His grandfather and father did homage to English kings. Both claimed the Scottish crown but were refused by Edward I. Robert the Bruce hailed from a Norman family – but born and raised a Scot, it was he who ultimately delivered his country’s independence.
When Alexander III of Scotland died in March 1286, his sole surviving heir was a three-year-old granddaughter, Margaret, the ‘Maid of Norway’. Edward I – also known as Longshanks – saw an opportunity to dominate Scotland by marrying her to his infant son, the Prince of Wales and future Edward II. These plans were thwarted, however, when Margaret died en route from Norway in September 1290. The subsequent succession crisis saw 13 claimants for the Scottish throne brought down to two: Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale (the grandfather of Robert the Bruce), and John Balliol, Lord of Galloway. Asked to arbitrate, Edward I chose the more pliable Balliol, treating him as his vassal (having insisted the Scots should acknowledge his historic claim to suzerain overlordship). Balliol was crowned at Scone, near Perth, on St Andrew’s Day 1292.
Born on 11 July 1274, at Lochmaben in Dumfriesshire, or Turnberry in Ayrshire, or possibly even in Essex, the younger Bruce also swore fealty (as Earl of Carrick) to Edward I (at Berwick in 1296, renewing the oath of homage at Carlisle in 1297). Meanwhile, Bruce fought for the English against Balliol (in 1296), the humiliated Balliol having finally turned against Edward and allied with France (1295), kicking off both the ‘Auld Alliance’ and the Wars of Independence. Edward’s retribution saw 30,000 men march into Scotland, razing ports, butchering citizenry, taking castles (Berwick, Edinburgh, Stirling, and Roxburgh). Ultimately, Balliol would fester in the Tower with the ‘Stone of Destiny’ (used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs) removed to London. Bruce hoped siding with Edward might see him on the Scottish throne, but the English king was scornful. It’s fair to say the period 1296-1306 was vacillatory for Bruce, as he favoured one side then t’other; ultimately, if he wanted the throne, he would have to fight the English.
