Robert the Bruce became King of Scotland after killing his rival John Comyn. This made his position as king difficult initially, as he was excommunicated from the church. He was crowned king of Scotland in 1306 but faced opposition from the English King Edward I and Scottish supporters of John Comyn. Bruce's early reign was unsuccessful, as Edward's forces defeated Bruce's army twice, forcing Bruce into hiding.

2. LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Describe the events which helped Robert the Bruce become
King of Scotland
• Describe the problems that Bruce faced early in his reign as
king

3. After the death of William Wallace, King Edward took control
of Scotland, overcoming most opposition to him. Scotland’s
lack of a national leader hindered rebellion, until the rise of
Robert the Bruce.

4. Robert the Bruce came from
a prominent Scottish family.
Bruce’s family owned land
in Scotland and England.
They also had family links to
previous Scottish monarchs
and his grandfather, Robert,
was a candidate in the
Great Cause.

5. Bruce initially had a mixed role
in the independence campaign.
Bruce knew and had fought
alongside Edward (similar to
many other Scottish nobles).
His family had also been
angry at Edward’s failure to
give them the crown after
Balliol's abdication.

6. With the death of Wallace, the
two most prominent leaders in
Scotland were Robert the Bruce
and John Comyn.
Both men were bitter rivals
but agreed to meet to discuss
how to win Scotland’s
independence, and also who
would become king.

7. Bruce and Comyn met in
Greyfriars Church in
Dumfries on 10 February 1306.
Something caused a row
between the men and Bruce
stabbed Comyn. One of
Bruce’s men apparently went to
check that Comyn was dead, to
kill him if not.

8. Comyn’s killing was a
disaster for Bruce.
It meant he would be
excommunicated
(thrown out) of the Catholic
Church, meaning he could
not become king. It would
also make winning
Scotland’s independence
harder to achieve.

9. Bishop Wishart of Glasgow
believed that Bruce was
Scotland’s only hope, so he
gave him forgiveness on
behalf of the Catholic Church.
He also persuaded Bruce that
his best chance to unite
Scotland was to crown
himself as the country’s king.

10. On 25 March 1306, Bruce’s
followers went to Scone.
Although they lacked the
Stone of Destiny, they still
crowned Bruce as Scotland’s
king, with the ceremony being
carried out by the Countess
of Buchan (John Comyn’s
cousin’s wife, who defied her
husband).

11. There is a debate about
whether Bruce planned to kill
Comyn, but it is unlikely he
set out to kill his main rival in a
church.
Many believe Bruce killed
Comyn either because Comyn
would not back his plans, or
because Comyn wanted to be
Scotland’s king.

12. Bruce was also angry at
Edward’s treatment of him.
Bruce had been very
supportive of Edward, long
before Comyn was. However
when Edward began to give
more power to Scotland –
including appointing its own
sheriffs – it was Comyn’s men
who got these posts.

13. Bruce’s early period as king
was not a successful one for
him or Scotland.
He faced two main challenges:
one, from Edward, angry at
various Bruce actions and,
two, from supporters of John
Comyn.

14. Bruce began his reign by
attacking Edward’s troops
in different parts of
Scotland.
He won control of Cupar
Castle in Fife and also
forced supporters of Comyn
to pay homage to him.
Cupar

15. King Edward, angry with
Bruce’s actions, appointed
Aymer de Valance as his
Special Lieutenant in
Scotland.
Valance was the brother-
in-law of John Comyn and
so desperate to see action
taken against Bruce.

16. Valance travelled through Fife,
undermining much of Bruce’s
work.
Bruce planned to fight Valance
but it almost ended Bruce’s life.
In June 1306 Valance’s men
attacked as Bruce’s army
prepared camp in Methven,
and most of Bruce’s men were
killed.

17. Bruce and the few survivors
escaped and travelled west.
However they were attacked
near Dalrigh by men led by
John MacDougal of Argyll.
MacDougal was also related to
John Comyn. The attack in
August 1306 killed many of
Bruce’s remaining men.

18. Bruce was now without an
army. He sent members of his
family to Kildrummy
Castle in the north east for
their protection, but they
were betrayed and captured
by Valance’s forces.
Edward now planned to take
firm action against Bruce’s
supporters.

19. Male supporters of Bruce,
including his brother Neil, were
executed in the same way as
William Wallace.
Bruce’s wife and daughters
were imprisoned, including in
nunneries. The Countess of
Buchan was locked in a
hanging cage at Roxburgh
Castle.

20. Bruce’s whereabouts in late-
1306 and early 1307 are
unknown. Many believe he
went to Ireland, or an island
off the coast of Scotland.
Bruce was also given a
nickname by the English:
King Hob (meaning King
Nobody).

21. Bruce’s disappearance has
led to a famous story (which
there is no evidence for).
Whilst hiding, Bruce is said
to have seen a spider
trying to build its web, even
though it kept failing. He
was said to be inspired by
the spider’s actions to
return home and fight.