Dr. Iain MacInnes

I think the expansion of the war doesn't go down well. The papacy, let's face it, is all about trying to ferment peace in Europe. And so Robert gets excommunicated again, yes, for extending the war into Ireland. OK, but then in 1320, we have the Declaration of Arbroath, which is a big deal.

I think the expansion of the war doesn't go down well. The papacy, let's face it, is all about trying to ferment peace in Europe. And so Robert gets excommunicated again, yes, for extending the war into Ireland. OK, but then in 1320, we have the Declaration of Arbroath, which is a big deal.

Yeah, so by 1320, not only has Bruce himself been excommunicated, but yes, Scotland as a whole is put under a papal interdict. So no religious ceremonies can take place, services can take place at all, no baptisms, no burials. That's what that censure ensures. It's a big deal. It is. And what the papacy allows is for Scots to break their oath to Robert I and so to reject him.

Yeah, so by 1320, not only has Bruce himself been excommunicated, but yes, Scotland as a whole is put under a papal interdict. So no religious ceremonies can take place, services can take place at all, no baptisms, no burials. That's what that censure ensures. It's a big deal. It is. And what the papacy allows is for Scots to break their oath to Robert I and so to reject him.

And the idea there would be perhaps that he would be overthrown and replaced. But none of this effectively works in large part because the Scottish clergy on the whole is supportive of Bruce and supportive of keeping Scotland independent and keeping the Scottish church independent from the English church.

And the idea there would be perhaps that he would be overthrown and replaced. But none of this effectively works in large part because the Scottish clergy on the whole is supportive of Bruce and supportive of keeping Scotland independent and keeping the Scottish church independent from the English church.

Three letters are constructed to be sent to the papacy, only one of which survives today, and that is the famous Declaration of Arbroath. And it emphasises that the Scots are the victims. It emphasises that the English are the ones who started the war and that they invaded peace-loving Scotland. And it emphasises very clearly that the Scots support Bruce as the sole and legitimate king.

Three letters are constructed to be sent to the papacy, only one of which survives today, and that is the famous Declaration of Arbroath. And it emphasises that the Scots are the victims. It emphasises that the English are the ones who started the war and that they invaded peace-loving Scotland. And it emphasises very clearly that the Scots support Bruce as the sole and legitimate king.

Yes, with Isabella. So Edward III is not yet of age to rule in his own right, and so Isabella is essentially regent for her son. So yes, a series of agreements are made that are known collectively as the Treaties of Edinburgh and Northampton, and this arranges for a final peace between Scotland and England in 1328. Scotland and England would form a mutual alliance, This is it. This is peace.

Yes, with Isabella. So Edward III is not yet of age to rule in his own right, and so Isabella is essentially regent for her son. So yes, a series of agreements are made that are known collectively as the Treaties of Edinburgh and Northampton, and this arranges for a final peace between Scotland and England in 1328. Scotland and England would form a mutual alliance, This is it. This is peace.

He's dead by this point, so David's the only one left.

He's dead by this point, so David's the only one left.

When did he die, Ian? So he dies eventually on the 7th of June, 1329, aged 54. We don't really know what killed him. His Italian doctor apparently complained of him eating too many eels. But I don't think that's what killed him.

When did he die, Ian? So he dies eventually on the 7th of June, 1329, aged 54. We don't really know what killed him. His Italian doctor apparently complained of him eating too many eels. But I don't think that's what killed him.

Robert is an impressive figure. His is a Hollywood story, rising from the depths of defeat in 1306 to make himself king, moulding a country from the war-torn state in which it has sunk into an organised and functioning medieval kingdom again. No one would argue that. However, the popular imagination has...

Robert is an impressive figure. His is a Hollywood story, rising from the depths of defeat in 1306 to make himself king, moulding a country from the war-torn state in which it has sunk into an organised and functioning medieval kingdom again. No one would argue that. However, the popular imagination has...

grown around the belief that everything ended with the peace of 1328 and with Robert's death in 1329. And this isn't the case, unfortunately. While the king does all he can, he nonetheless ends up leaving Scotland to his five-year-old heir, David. A long minority is likely to follow, and minorities are in secure periods at the best of times, and these are not the best of times.

grown around the belief that everything ended with the peace of 1328 and with Robert's death in 1329. And this isn't the case, unfortunately. While the king does all he can, he nonetheless ends up leaving Scotland to his five-year-old heir, David. A long minority is likely to follow, and minorities are in secure periods at the best of times, and these are not the best of times.

There are those, as the Sewells conspiracy showed, who continue to not support Robert. They're biding their time and waiting to see what happens next. In England, there's Edward III, who hates the peace treaties agreed in his name and is itching to exert his power over his mother and his kingdom.

There are those, as the Sewells conspiracy showed, who continue to not support Robert. They're biding their time and waiting to see what happens next. In England, there's Edward III, who hates the peace treaties agreed in his name and is itching to exert his power over his mother and his kingdom.