The Bruce Clan and the Royal House of Bruce by Robert Bruce Cameron

The Bruce Clan takes its name from the Bruce area near Cherbourg in Normandy France. The progenitor of the British family and hence the Scottish Bruce's was Robert de Brusse who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. Other variations of the spelling of the area in Normandy are Broase, Breaux and Brus. Other families of William's entourage who eventually became Scottish are Bisset's, Bonthron's, Fraser's, Graham's and Traquair's. For his support in the conquest, Robert, regarded as the first British Robert was given lands in Skelton in Yorkshire. His son Robert, an associate of King David | of Scotland was made the 1st. Lord Annandale. At the Battle of the Standard in 1138, this Robert fought on the English side commanded by Thurston, Archbishop of York. His son Robert, the 2nd. Lord Annandale fought on the Scottish side under David |. He died in 1245.

By the end of the century, it was this very tenuous connection that the Bruce's were able to claim the Scottish throne. In 1255 Robert, a son of Robert and Isabella became one of the Guardians of the young King Alexander II] (1241-1285). Alexander died without surviving issue and the throne became vacant. In 1290, Robert claimed the throne as Alexander's closest heir. He also claimed verbal nomination by the late King, a process called ‘tanistry' - in Scottish tradition; nomination by the chief. Other families including Balliol and Comwyn laid claim, through equal and in some cases closer relationship, to the throne. King Edward | of England, as part of his plan to subjugate Scotland, set up and then deposed John Balliol as a puppet monarch. The Scottish nobility led by the patriotic and valiant Sir William Wallace, determined to have no part of this and to get the English out.

While the Bruce's were laying claim to the throne, they were doing nothing about the English problem and had no part in Wallace's victories and ultimate defeat. Wallace was betrayed to the English in 1305 and taken to London. He was executed with barbarity, horrendous even for the middle ages.

The 7th. Lord of Annandale, Robert (son of the Guardian) married Marjorie, the Celtic Countess of Carrick. It was their son Robert, the 8th. Lord of Annandale and Earl of Carrick who became King Robert | (Robert the Bruce). He was born at Turnberry castle in Ayrshire on July 11, 1274 and probably spent part of his youth at the Court of King Edward I, from whom he had received his Knighthood. That he was quite patriotically ambivalent during Wallace's valiant struggle, there can certainly be no doubt. By 1304, he entered into a secret bond with William Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, which bound him to the patriotic cause. Early in 1306 he murdered his rival Comyn in the Church of the Greyfriars in Dumfries. For this he was excommunicated by the Pope. But no Scottish Bishop would publish, much less enforce, the Papal edict. A century later a biographer commented that "the thunders of Rome fell with little violence on the Highlands of Scotland".

On March 27, 1306, Robert | was crowned at Scone by the Countess of Erroll (her hereditary right), not on the Stone of Destiny as had his predecessors for centuries. King Edward | had taken the stone to London in 1297. It was to remain in Westminster Abbey for the next 700 years, except for a brief interval when it was stolen by Scottish nationalists in the early 1950's. The stone was returned to Scotland in 1997. A few days later, Bruce was placed on the throne according the ancient Celtic ceremony by MacDuff who was the Earl of Fife. Although made King by all proper ceremony, his kingdom was yet to be wrestled from the English. Initially prospects could scarcely have been more bleak. Defeat followed defeat, his wife and daughter were captured and in English hands. His brother Nigel had been captured and executed. He and his patriotic supporters retreated first to Carrick lands, then to Rathlin Island where, if true, the spider incident occurred in an Island cave.

There were victories in Buchan and Argyle. The first parliament of the reign was held at St. Andrews in March 1309. Now followed a systematic one by one capture and dismantling of castles held by the English. Without these strongholds, the English could not hope to dominate the country where the native population were so bitterly hostile to them. Linlithgow was taken in 1310, Dunbarton in 1311, Perth in 1312, Roxborough, Edinburgh and the Isle of Man in 1313. This left only Stirling and two minor strongholds in English hands. On June 24, 1314, the Battle of Bannockburn returned Stirling to Scottish hands and left Robert | the unquestioned King of the Scots. The Parliament of Ayr, held on April 26, 1315, settled the succession on Bruce's heirs.

The monks at Arbroath Abbey published the Declaration of Independence in April 26, 1320 and a copy was fired off to Pope John XXIl. Its stirring text is probably the work of Bishop The author with a statue of Lamberton and Maurice, the Abbot of Arbroath. In part, it declares; "We are determined that so Robert the Bruce. long as one hundred of us remains alive, we will in no manner submit to the English. For we fight not for riches, nor for honours, nor for glory, but only and alone we fight for freedom which no man surrenders, but with his life."

King Robert | died at Cardross on June 7, 1329. His remains lie buried under the pulpit in Dunfermline Abbey, his grave covered by a colourful brass. His heart is interred beneath the high altar at Melrose Abbey. He was succeeded by his son, David II (1324-1371) on whose death without issue the crown went to the Bruce's grandson, King Robert II "the Stewart", whose mother was Robert I's daughter Marjorie. His father was Walter, the High Steward of Scotland. Thus began the Royal House of Stewart/Stuart. Today's Royal Family traces their lineage in many ways back to this marriage. Neither David I! or Robert Il were worthy successors to their patriotic and warlike forbearer. With David's death the legitimate Royal Bruce line ended. The Earls of Elgin, descended from the Bruce's of Clackmannan, a cousin of King Robert I's, are the present chiefs of the Clan. Their seat is Broomhall in Fifeshire. The baronial tower of Clackmannan is still standing.

Robert B. Cameron resides in Hensall Ontario. Both of his grandmothers were Bruce's who settled in the area now called Brucefield Ontario.

Ohe Bruce Gramily of dred Point Prince Edward Asland 1840-1999 3