Scottish Wars of Independence - reasons for bruce's success

1. Scottish Wars of Independence
Reasons for
Bruce’s
sucess

2. In today’s class, I am learning to:
• Explain why Robert the Bruce was
successful in his attempts to win
Scotland’s independence
Reasons for Bruce’s success

3. In 1306, Robert the Bruce crowned himself as king of
Scotland. He then fought to win Scottish
independence, ending the wars with England in 1328.
Reasons for Bruce’s success

4. There were many reasons
that Robert the Bruce was
able to win Scotland’s
independence. These
include:
• Bruce’s leadership skills
• Good luck
• The threat of France
• English mistakes
Reasons for Bruce’s success

5. Bruce showed boldness
and bravery in his actions.
By crowning himself king,
he was able to get more
people to support his plans
for Scotland.
If Bruce had tried to unite
Scots without being called
king, it may have failed.
Reasons for Bruce’s success

6. Bruce benefited from a
determined attitude.
At times Bruce looked
incapable of leading,
especially after much of his
army was killed and his
family taken prisoner.
Instead he kept fighting
(legend credits a spider).
Reasons for Bruce’s success

7. Bruce was an inspiring
military leader.
He managed to rebuild his
army and defeat England in
small scale battles around
the country.
Bruce also ended
Scotland’s civil war, further
gaining him supporters.
Reasons for Bruce’s success

8. Bruce’s success at
Bannockburn was key to
his overall victory.
By defeating England in a
major battle it proved to
the Scots that he was a
leader they could support.
It also undermined English
support for their king,
Edward II.
Reasons for Bruce’s success

9. Bruce and Scotland also
benefited from luck.
The death of King Edward
of England hugely helped
the Scots.
His son, Edward II, was a
much less popular and
successful military leader,
making victory easier.
Reasons for Bruce’s success

10. After Bruce had killed John
Comyn in a church, he was
fortunate to be given
forgiveness by Bishop
Robert Wishart.
If Bruce had been
excommunicated from the
Catholic Church, he could
not have become
Scotland’s king.
Reasons for Bruce’s success

11. The presence of France
also helped Bruce and the
Scots achieve their goals.
England took part in wars
with France which often
diverted soldiers away
from fighting Scots.
England also wanted a
peace deal with Scotland
to stop French attacks.
Reasons for Bruce’s success

12. England had a much larger
army than Scotland
throughout the Wars of
Independence, yet they
still lost.
This was partly because of
overconfidence, which on
different occasions let the
Scots win when it should
not have happened.
Reasons for Bruce’s success

13. King Edward II was
particularly poor military
leader.
He often promoted his
friends at the expense of
more experienced soldiers.
Also his command of the
army often led to confusing
orders being given.
Reasons for Bruce’s success