Robert de Bruce King of Scotland

     Robert de was born on Wednesday, 11 July 1274 in Carrick, Ayrshire, Scotland, at Turnberry Castle. Or perhaps Loch Maben. Robert married Isabell de Mar, daughter of Domhnall - Earl of Mar and Helen of Wales, in 1295. Altough this was an arranged marriage, it is believed that the two shared a love for each other. Robert married Elizabeth de Burgh, daughter of Richard de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster, in 1302 in Scotland. While being very ill and on his death bed, Robert confided to his best friend, James Douglas, that he had one ambition in life that he had not fulfilled. That was to be a part of a crusade to the Holy Land. Douglas was then given specific instructions for the removal of his heart. Douglas was then to take it with him to the Holy Land. Robert departed this life on Tuesday, 7 June 1329 in Firth of Clyde, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, at Cardross Castle. Robert was buried in Dunfermline Abbey, and as to his instructions, his heart was removed, embalmed and taken by Sir James Douglas on his journey to the Holy Land. Unfortunately, the group of Scotchmen where ambushed by the Moors. Douglas' remains were returned to Scotland as was the heart of Robert. The heart was taken to Melrose Abbey and there buried. He was buried at Fifeshire, Scotland, in The Abbey Dunfermline. Early in life Robert envisioned an independent and sovereign state for Scotland. The task was a daunting one, as Edward I of England was inserting his rule onto the Scottish country side. Even more of a problem was the bickering and back fighting of the many factions within Scotland. With the death of his father in 1304, Robert became an heir to the Scottish Throne. Robert was forced to negotiate with his chief rival as a protector and liberator of Scotland, one John Comyn. In their agreed upon meeting in Dumfries, Robert became so enraged over Comyn’s lack of cooperation that he instinctively drew his dagger and stabbed him. His supporters finished killing the man and also killed Comyn’s uncle who was also present. Because of this act Robert felt the wrath of the church and alienated many of the Scottish lords. In spite of all these happenings, Robert had his coronation 27 March 1306 at Scone Abbey, Perthshire. Edward I came after Robert and he had to flee to the highlands and then to Rathlin, an island off the coast of Antrim, to escape the English forces. By February of 1307, however, he was back in Scotland, but found all his properties confiscated and much of his family imprisoned. Robert may have been the first battle commander to incorporate guerilla warfare, as he successfully demoralized the English and began to push the occupying armies out of Scotland, and at the same time rallying his own people to his cause. His victory at Bannockburn in 1314 was the beginning of the end of English control over Scotland, but years of strife remained as Robert and his supporters continued to fight the English and other disgruntled Scottish lords. The fighting even extended into Ireland. In the end, he was Scotland's liberator & epic hero. He assumed the crown in royal dignity of Scotland, thus bringing to an end the Second Interregnum, in defiance of Edward I of England. He persevered over three successive Edwards and in 1328 in very ill health, secured a treaty that gained Robert his life goals for his beloved country. England acknowledged Robert as the sovereign King of Scotland, and that his heirs would also be so recognized. He gained the marriage of his son to the sister of Edward III. He received formal recognition for Scotland to be a sovereign nation from the Pope and the excommunication for him and his followers rescinded. By the time the treaty was signed Robert was in the last year of his life and had moved his residence to Cardross Castle on the northern shore of the Firth of Clyde and lived there in seclusion.