Unit 4 - Bruce usurpation and civil war, 1306-09 - reason for usurpation essay Flashcards
Intro - content
- Bruce was born July 1274 during Alexander III’s reign. Strong royal ancestry, grandfather Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale was a claimant during great cause and fourth great-grandson to king David
- Inherited great wealth and power, Earldom of Carrick from Mother and Lordship of Annandale for father, not enough for him
- Balliol king in 1292, but forced out July 1296 leaving Scots without a monarch until Robert murdered competitor John Comyn February 1306 at Greyfriars church in Dumfries in front of the altar
Intro - historiography/argument
- Brown, McNamee and Oram stress importance of personal and family ambitions
- Some importance to support received from church, less importance is Edward’s mistreatment of Robert
Personal and family ambitions - content
- Grandfather (5th lord of Annandale) was competitor during great cause
- father died in 1304 leaving legacy of family’s claim on Robert – pursued kingship to uphold family legacy
- family land in Aberdeenshire, Dundee and substantial plots in England – gave belief that throne is in reach, use this as leverage and power
- Barrows argument backed up by impressive speed of seizing Dumfries Castle (immediately after murder), and then across south-west in next month, beseiging Ayr, Tibbers, and Inverkip
Personal and family ambitions - historiography/evaluation
MOST IMPORTANT
- Ted Cowan – Robert’s family’s belief that they were destined for the throne was the primary motivator
- Barrow – while Comyn murder unpremeditated, events which followed part of a pre-arranged plan to take power
- Barrows argument shows he decided beforehand, and was not in response to weak opposition or Edward I mistreatment – deep personal motivation was at core of the usurpation
Weakness of enemies - content
- Edward I was in poor health and created uncertainty for English government – McNamee
- There may have been the rightful prediction from Robert that Edward’s son would be weaker
- In 1305 Edward released ordinance which reaffirmed English authority and holdings in Scotland
- Robert killed John Feb 1306 but Comyns didn’t take to field until June – time buffer caused by indecisiveness allowed Robert to stay one step ahead
Weakness of enemies - historiography/evaluation
GREAT IMPORTANCE
- McNamee – advanced age of Edward contributed to clear political speculation in Scotland
- Brown – ordinance saw an increase of tensions as Scots competed for restoration and distribution of forfeited lands and offices causing Bruce and others making plans against the unstable environment
- Important as it made Robert’s job easier, but he would never have begun his pursuit if not for personal motivation
Support from church - content
- ‘secret band’ met in 1304, alliance formed with Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews – significant section of Scottish clergy prepared to support a Bruce coup
- thought that Wishart and Lamberton said they wouldn’t oppose a move for the throne
- Robert visited Bishop Wishart in Glasgow on several occasions, saw him as ‘chief advisor’ - eventually absolved Robert for his actions
- official inauguration as king at Scone March 1306. Continued support financially and with troops after beginning fighting – convinced Robert he would have sufficient strength to continue bid for throne (Wishart and Lamberton attended)
Support from church - historiography/evaluation
SOME IMPORTANCE
- Oram – not a confident or impressive ceremony
- Church’s eventual favourable stance beneficial for Robert in public opinion and useful resources but backing created would not have been sufficient if Robert’s enemies had been stronger
Edward’s treatment of Bruce - content
- Robert had previously been loyal to Edward, coming into peace in 1302 and fighting for Edward’s army against the Scots in 1305
- still treated with suspicion when Scots pardoned and fined or exiled for short periods before regaining land and titles. - likely frustrated Robert as his loyalty had been to no avail, with Edward still not respecting him and believing he could be harmful
- In first negotiations of land 1305 but left out of second one summer 1305, led to losing posts of Sheriff of Ayr and Lanark to friends of Comyn – created further disdain for Robert towards Edward as he feared this would mark Comyns becoming dominant again
Edward’s treatment of Bruce - historiography/evaluation
LESSER IMPORTANCE
- Irrefutable that Edward mistreated him, likely this angered him, but given family background, likely had decided before that he was aiming for throne. May have been catalyst but personal motivations would have made it happen before anyway.
