Robert I of Scotland

Robert I, (Robert de Brus in Norman French and Roibert a Briuis in medieval Gaelic), usually known in modern English today as Robert the Bruce (July 11, 1274–June 7, 1329), was King of Scotland (1306–1329). He was one of Scotland's greatest kings, and one of the most famous warriors of his generation, leading Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. He claimed the Scottish throne as a great-great-great-great grandson of David I of Scotland.

Bruce and Ireland

Buoyed by his military successes, Bruce's forces also invaded Ireland in 1315, supposedly to free the country from English rule, but more probably one suspects to open a second front in the continuing wars with England. The Irish crowned Edward Bruce as High King of Ireland in 1316 and Robert later went there with another army to assist his brother. Bruce's propaganda campaign stressed the notion of a pan-Gaelic alliance, as revealed by a letter he sent to the Irish chiefs, where he calls the Scots and Irish collectively nostra nacio (our nation), stressing the common language, customs and heritage of the two peoples:

Related Topics:
Ireland - 1315 - Edward Bruce - High King of Ireland - 1316

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?Whereas we and you and our people and your people, free since ancient times, share the same national ancestry and are urged to come together more eagerly and joyfully in friendship by a common language and by common custom, we have sent you our beloved kinsman, the bearers of this letter, to negotiate with you in our name about permanently strengthening and maintaining inviolate the special friendship between us and you, so that with God?s will our nation (nostra nacio) may be able to recover her ancient liberty.?

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The diplomacy worked to a certain extent, at least in Ulster, where the Scots had total support. The Irish chief Donal O'Neill, for instance, later justified his support of the Scots to Pope John XXII by saying ?the Kings of Lesser Scotia all trace their blood to our Greater Scotia and retain to some degree our language and customs.?

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The Bruce campain indeed was characterized by a great deal of initial military success, but the Scots failed to win over the non-Ulster chiefs, or to make any other significant gains in the south of the island.

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