could trace their family history back to King David I, who ruled Scotland in the 1100 s. • Bruce the competitor (d. 1295) had once served as the regent of Scotland for King Alexander III whilst the boyking was still a minor. Remember me? : Whilst stubbornly refusing to die, Robert Bruce, the aged 5 th Lord of Annandale had made several bids for the throne in the 1280 s and 1290 s, all of them unsuccessful. • For these reasons, the Bruces believed they should be Scotland’s royal family once Alexander III’s line died out.
• When Edward I chose the Balliol claim over them, the Bruces refused to accept it. They refused to swear fealty to King John instead staying loyal to Edward, hoping that he would change his mind and elevate them instead. • When old Bruce the competitor died in 1295, his claim fell to his son, the 6 th Lord of Annandale. When this son died in 1304, his grandson – also Robert Bruce - took up the family claim. • The young Robert had been plotting for years to become the King of Scots. He stood on Edward’s side in 1296 when King John opposed Edward’s overlordship. • Robert wanted Scotland to stay separate from England so that one day he could rule as King of Scots. When it looked like Edward sought to absorb Scotland as he’d done with Wales, in 1297 Robert switched sides to join with Wallace and the Scottish rebels. Young Bruce: Hauntingly fresh and hopeful for the future…
• John of Fordoun wrote that Bruce fought on the English side at Falkirk in 1298, but this is not supported by any other primary sources. • Robert’s father at that time was old and ill, and there are reports that he wished his son to seek peace with Edward. If not, his son's actions could jeopardize his own income, which mainly came from his holdings south of the border. The elder Bruce would have seen that, if the rebellion failed and his son was against Edward, the son would lose everything: titles, lands, and probably his life. You’re not too old for a clip round the ear, ya wee eedjit!: Robert the Bruce’s dad was unimpressed by all the rebellious behaviour.
Bruce the Guardian • Against his father’s wishes, when Wallace quit as Guardian, Robert Bruce stepped in to replace him, along with John Comyn. • The Comyn family – cousins of the imprisoned King John Balliol – were the most powerful family in Scotland. The Bruces hated the Comyns. It all got a bit ‘handsy’…: The vibe in the office was always rather tense when Robert Bruce and John Comyn worked together. • Bruce found working with Comyn to be intolerable. The two men hated each other – at one point they are said to have argued so badly they held each other by the throat!
• As a nephew and supporter of King John, and as someone with a serious claim to the Scottish throne, Comyn was always going to be Bruce's enemy. • In 1299, William Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, was appointed as a third, neutral Guardian to try to maintain order between Bruce and Comyn. • Unable to tolerate Comyn, in 1300 Bruce resigned as joint Guardian and was replaced by Sir Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus. Bishop blocks king: in this time of crisis, Lamberton represented the Scottish Church's interest in holding the resistance together.
Submission ‘So I can have another go? ’: Balliol weighs up a sun-kissed life amidst his French vineyards against having another pop a playing king up in the wintry north. • In May 1301, Comyn, Lamberton and Umfraville resigned as joint Guardians to be replaced by John de Soules. • He was a patriot and campaigned actively for the return of John Balliol, who by now had been released by Edward – under pressure from the Pope - to live in exile in France. • By 1302, it was rumoured that Balliol was set to return from France to take up his throne. This was supported by Soules and most of the Scottish nobility. • If Balliol had returned to Scotland, it would have led to the Bruces losing any chance of gaining the throne themselves. In 1302, Robert Bruce chose to leave the Scottish side and switch his allegiance to support Edward.
• Edward honoured Bruce’s support by awarding him extensive lands in Scotland taken from the hands of Scottish nobles who continued to resist him. “Have we nothing better to do than win kingdoms for you? ” • Bruce grew a loyal band of followers by appointing his supporters as the new sheriffs and minor lords of these lands. • The power of the Bruce family grew and grew, which suited Edward as he used Bruce as a tool against the power of the Comyns and their allies. • Thinking his ultimate goal was close, Bruce asked Edward to make him the King of Scots instead of John Balliol. He had misjudged Edward however and the English king’s reply shocked him: Edward I: had his own plans on the go.
Plotting • Edward did not want Robert Bruce or anyone else to be King of Scots. • In 1303, Edward mounted another huge invasion into Scotland. His army marched as far as the north coast in Moray and stayed in Scotland until February 1304. By staying over winter he denied the Scots the chance to gather a harvest and rebuild their losses. Checkmate: In 1304 Edward had sealed the deal for his reign over Scotland – or had he? • John Comyn was by now the Guardian of Scotland again. He and most of the leading Scottish nobles surrendered to Edward in February 1304.
• Edward had decided on a new policy to rule Scotland – he would keep to the laws and practices of Alexander III’s reign and buy the loyalty of the native nobles with lands and titles. To hold onto their lands and wealth, they would rule Scotland’s unruly peasants on his behalf. • It was a brilliant plan. It was soon clear to Bruce that Edward would never need to make him king of Scots. We have no need for the likes of you…: In 1304, Edward was poised to absorb a dominated Scotland into his own rule. Bruce would have to come up with a new plan to get to the throne.
• Despite having already surrendered to the English, On 11 June 1304, Bruce and Bishop Lamberton made a pact that bound them together in "friendship and alliance against all men. " If one should break the secret pact, he would forfeit to the other the huge sum of ten thousand pounds. • Bruce and Bishop Lamberton were plotting to put a Scottish king back on Scotland’s throne. • At this time, Edward again obtained homage from the nobles and the burghs across Scotland. The Earl of Richmond, Edward's nephew, was to head up the subordinate government of Scotland. • Whilst all this took place, William Wallace was finally captured near Glasgow. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered in London on 23 rd August 1305. Oh, it’s a bit tight!: Captured near Glasgow in 1305, as the only leading Scotsman not granted a pardon by Edward, Wallace met a grisly end at the hands of Edward’s executioners.
• After 1304, Edward began awarding lands and titles to Comyn and his supporters rather than Bruce. It seemed Bruce was no longer as trusted or useful to Edward as Comyn was. • In September 1305, Edward ordered Robert Bruce to put his castle at Kildrummy, "in the keeping of such a man as he himself will be willing to answer for, " suggesting that King Edward suspected Robert was not entirely trustworthy and may have been plotting behind his back. • A further sign of Edward's distrust occurred on 10 th October 1305, when Edward revoked his gift of Sir Gilbert de Umfraville's lands to Bruce which he had made only six months before. Beady eyes: old longshanks was suspicious…
• Bruce had Bishop Lamberton on his side, but his actions of alternately supporting the English and Scottish armies had led to a great deal of distrust towards Bruce among the "Community of the Realm of Scotland". • His ambition was now further thwarted by John Comyn, who had been much more resolute in his opposition to the English. Comyn was the most powerful noble in Scotland with widespread support and connections amongst the nobility. John Comyn: A face Bruce would never tire of punching. • As Balliol’s nephew, Comyn also had a strong claim to the throne. Bruce had to deal with the Comyn problem before he could make his move for the crown.
The murder of Comyn • According to Barbour and Fordoun, in the late summer of 1305, Bruce and Comyn made a secret deal. • Comyn agreed to forfeit his claim to the Scottish throne in favour of Robert Bruce upon receipt of the Bruce lands in Scotland should an uprising occur led by Bruce. • Whether the details of the agreement with Comyn are correct or not, King Edward heard of the deal and moved to arrest Bruce while Bruce was visiting the English court. • Ralph de Monthermer (Edward’s own son-inlaw) learned of Edward's intention and warned Bruce by sending him twelve pence and a pair of spurs. Bruce took the hint… • Bruce and his squire fled the English court during the night, making their way quickly for Scotland. “ 12 coins and a set of spurs, you say? ? ”: That moment when you realise you should have left two days ago.
• Bruce arranged a meeting for 10 th February 1306 with John ‘the Red’ Comyn in the Chapel of Greyfriars Monastery in Dumfries to discuss the future of Scotland. At this time the nobles of Scotland were gathered in Dumfries to attend a Parliament. • The venue confirmed the deep and potentially violent mistrust the two men held for each other. Greyfriars offered the safety of holy, neutral ground and would have been considered a safe and acceptable place to meet by both parties. Greyfriars Kirk: A peaceful place for the brothers to chill.
• By now it was clear Balliol would never return to Scotland. • For Bruce, reviving the kingship of Scotland would be extremely difficult without the support of the Comyns whilst few in Scotland would have supported Bruce in an outright seizure of power. • As Balliol’s nephew, John Comyn was the chief representative of the Balliol interest in Scotland. In the terms of the great cause judgement, he also had a stronger legal claim to the throne than Bruce and may well have entertained his own royal ambitions. Hard men with hard faces: Bruce and his followers had no love for the Comyn folk.
• What was on Bruce’s mind when he entered Greyfriars Kirk? • Bruce was getting impatient. At 29, time was ticking if he was to be king. He had worked for a long time to earn the throne and now his ambition seemed to be slipping away. • According to Barbour, Comyn had betrayed his agreement with Bruce to King Edward I. At Greyfriars, Bruce accused him of treachery and they came to blows. “Watch my account of the events at Greyfriars Kirk!”
Grisly at Greyfriars: What actually happened? • Bruce and Comyn met to discuss Scotland’s future. • Discussions became violent, weapons were drawn and Comyn was wounded. • In the following confusion, John Comyn and his uncle, Sir Robert Comyn were killed in the church. • One account says Comyn was wounded and being tended by the monks. Bruce heard this and sent men back to finish the job. PASTE IN HANDOUT Immediate consequences • Bruce had committed the sin of sacrilege by spilling blood on holy ground. • Bruce attacked Dumfries Castle and captured the English garrison and justices. • Bruce then made his way to Glasgow to seek support and absolution for his crimes from Bishop Wishart. • It took 13 days for Edward to learn of Bruce’s act.
Was it murder? • Contemporary English chroniclers record that Bruce planned the ambush of Comyn at Greyfriars. • Historian R. C. Paterson calls the killing of John Comyn ‘one of the most decisive acts in Scottish political history’. • Whilst Bruce would probably have considered removing such a dangerous rival, it is extremely unlikely that he planned on killing him in a church. This was supreme sacrilege, a blatant violation of the laws of Christendom and certain to attract the fury of the Pope in Rome. • Historian Colm Mc. Namee says ‘murder and sacrilege are not the actions of an ambitious man trying to win the hearts and minds of the people of Scotland so that would make him their king’.
Next steps for Bruce • Bruce rode from Dumfries to see Bishop Wishart in Glasgow. • Wishart granted him absolution for his crime and re-affirmed the support of the Scottish clergy for Bruce, even against the fury of the Pope and the Church in Rome. • Edward heard about Comyn’s death 13 days later, on 23 rd February. He reacted with great fury. • Bruce wrote to Edward, appealing forgiveness and threatening to defend himself ‘with the longest stick he had’ if Edward refused him. • Edward did not reply. The pious killer: Bishop Wishart was a warrior bishop, able to raise an army when the time was right.
• Bruce could now never return to Edward’s peace. The balance of power in Scotland lay firmly in English hands. • The powerful Comyn/Balliol clan were now guaranteed to fight on Edward’s side and they held extensive lands all across Scotland. The only good Bruce is a dead Bruce!: The Comyns were not prepared to let it drop. • English garrisons controlled all of the main strongholds in Scotland Edward still had the support of the powerful Scottish Earls of Mar and Angus.
The red dragon will fly: time to be anywhere except Scotland. • Edward vowed to avenge the death of John Comyn and the treachery of Bruce. • On the 5 th April, Edward appointed Aymer de Valance, Comyn’s brother-in-law as his commander in Scotland, giving him the power to raise the dragon banner. This meant that no quarter would be given to Bruce and his followers. • Edward also wrote to the Pope. On 5 th June 1306, a formal sentence of ‘excommunication’ was pronounced on Bruce at St. Paul’s in Rome. This would be a hunt to the death.
• As a last resort, Bruce was forced to take arms and assert his claim to the throne. It was the only way he could raise an army large enough to defend himself. • Bruce captured a series of castles in southwestern Scotland, keeping the way open for reinforcements from Ireland or Islay. • He then made for Scone, where he was crowned by Bishop Wishart in a hasty ceremony on 25 th March, 1306. Shotgun coronation? : Bruce’s own wife noted how rushed an affair it was, mockingly calling him ‘the king of summer’.
Today’s ‘Big Question’ • Take note of the question in your jotter and write an answer drawing upon the notes you have taken today: • Did Bruce plan to murder Comyn in Greyfriars Kirk?
Outlaw King: Battles and Background • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=QIfn 110 oe. I Robert the Bruce: champion of Scotland or murderous usurper? – Article by Michael Brown. https: //www. historyextra. com/period/medieval/robert-the-bruce-champion-of-scotland -or-murderous-usurper/
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