Illustration of Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce

King Robert I – popularly known as Robert the Bruce – was born in 1274. He seized the throne of Scotland in 1306 and ruled for 23 years until his death on 7 June 1329. He famously defeated King Edward II at the battle of Bannockburn (23 and 24 June 1314) in what was a decisive battle of the Wars of Scottish Independence. Bruce’s first marriage was to Isobel, daughter of the Earl of Mar, by whom he had his daughter, Marjorie. Her son, Robert, became the first of the Stewart kings who would rule Scotland, then England, from 1371 until 1714. Bruce later married Elizabeth de Burgh. The actor Chris Pine is to play Robert the Bruce in a new Netflix film called ‘Outlaw King’

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King Robert I of Scotland statue at Stirling Castle.

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A statue of Robert the Bruce Statue at Stirling Castle, Scotland. (Dreamstime)

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Robert the Bruce, famous for beating the English army of Edward II despite having far fewer troops, is commemorated at the 1314 battleground in Bannockburn. (Dreamstime)

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