Quote Originally Posted by jkdesq
Todd,

I guess my response would be that Bruce lost alot to fight for Scotland. He lost his inheritance to very substantial lands in England -- more valuable than his Scottish properties. He also lost family and friends. Of four brothers, three were brutally murdered. Many of his friends and political allies were also brutally killed by the English or the Comyns. He lived for three or four years in caves, despite growing up as one of the most privileged children in either kingdoms. He was a desparado for a period of time.

It would have been very easy for him to just live on the wealth of the Bruces English estates. However, he followed the call of his mother's gaelic blood and fought, eventually, for Scottish freedom. He sacrificed everything to fight the Planteganets. I know it is the stuff of myths, but I choose to believe it. How else can you explain Bruces willingness to sacrifice the very lives of his brothers and his friends.
Don't get me wrong; I think that there is much to be admired in the historical figure of the Bruce, but as Daz and others have pointed out, he had his flaws (just as many other heroes in history have) -- And I must point out here his own actions against opponents, such as the Comyns -- but the Comyns had their black marks as well. I do, however, like historians like Young who carve away the large levels of myth and try to present a more realistic picture of what happened.

I just don't believe that Bruce was a "patriot" or "nationalist" in our idea of what those terms mean -- I think feudalism and more "pragmatic" reasons had a great deal to do with his fight, even though I admire his efforts at Bannockburn -- his actions in Buchan and Badenoch (and for that matter, Ireland) are a different story all together! ;)

Great discussion, though -- I must complement you on your ability to debate and discuss a topic without getting nasty with those who disagree with you.

Cheers,

Todd