History UsefulNotes / RobertTheBruce

Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), better known as '''Robert the Bruce''', was the first Scottish monarch of the Bruce line. He was a major player in the Scottish Wars of Independence and ultimately led Scotland to freedom. Today revered in UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}} as their greatest national hero, Robert is something of a FolkHero in those parts, representing the Scottish Spirit and bravery, and is usually considered a national symbol.

Robert the Bruce first entered the annals of history as an heir of the [[TheClan House of Bruce]], his grandfather (also named Robert) was one of many claimants to the throne of Scotland in the SuccessionCrisis that came after King Alexander the Third. The elder Bruce lost, and John Balliol was crowned King. The elder Bruce [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere resigned]] and retired. But it is said his teachings and actions greatly affected the young Robert, inspiring him to his later actions.

One of the more controversial elements of his life was the killing of rival claimant "Red" John Comyn (John Baliol's nephew) at Greyfriars Church, Dumfries on the 10 February 1306. Beyond the basic facts (Bruce and Comyn entered and Robert stabbed him before the altar) [[RiddleForTheAges the precise motivations remain a mystery.]] Scottish sources would claim that Comyn was a treacherous villain who plotted to betray Bruce to the English while English sources claim Bruce lured Comyn to a church so he could murder his rival. Whatever the cause, Comyn's death proved a disastrous move for Robert the Bruce that divided Scotland at the worst possible time.

Robert was succeeded by his son David II; after David died without issue in 1371, the throne of Scotland passed to Robert II Stewart, the son of Robert I's daughter Marjorie and Walter Stewart, High Steward of Scotland. In one of history's supreme {{iron|y}}ies, Robert II's dynasty, UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfStuart, eventually [[UsefulNotes/JamesVIAndI inherited the throne of England]]!

One of the more controversial elements of his life was the killing of rival claimant "Red" John Comyn(John Baliol's nephew) at Greyfriars Church, Dumfries on the 10 February 1306. Beyond the basic facts(Bruce and Comyn entered and Robert stabbed him before the altar) [[RiddleForTheAges the precise motivations remain a mystery.]] Scottish sources would claim that Comyn was a treacherous villain who plotted to betray Bruce to the English while English sources claim Bruce lured Comyn to a church so he could murder his rival. Whatever the cause, Comyn's death proved a disastrous move for Robert the Bruce that divided Scotland at the worst possible time.

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Robert the Bruce first entered the annals of history as an heir of the [[TheClan House of Bruce]], his grandfather ([[NamesTheSame also named Robert]]) was one of many claimants to the throne of Scotland in the SuccessionCrisis that came after King Alexander the Third. The elder Bruce lost, and John Balliol was crowned King. The elder Bruce [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere resigned]] and retired. But it is said his teachings and actions greatly affected the young Robert, inspiring him to his later actions.

Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), better known as '''Robert the Bruce''', was the first Scottish monarch of the Bruce line. He was a major player in the Scottish Wars of Independence and ultimately led Scotland to freedom. Today revered in UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}} as their greatest national hero, Robert is something of a FolkHero in those parts, representing the Scottish Spirit and bravery, and usually considered a national symbol.

Robert the Bruce first entered the annals of history as a heir of the [[TheClan House of Bruce]], his grandfather ([[NamesTheSame also named Robert]]) was one of many claimants to the throne of Scotland in the SuccessionCrisis that came after King Alexander the Third. The elder Bruce lost, and John Balliol was crowned King. The elder Bruce [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere resigned]] and retired. But it is said his teachings and actions greatly affected the young Robert, inspiring him to his later actions.

Scotland was essentially left kingless, and Edward was the ''de facto'' ruler of the country. A series of rebellions sparked the war anew, and Robert the Bruce participated intensively in them as one of the leading generals in the Scottish side (but make no mistake, [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor the man switched sides a lot]]). After several decades of strife, Robert the Bruce emerged as the sole victor and rightful king of Scotland.

In his rule he secured Scotland's position as an independent nation in the eyes of the English and the world. He later attempted to unify Scotland and Ireland[[note]]Many Irish nobles were quite supportive of this idea, and Robert's younger brother Edward was crowned by them as High King of Ireland in what was meant to be a precursor to the union.[[/note]], but his plans did not come into fruition. He died of some unspecified disease not too long thereafter.

* Creator/WalterScott's ''Tales of a Grandfather'' popularized the apocryphal tale in which a spider repeatedly trying to spin a web across a roof and ultimately succeeding inspires Robert to be a {{Determinator}} in Scotland.

Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), better known as '''Robert the Bruce''', was the first Scottish monarch of the Bruce line. He was a major player in the Scottish Wars of Independence and ultimately led Scotland to freedom. Today revered in Scotland as their greatest national hero, Robert is something of a FolkHero in those parts, representing the Scottish Spirit and bravery, and usually considered a national symbol.

Robert the Bruce then grew up believing the same thing his grandfather believed: the Bruces were the rightful kings of Scotland. John Balliol's (now King John) reign was brief and fruitless, with the King being mostly bossed around by [[UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst Edward Hammer of the Scots]]. Soon a war between the Scots and the English began, and after a short series of battles, King John abdicated and the English had him kept as a prisoner.

* Robert gets a HistoricalVillainUpgrade in ''Film/{{Braveheart}}'' (1995), where he's portrayed as a lesser hero than Wallace and as a man who betrayed him. Incidentally, the name "Braveheart" referred to ''him'', not Wallace. Played by Creator/AngusMacfadyen.
* Robert is played by Creator/ChrisPine in ''Film/OutlawKing'' (2018), which depicts the ups and downs of Robert's rebellion until their first major victory against the English at the battle of Loudoun Hill.

* Robert gets a HistoricalVillainUpgrade in ''Film/{{Braveheart}}'' (1995), where he's portrayed as a lesser hero than Wallace and as a man who betrayed him. Incidentally, the name "Braveheart" referred to ''him'', not Wallace. Played by Angus Mcfayden.

* ''Robert the Bruce'' (2019), starring Angus Macfayden as Robert [[RoleReprise once again]] after ''Braveheart''. After numerous defeats, Robert finds refuge in the home of a peasant woman and her niece, nephew, and son who help to re-inspire Robert with a renewed understanding of the patriotism of ordinary Scots, which rekindles his zeal as he returns to the battlefield.