KEY FIGURES
Key figures
Robert I, King of Scots (reigned 1306–1329)
Son of the Lord of Annandale and the Countess of Carrick, Robert was
already an important and wealthy man. However, he also took up his
grandfather’s claim to the throne of Scotland. It was this cla im more than
anything else that drove Robert to become King of Scots. Everything else was
of secondary importance: friends, alliances and even family. Robert was
equally prepared to side with Edward I or the cause of Scottish rebellion if he
thought it would enhance his chances of becoming king.
It is because of his single-minded determination to win the throne of
Scotland, and his willingness to change sides when it suited his purpose, that
many have criticised Robert for not being as patriotic as William Wallace.
However, this does him something of a disservice. Robert and his
contemporaries would not have seen his actions as being contrary to the
future benefit of Scotland. Certainly, when he became king, Robert fought
tirelessly for his new realm, and suffered many personal hardships.
Edward II, King of England (reigned 1307–1327)
Edward II has long been considered a weak and ineffectual king when
compared to either his father or King Robert. It is certainly true that he was a
much more cultured man than his father. He enjoyed hunting and fine arts and
was an accomplished musician. It is also fair to say that he was neither a poor
knight nor cowardly; he had to be forcibly led from the field at Bannockburn.
However, he was not a particularly ambitious man, and lacked his father’s
drive and forceful personality. His failure in the wars with Scotland was
mainly due to this. He constantly failed to grasp the larger picture and often
assumed that superior numbers and equipment would be enough to cow the
Scots, as his father had done in 1296.
It is likely that history has judged Edward II rashly, unfairly comparing him
to his more formidable father or his Scots opponent.
The Comyn family
The Comyns were descendants of Richard Comyn, a Norman who had arri ved
in England in 1066. Richard was a companion of David I and accompanied
him when he returned to Scotland in 1124. Since that time the family had
continued to grow in influence and wealth. By the time of the Scottish wars,
members of the family had become earls of Buchan, Angus and Menteith. The
head of the family (or clan) was the Lord of Badenoch. He controlled a
WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011
1
KEY FIGURES
vast amount of land in the north and rivaled the king in both power and
prestige north of the Tay. The family fought for a Balliol restorati on until it
was apparent that King John did not want to return.
James Douglas, ‘Good Sir James’
James was the son of Sir William Douglas, a supporter of William Wallace.
His father died in the Tower of London for his support of the Scots cause, but
that did not dissuade the younger Douglas from joining the cause of Robert
Bruce.
James’s land had been taken from him by Edward I and he was therefore a
penniless knight. His only option of advancement was to join the Bruce cause
and this he did with a great deal of enthusiasm, joining him at his
inauguration in 1306.
James quickly gained a reputation as a loyal follower and an able commander.
He stuck with King Robert after his early defeats and was instrumental in the
capture of his family’s home, Douglas castle. He fought alongside the king at
Bannockburn and became one of his army’s chief lieutenants in the years that
followed.
After his death, James carried King Robert’s heart in a box to Spain in order
to complete the Scottish king’s wish to go on a cru sade.
Edward Bruce
Edward Bruce was one of five brothers: Robert, Edward, Niall, Alexander and
Thomas. The eldest was Robert who went on to become King of Scots. Niall
and Alexander were captured and executed by Edward I following Robert’s
inauguration in 1306. Thomas was killed in battle.
Edward Bruce became his brother’s most loyal commander. He stuck with
Robert during the early defeats and ably led several attacks on castles in the
south west of the country. He commanded one of the schiltro ns at the Battle
of Bannockburn and fought bravely next to the common pike men, helping his
brother achieve his most famous victory.
In 1315, Robert dispatched Edward to Ireland with a Scots army to open up a
second front against Edward II. Once there, Edward had himself declared
High King of Ireland. Unfortunately his bid was unsuccessful and he died in
1318 at the Battle of Faughart, which saw the Scottish/Irish cause destroyed.
2
WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011
KEY FIGURES
Isabella and Mortimer (reigned as Guardians 1327–1330)
Queen Isabella and Lord Roger Mortimer successfully overthrew Edward II in
1327 and they jointly became regents for her young son, the newly crowned
Edward III. Isabella, daughter of the King of France, had married Edward II
in 1307. The marriage was not a happy one. Despite bearing E dward II
several sons, it was well known that he had little time for her, and was
allegedly more interested in his male companions, such as Piers Gaveston.
When Edward II sent Isabella to France in 1325 to act as an ambassador to
her father’s court she met Roger Mortimer, an English lord who had been
banished after a failed baronial rebellion. Isabella and Mortimer both hated
the king’s favourite, Hugh Despenser, and soon began to plot a new rebellion
against her husband. It was at this time that the two b ecame lovers.
The two organised an invasion of England, but they had few followers
initially. Edward II, however, found that his support had withered away and
was unable to gather much of an army himself. The king eventually was
forced to surrender and abdicate in favour of his son, Edward III.
In 1330, when Edward III assumed his own private rule he had Roger
Mortimer put to death, and his mother was forced to retire from public life.
WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011
3