Unit 4 - Bruce usurpation and civil war, 1306-09 - reasons for winning civil war essay

Question 1

Intro - context

Answer 1

• death of AIII 1286, then Margaret 1290, John abdicated 1296 after great cause
• murdered John Comyn at Greyfriars Dumfries Feb 1306 and took throne March 1306
• great initial struggle, hiding out in winter 06/07 but by March 1309 held first parliament at St Andrews and was strong king

Question 2

Intro - argument

Answer 2

Factors in order of importance
- Bruce’s tactics, weakness of enemies, support from church
- Grant and Brown agree with tactics, while Penman stresses importance of the church

Question 3

Bruce’s tactics - knowledge and analysis

Answer 3

• learnt from mistakes of Methven and Dalry (summer 1306) and abandoned chivalric training for guerrilla warfare - ambushed opponents so they could not prepare and respond effectively - Glen Trool
• Herschip of Buchan 1308 saw complete destruction of castles and strongholds - brutal tactics weakened enemies - Cornell
• Lieutenants so could split army - hurt from different places at the same time - 1308 Robert harrying North, sent William Douglas to Galloway
• accept former enemies into peace and reward newest supporters - made it worthwhile to support his claim to throne - Earl of Ross, Brown

Question 4

Bruce’s tactics - evaluation and historiography

Answer 4

• Brown - Robert was able to extend vital support through patronage ensured he gained trusty leaders with authority in different part of his realm
• Cornell - Robert destroyed castles to deprive his enemies of a regional focus of their political power, and as they were indispensable to the English war effort in the Scottish Lowlands.
• despite enemies leaving opening, it still required great skill from Robert to properly take advantage of these

Question 5

Weakness of enemies - knowledge and analysis

Answer 5

• Edward I was an old and infirm man (66 when Robert usurped) who died July 1307 leaving less able and interested son Edward to enforce authority
• Edward II financial constraints, couldn’t defend father’s conquest of Scotland - without English support, Earl of Ross and John Macdougall forced to make truces with Bruce or come into his peace
• Robert able to focus on opponents in Scotland without war on two fronts
• opponents fragmented and distributed across country - could pick off one at a time
• death of John Comyn of Badenoch left them without a core leader to unite opposition to Bruce, took until June to respond - Young

Question 6

Weakness of enemies - evaluation and historiography

Answer 6

• Young - emphasises weakness of position of Comyns after 1306
• Brown - death of Edward I demoralised adherents and encouraged enemies
• more important than church as support would not have been enough if there was stronger opposition

Question 7

Support from church - knowledge and analysis

Answer 7

• Bishop Wishart offered support in 1306 after Bruce seized throne, absolution of sins
• Scottish church wanted to protect its ecclesiastical independence and ‘special daughter’ status - support Robert in hope of Scottish political independence from English
• Declaration of Clergy 1309 - Bishops proclaimed publicly Robert’s right to succession and remission of sin of murdering Comyn and approved his kingship - clergy support, helped persuade nobles of legitimacy of Robert

Question 8

Support of church - evaluation and historiography

Answer 8

• Penman - church was crucial in lending legitimacy to Bruce’s military struggle
• Barrow - skill of Robert alongside support from church