cited the “universal value” of the text.
As a medieval document able to inspire
modern readers, the Declaration of Arbroath
is remarkable. It was not, however, a declara-
tion of independence. It was not a unique,
standalone statement of the rights of the
Scottish people. What it was was a skilfully
composed and targeted diplomatic weapon,
created for a specific goal in very specific
circumstances. To understand the text is to
understand these circumstances.An embattled king
In the spring of 1320, Robert Bruce had been
King of Scots for 14 years. He had spent all of
this period fighting to secure his royal title
against numerous enemies. These enemies
were led by the kings of England, whose
efforts to bring Scotland into their realm had
ALAMY/GETTYstarted the wars 25 years before. However,IMAGES
Within 50 years of his death, Robert Bruce
(1274–1329) was already acclaimed by Scots
as the saviour of his country, having bravely
overcome defeats to emerge victorious.
In his own lifetime, however, he was a
divisive figure. To his enemies – Scots and
English – he was a traitor and murderer.
In 1306, Robert stood at a crossroads.
Scotland had been conquered by Edward I
of England after eight years of war. During
these years, Bruce had shifted between the
two sides, but still nurtured hopes of
pursuing his family’s claim to Scotland’s
throne. Shedding his previous caution, he
made his move. In a meeting in a church at
Dumfries on 10 February, Bruce stabbed
his main Scottish rival, John Comyn. Six
weeks later, he was crowned king at Scone.
His action united the English king with
Comyn’s allies, and during the summer
Robert was chased into exile, while his family
and supporters suffered death or captivity.
Robert’s legend rested on his return to
south-west Scotland in early 1307. For eight
months, he survived as the hunted leader of
a small band. Then, as winter came on, he
marched through the Highlands to defeat
his main Scottish enemies in the north.
Using this region as his base and exploiting
the incompetence of the new English king,
Edward II, Robert extended his control
across Scotland. In summer 1314, in a final
bid to retain his father’s conquest, Edward II
led an army to Stirling. By the Bannock Burn
(ie stream), Robert decisively defeated the
English force. While it did not end the war,
Bannockburn completed Robert’s seizure of
Scotland. The victory allowed him to cement
his authority over the realm.
Alongside his skills as a military leader,
Robert’s abilities as a ruler and as a
judge of capable subordinates also
mark him as an exceptional figure.ROBERT BRUCE,
KILLER KING
He’s revered today, but in
the 14th century some saw
Bruce as a murdering traitorIt was not a
declaration of
independence.
It was, however, a
skilfully composed
and targeted
diplomatic weapon
Highland pride
A Tartan Day parade in
New York City, 2003. The
US chose the declaration’s
anniversary for its yearly
celebration of Scotlandthey also included many Scottish lords who
saw Robert as a traitor and criminal (see box,
right). In late June 1314, Bruce had won his
great victory at Bannockburn. His army had
out-thought and out-fought the host of King
Edward II of England. The victory won
Robert control of Scotland and was taken by
many as proof of God’s support for his claim
to be king. Bannockburn did not, however,
win the war. Edward II would not recognise
Robert Bruce as King of Scots. To force his
hand, Robert’s armies invaded northern
England and Edward’s Irish lordship. Despite
successes, Robert was no nearer compelling
the English to make peace, and in October
1318 the Scottish army in Ireland was wiped
out at Faughart near Dundalk.
In this disaster Robert’s last surviving
brother, Edward Bruce, king of Ireland, was
killed. Edward was the designated heir to
Scotland. His death meant the next in line
was Robert’s infant grandson, Robert
Stewart. The shakiness of the dynasty and
the continuation of the gruelling war left
King Robert still insecure and embattled
nearly six years after Bannockburn.
His vulnerability was heightened by the
growing hostility of the papacy. Though
Scottish churchmen had been powerful
advocates for Scotland’s sovereignty, and
previous popes had criticised English
actions, Bruce’s relations with the papacy
were tense, and from 1317 Robert faced the
increasing antagonism of Pope John XXII.
The pope’s goal was to end the wars
between Christian rulers and to unite themFine feather
A participant in the
2014 World Pipe
Band Champ ionships
wears the words of the
declaration on his shirt→
Robert Bruce decisively
overcame Edward II’s
army at Bannockburncitedthe“universalvalue”ofthetext.
Asa medievaldocumentabletoinspire
modernreaders,theDeclarationofArbroath
is remarkable.It wasnot,however,a declara-
tionofindependence.It wasnota unique,
standalonestatementoftherightsofthe
Scottishpeople.Whatitwaswasa skilfully
composedandtargeteddiplomaticweapon,
createdfora specificgoalinveryspecific
circumstances.Tounderstandthetextis to
understandthesecircumstances.Anembattledking
Inthespringof1320,RobertBrucehadbeen
KingofScotsfor 14 years.Hehadspentallof
thisperiodfightingtosecurehisroyaltitle
againstnumerousenemies.Theseenemies
wereledbythekingsofEngland,whose
effortstobringScotlandintotheirrealmhad
ALAMY/GETTYstartedthewars 25 yearsbefore.However,
IMAGES
Within 50 yearsof hisdeath,RobertBruce
(1274–1329)wasalreadyacclaimedbyScots
asthesaviourof hiscountry,havingbravely
overcomedefeatsto emergevictorious.
In hisownlifetime,however,hewasa
divisivefigure. Tohisenemies– Scotsand
English– hewasa traitorandmurderer.
In 1306,Robertstoodat a crossroads.
ScotlandhadbeenconqueredbyEdwardI
of Englandafter eightyearsof war. During
theseyears,Brucehadshiftedbetweenthe
twosides,butstillnurturedhopesof
pursuinghisfamily’sclaimto Scotland’s
throne.Sheddinghispreviouscaution,he
madehismove.In a meetingin a churchat
Dumfrieson 10 February,Brucestabbed
his mainScottishrival,JohnComyn. Six
weekslater,hewascrownedkingat Scone.
HisactionunitedtheEnglishkingwith
Comyn’sallies,andduringthesummer
Robertwas chasedinto exile,whilehis family
and supporterssuffereddeathor captivity.
Robert’slegendrestedonhisreturnto
south-westScotlandin early1307.Foreight
months,hesurvivedasthehuntedleaderof
a smallband.Then,aswintercameon,he
marchedthroughtheHighlandstodefeat
his mainScottishenemiesin the north.
Usingthisregionashisbaseandexploiting
theincompetenceof thenewEnglishking,
EdwardII, Robertextendedhiscontrol
acrossScotland.In summer1314,in a final
bidto retainhisfather’sconquest,EdwardII
ledanarmyto Stirling.BytheBannockBurn
(iestream),Robertdecisivelydefeatedthe
Englishforce. Whileit didnotendthewar,
BannockburncompletedRobert’sseizureof
Scotland.Thevictoryallowedhimto cement
hisauthorityovertherealm.
Alongsidehisskillsasa militaryleader,
Robert’sabilitiesasa rulerandasa
judgeof capablesubordinatesalso
markhim as an exceptionalfigure.ROBERT BRUCE,
KILLER KING
He’s revered today, but in
the 14th century some saw
Bruce as a murdering traitorIt was not a
declaration of
independence.
It was, however, a
skilfully composed
and targeted
diplomatic weapon
Highland pride
A Tartan Day parade in
New York City, 2003. The
US chose the declaration’s
anniversary for its yearly
celebration of Scotlandthey also included many Scottish lords who
saw Robert as a traitor and criminal (see box,
right). In late June 1314, Bruce had won his
great victory at Bannockburn. His army had
out-thought and out-fought the host of King
Edward II of England. The victory won
Robert control of Scotland and was taken by
many as proof of God’s support for his claim
to be king. Bannockburn did not, however,
win the war. Edward II would not recognise
Robert Bruce as King of Scots. To force his
hand, Robert’s armies invaded northern
England and Edward’s Irish lordship. Despite
successes, Robert was no nearer compelling
the English to make peace, and in October
1318 the Scottish army in Ireland was wiped
out at Faughart near Dundalk.
In this disaster Robert’s last surviving
brother, Edward Bruce, king of Ireland, was
killed. Edward was the designated heir to
Scotland. His death meant the next in line
was Robert’s infant grandson, Robert
Stewart. The shakiness of the dynasty and
the continuation of the gruelling war left
King Robert still insecure and embattled
nearly six years after Bannockburn.
His vulnerability was heightened by the
growing hostility of the papacy. Though
Scottish churchmen had been powerful
advocates for Scotland’s sovereignty, and
previous popes had criticised English
actions, Bruce’s relations with the papacy
were tense, and from 1317 Robert faced the
increasing antagonism of Pope John XXII.
The pope’s goal was to end the wars
between Christian rulers and to unite themFine feather
A participant in the
2014 World Pipe
Band Champ ionships
wears the words of the
declaration on his shirt→
Robert Bruce decisively
overcame Edward II’s
army at Bannockburn