Robert (8th Robert de Bruce) was born at Lochmaben Castle in 1274, he was Knight and Overlord of Annandale and was crowned King of Scotland in 1306.
In the year of William Wallace's death, 1306, Bruce killed John "The Red" Comyn in Grayfriars Kirk in Dumfries on 10th February. Since Comyn was a nephew of John Balliol this act removed Bruce's main rival to the throne implying that he had now set his sights firmly on becoming king. He then rushed to Scone, ancient coronation site for Scots monarchs, and was crowned Robert I on 25th March 1306.
But Bruce was far from asserting himself as ruler. English King Edward I (Longshanks) had garrisons throughout Scotland and Bruce was defeated firstly at Methven and then at Tyndrum both in 1306. Edward attempted to crush Bruce with his usual enthusiasm for violence. Three of Bruce's four brothers were murdered, his wife imprisoned and in the winter of 1306 after suffering defeat, King Robert went into hiding in a cave in grounds of Cove Manor House (formerly Dunskellie Castle) ... he spent three months living a solitary existence at a time when The Wars of Independence were at their bleakest for the Scots.
Whilst in the cave and at the depths of despair, King Robert happened to watch a spider attempting to build a web in one of the small airholes - the spider would spin then fall, get up and spin again and again relentlessly until it eventually made the web.
This gave Robert heart and is reputed to be the birth of the saying -
"If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again."
King Robert then went forth from the cave on Cove estate, raised an army and won the Historic Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 - even though he was outnumbered ten to one. He established his claim to the throne and thus the beginning of freedom for Scotland.
Now known throughout the land as 'Good King Robert' he further made a treaty with the Pope in 1320, known as the 'Declaration of Arbroath' and this still stands as the most remarkable statement of nationalism in medieval history.
In the early summer of 1329, Robert Bruce, King of Scots, lay dying. He asked that, after his death, his heart should be taken from his body, embalmed and carried on crusade by some worthy knight. Among those at Bruce's bedside was James Douglas, his closest companion. It was to this remarkable man that the task of carrying out Bruce's wish was given.
Robert Bruce died at the age of fifty-four, on June 7 1329. His body was buried with suitable pomp in Dunfermline Abbey close by that of his wife, Elizabeth. In the early spring of 1330, Douglas, with companions such as Robert and Walter Logan, William Keith, William Sinclair, and his brother John set sail from Scotland. In a silver and enamel casket on a chain about his neck Douglas carried Bruce's heart.
Tradition has it that Douglas, made a fatal mistake in battle and realising that he could not escape, took Bruce's heart from the casket about his neck and flung it ahead of him into the midst of the Moors, crying: "Forward, brave heart, as ever thou were wont to do, and Douglas will follow thee or die".
Bruce's heart was brought back to Scotland by William Keith of Galston for burial in Melrose Abbey.
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