After the death of William Wallace, Scotland lacked a national leader until Robert the Bruce rose to power. Bruce came from a powerful Scottish family with claims to the throne. He and his rival John Comyn agreed to meet to discuss Scotland's independence, but Bruce stabbed and killed Comyn. Though this act risked excommunication, a bishop forgave Bruce and convinced him to crown himself King of Scotland in 1306 in order to unite the country. However, Bruce's early reign faced challenges from both the angry King Edward of England and from supporters of the late John Comyn.

1. Scottish Wars of Independence
The rise of
Robert the
Bruce

2. In today’s class, I am learning to:
• Describe events which led Robert the
Bruce to be the King of Scotland
The rise of Robert the Bruce

3. After the death of William Wallace, King Edward took
control of Scotland. Scotland’s lacked a national
leader, until the rise of Robert the Bruce.
The rise of Robert the Bruce

4. Robert the Bruce came
from a powerful and
influential Scottish family.
Bruce’s family owned land
in Scotland and England.
They also had family links
to previous Scottish kings.
His grandfather, Robert,
was a candidate in the
Great Cause.
The rise of Robert the Bruce

5. Bruce knew and had fought
alongside King Edward in
battle (similar to many
other Scottish nobles).
However his family had
also been angry at Edward
for not giving them the
crown both during the
Great Cause and after
Balliol's abdication.
The rise of Robert the Bruce

6. After the death of Wallace,
Scotland’s two strongest
leaders were Robert the
Bruce and John Comyn.
Both men were bitter rivals
but agreed to meet to
discuss how to win
Scotland’s independence,
and also who would
become king.
The rise of Robert the Bruce

7. Bruce and Comyn met in
Greyfriars Church in
Dumfries on 10 February
1306.
Something caused a row
between the men and
Bruce stabbed Comyn. One
of Bruce’s men apparently
went to check that Comyn
was dead, to kill him if not.
The rise of Robert the Bruce

8. Comyn’s killing was a
disaster for Bruce.
It meant he would be
excommunicated (thrown
out) of the Catholic Church,
meaning he could not
become king. It would also
make winning Scotland’s
independence much
harder to achieve.
The rise of Robert the Bruce

9. Bishop Wishart of Glasgow
believed that Bruce was
Scotland’s only hope for
freedom, so he gave him
forgiveness on behalf of
the Catholic Church.
He also persuaded Bruce
that his best chance to
unite Scotland was to
crown himself as the king.
The rise of Robert the Bruce

10. On 25 March 1306, Bruce’s
followers went to Scone.
Although they lacked the
Stone of Destiny, they still
crowned Bruce as
Scotland’s king, with the
ceremony being carried
out by the Countess of
Buchan (John Comyn’s
cousin’s wife).
The rise of Robert the Bruce

11. Bruce’s early period as king
was not a successful one
for him or Scotland.
He faced two main
challenges: one, from King
Edward, who was angry at
Bruce’s actions in crowning
himself king; and, two,
from family and supporters
of John Comyn.
The rise of Robert the Bruce