1. King Hob

2. King Hob
28/1/19
AIM – Learn how Bruce and Edward competed for control over Scotland in 1306.
SUCCESS CRITERIA –
Be able to describe
Be able to explain why
Be able to give an opinion based on evidence on
TASKS
Copy today’s aim and heading into your jotter.
Through class questioning, recap the ambitions of Robert the Bruce, and the events which led to him claiming Scotland’s crown in 1306.
Go through today’s PPt, taking notes of information given in bold ad pasting in handouts where directed.
4. Use what we’ve learned and apply it to today’s ‘big question’.
HOMEWORK (due Friday 1st February)
Complete notes and ‘big question’ tasks at home before for our next lesson.

3. The Ambitions of the Bruce
In 1297, Bruce joined the rebels against Edward I
The Bruce family had a strong claim to the throne
The Ambitions of the Bruce
1302: rumours of Balliol’s return drove Bruce to support Edward I
1305-6: Bruce schemes to take Scottish throne
1306: Comyn betrays Bruce, who murders him in Greyfriars Kirk.
1304: Bruce is pushed aside by Edward in favour of Comyn

4. Coronation
After Comyn’s death at his hands, Bruce was forced to declare himself as king of Scotland. It was the only way he could get the power necessary to 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 25th March, 1306.
You’ll do!: Isabella, the Countess of Fife, stood in for her infant nephew in the traditional role of an Earl of Fife crowning the new king. She would soon live to regret her role.

5. The coronation ceremony was hasty but dignified.
Bishop Wishart of Glasgow – having pardoned Bruce in the eyes of the Scottish Church for his crimes of sacrilege – officiated the anointing of Bruce as King.
Isabella, Countess of Buchan, led the new king to his throne as the heir to the Earldom of Fife was too young to fulfil his traditional role.
The Stone of Destiny was not present, and new royal regalia had to be hastily made. It would have been difficult to disguise the makeshift nature of the ceremony.
Bruce’s wife is said to have mockingly called him the ‘King of Summer’, like a child playing at dressing up.
Elizabeth’s words to Robert: “It seems to me we are to be a summer King and Queen whom children crown in their sport”.

6. Considering the circumstances, the turnout of the nobility was better than expected:
3 bishops, 2 abbots, the Earls of Atholl, Mentieth and Lennox and many lesser nobles, such as Douglas, Randolph and Boyd attended to show Bruce their support. Some were Bruce’s close companions, others joined him out of fear or intimidation.
Large segments of Scotland’s aristocracy would have nothing to do with it. The Comyns and their allies, the MacDougalls of Argyll, craved revenge for Comyn’s murder.
The Earls of Dunbar and Strathearn still only recognised Edward I as the legal king and overlord of Scotland. Most Scots must have considered resistance to Edward I as futile.
Portincross Castle: For their loyal service, Bruce granted the Boyd family lands on the south shore of the Clyde, overlooking Lesser Cumbrae and Bute – here they built their modest castle.

7. Bruce establishes his authority
In the face of such divided loyalties, Bruce had to act firmly and quickly.
He travelled north-east to Aberdeen and Moray, demanding military service and money, promising favours in return for support and making dire threats against any who resisted him.
His allies secured the towns of Cupar, Dundee and Brechin.
East coast ports were bullied into providing him with funds, with merchants in Dundee and Aberdeen seized as hostages for payment.
‘Whose side did you say you were on?’: Bruce accepted no quibbling in his drive to be recognised as king. They would respect his authority!

8. Bailiffs in Perth were thrown into prison and threatened with death unless they paid rents due to Robert as king (for the sum of £54!)
Homage and military service were extracted from reluctant nobles and lairds:
The reluctant Earl of Strathearn only agreed upon the threat of Bruce hanging him!
‘Ye’ll dae as I say, Strathearn…’: desperate times called for desperate measures from Bruce.

9. Edward’s reply
Henry Percy and Robert Clifford - the lords of the north of England were hot on Bruce’s trail.
As early as 22nd February they crossed the border and took Tibbers Castle in the southwest. By 3rd match they’d taken Dumfries.
Bruce’s garrisons had spoiled the provisions however, slowing the English advance. At Ayr castle, they did the same.
‘Tally-ho, chaps!’: Lord Henry Percy loved a fast charge. Hoping to re-create his success at Irvine in 1297, he was on his horse and over the border like a ferret up a drainpipe at the first sniff of trouble…

10. He advanced quickly, taking Cupar and then Perth in quick succession.
In June, Aymer de Valence – Edward’s appointed representative in Scotland – crossed the border at Berwick with an army of 300 knights and 2000 infantry.
He advanced quickly, taking Cupar and then Perth in quick succession.
Eager to deal with this early threat before the arrival of Edward with a much larger army, Robert marched to meet Valence.
Thundering hooves: John Comyn had been Aymer de Valence’s brother-in-law. He wanted Bruce’s head on a lance – his lance.

11. Methven Wood
In the twilight of 19th June, Valence’s army ambushed Bruce’s forces in Methven Wood, outside of Perth.
Bruce’s knights covered their heraldic symbols for fear of the English identifying them, for Edward had promised a terrible price for their rebellion.
Bruce’s army broke before even forming for a proper battle. Those with horses were able to escape. The Scottish infantry bore the heavy brunt of the losses.
If you go down to the woods today…: Here we see 600 English firearrows about to land on the Scottish camp…

12. Guerrilla resistance continued in the woods for a short time, led by Simon Fraser – one of Edward’s fiercest opponents in Scotland. He was soon rounded up and executed, however.
Bruce’s cavalry were cornered again by Valence a few miles north by Loch Tay several days later. Bruce was defeated again and forced to flee west.
Bruce sent his sisters, his queen and his daughter to safety in Kildrummy Castle, Aberdeenshire.
By the end of July, most of Bruce’s supporters in the east were captured. The Bishops of Glasgow and St. Andrews were arrested. The Earl of Mentieth was imprisoned and stripped of his lands and the Earl of Strathearn was captured.
Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you go…: Valence would have Bruce at all costs.

13. Dalry (Dail Righ)
Badly beaten, the survivors of Bruce’s army fled west, headed for allied Campbell lands in Kintyre.
At the Pass of Brander, by Loch Awe near Oban, Bruce’s men were ambushed and beaten by the MacDougall clan of Lorn, at a place called Dalry.
‘Here, Douglas – did you hear something behind us?’: Bruce leads his men into yet another ambush, this time by the MacDougalls at Dalry.

14. Bruce fled again, his army now numbering less than 200
Bruce fled again, his army now numbering less than 200. Bruce’s position was now collapsing the in west too – James the Steward had bowed to pressure and switched to Edward’s side on 1st July.
By late summer, Edward’s forces had chased Bruce down to Dunaverty Castle on the tip of Kintyre. Their siege engines smashed their way in only to find that Bruce had escaped.
Dunaverty: Incredibly, this sheer outcrop of rock on the extreme southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula housed a castle in 1306, as re-created here:

16. Bruce’s family
After Methven Wood, the Earl of Atholl had taken Bruce’s queen (Elizabeth), his sisters, and his daughter, Marjorie north for safety to Kildrummy Castle, where Bruce’s brother, Neil was warden.
It is thought they were eventually to have been transported east to the safety of Norway.
Edward’s own army had marched north again in the Spring, confiscating Bruce’s lands and awarding them to his loyalists. His forces besieged Kildrummy castle before the Bruces could escape.

17. The Earl of Atholl was sent to London for execution.
Edward of Caernarfon captured the castle in September. Neil Bruce was hanged, drawn and beheaded.
The Earl of Atholl was sent to London for execution.
Robert’s sister, Mary and Isabella the Countess of Buchan were hung in cages from the battlements of Roxburgh and Berwick castles. Queen Elizabeth was placed under house arrest in Yorkshire and 10 year old Marjorie – her step-daughter – was sent to a convent.
Great sea views…: Isabella, Countess of Buchan had to look on the positive side of her new lodgings.

18. Winter of discontent
It is thought Bruce spent the winter of 1306 with supporters in the western isles.
Here he worked to rebuild his power, making alliances with Angus Og, chief of the clan Campbell of Islay and Christina of the Isles, chief of Clan MacRuadhri.
In summary, within 6 months of his coronation Bruce had been routed in battle several times, his leading supporters had been executed or imprisoned, his womenfolk captured and imprisoned and Edward I was in almost complete control of Scotland.
Robert’s bid to revive the independent kingship of Scotland lay in ruins. Edward’s supporters coined the nickname ‘King Hob’ for him – Bruce was ‘King Nobody’.
‘The prices of ferries these days is ridiculous!’: Bruce and the survivors of his army land on Islay, hoping to rebuild their strength over winter.

19. Today’s ‘Big Question’
Take note of the question in your jotter and write an answer drawing upon the notes you have taken today:
In your opinion, was Bruce’s defeat in 1306 unavoidable? How could he have ended 1306 in a better position?
Sub question 1:
What was the worst decision / action Bruce made in 1306 and why?
Sub question 2:
What was the best decision / action Bruce made in 1306 and why?