Figure 1.--Here are the notable notable figures from the first War of Scottisj Independence as depicted by the Victorian artist William Hole. The two direct Clan Bruce kings were Robert I (Robert the Bruce) and David II. David was only 5 years old when his father died. David was not a warrior like his father ansuffered from being so young when his father died. Even so after regaining his throne proved to be atring monarch, alhough he left no direct sucessor..

Clan Bruce meaning the Bruce family is one of the historic clans of Scotland. We enter it into the biography list to help make the historic connections between family members over nearly a millenia and a half. The family name (Bruce) is of Norman origins, (de Brus or de Bruis). It originated in connectiom with the lands now known as Brix, located between Cherbourg and Valognes in Normandy. The famly legend insists that Robert de Brix, served under William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England (1066). There was both an English and Scottish branch. The Scottish branch is of course the best known. The family was transplanted to England and Scotland during the subsequent Norman conquest of England, descend from Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale who arived in England (1106). Robert was a companion-in-arms of Prince David, later David I of Scotland, which explains how the Bruce family came to Scotland before the English conquest. Robert joined David as he cmpaigned north to reclaim his kingdom (1124). Robert then established the Bruce Clan around Kincardine. Kincardine-on-Forth would develop a small town on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, in Fife. It developed into a moderately prosperous port town. Subsequently when an English dynastic war began between Queen Matilda and her cousin, Stephen, David I of Scotland led a force south into England. Robert did not join King David, but joined the English and at the Battle of the Standard (1138) he took his own son prisoner (Lord of the lands of Annandale). The Bruce Clan became a Royal House (14th century), producing two kings of Scotland. Robert the Bruce is surely the great historic hero of the Scottish nation. The title Earl of Elgin was created in the Peerage of Scotland for Thomas Bruce, 3rd Lord Kinloss (1633). Different Lord Elgins would subsequently play an important role in British imperial history, especially James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin (1811-63).

Medieval Era

Normandy

The family name (Bruce) is of Norman origins, (de Brus or de Bruis). It originated in connectiom with the lands now known as Brix, located between Cherbourg and Valognes in Normandy.

Norman conquest of England

The famly legend insists that Robert de Brix, served under William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England (1066). There is no real evidence of this. There was both an English and Scottish branch. The Scottish branch is of course the best known. The family was transplanted to England and Scotland during the subsequent Norman conquest of England, descend from Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale who arived in England (1106). Robert was a companion-in-arms of Prince David, later David I of Scotland, which explains how the Bruce family came to Scotland before the English conquest.

Scotland

Robert joined David as he campaigned north to reclaim his kingdom (1124). Robert then established the Bruce Clan around Kincardine. Kincardine-on-Forth would develop a small town on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, in Fife. It developed into a moderately prosperous port town. Subsequently when an English dynastic war began between Queen Matilda and her cousin, Stephen, David I of Scotland led a force south into England. Robert did not join King David, but joined the English and at the Battle of the Standard (1138) he took his own son prisoner (Lord of the lands of Annandale).

Royal House

The Bruce Clan became a Royal House (14th century), essentially saving the Scottish monrchy. The Bruce Clan produced two kings of Scotland. Robert the Bruce is surely the great historic hero of the Scottish nation. The Bruce royal claim developed when Robert Bruce, 4th Lord of Annandale married Isobel of Huntingdon, daughter of King David of Scotland, 8th Earl of Huntingdon and niece of William the Lion (1219). This marriage brought great wealth, with the additional lands in both England and Scotland. Their son, Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale, became known as 'the competitor'. He was at times Tanist to the Scottish throne improving his claim. The Tanistry was an uniquely Gaelic system for ruling over the passing on of titles and lands. The Tanist was normally the official position of the heir-apparent to the throne or the monrch's second-in-command among the (royal) Gaelic patrilineal dynasties of Ireland, Scotland and Man, destined to succeed to the chieftainship or as in Scotland to the kingship. King Alexander III died (1289). Bruce and John Balliol vied for the succession, but there was a legitimte heir. Princes Margaret, Alexander's infant granddaughter was named heir. Her father delayed her trip to Scotland until she was out of her infancy. She died in the Orkneys, however, having never set reached the Scottish mainland to claim the throne at Scone (1290). Soon after the death of Queen Margaret, the Guardians of Scotland seeking to avoid a civil war between the feuding Bruce and Balliol clans asked Scotland's outhern neighbour, Edward I of England to arbitrate among the two claimants. This set in motion a centuries long conflict between the two kingdoms. Edward I having subdued Wales, saw this as the opportunity to pursue what he had been cinsidering for some time, the union of Britain by conquering the Scottish north. Edward chose Balliol who agreed to swear allegiance to the powerful Englissh monarch. Balliol once in poer rebelled against Edward. This led, however, to Balliol's defeat at the Battle of Dunbar (1296). Balliol was forced to abdicate. This left Scotlan without a king. Robert the Bruce swore allegiance to Edward at Berwick-upon-Tweed (1296). He broke his oath when he joined the Scottish revolt led by William Wallace, Scotland's other great hero (1297). Facing Edward's army he then again swore allegiance to Edward--the Capitulation of Irvine. Bruce appears to have sided with the Wallace and the Scots during the Battle of Stirling Bridge. What followed is not fully understood with Bruce vascilating. Edward led another army north to Scotland, winning a great victory at Falkirk (1298). Edward returned tom London wih Wallce his prisoner. Bruce's lands of Annandale and Carrick were notably exempted from the lordships and lands which Edward seized from Scittish lords and assigned to his followers. Edward clearly saw Bruce as a man who could still serve his purpses. Bruce and another rival to the throne, John 'Red' Comyn, succeeded the inprisoned Wallace as Guardians of Scotland. Their alliance was shakey. They met at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries seen as neutral ground. There Bruce dramtically ended their ruvalry. He stabbed Comyn through the heart before the historic church's altar (1306). Pope Clement V excomunicated Bruce. Even so he was crowned at Scone (1306). Robert then resisted the English Edward for about a decade before decisively defeating an English army led by Edward II at the climatic Battle of Bannockburn (1314). Edward fled from the field with his personal bodyguard. Seeing the King fllee the battle turned into route. Edward raced south and finally reached safety at Dunbar Castle. Bannockburn decided the issue of Scottish independence and Bruce's crown although English recognition was several years to come. Bruce had, however, driven the English out of Scotland. English losses were substantial. He would never return to Scotland.

Peeage: Lord of Elgin

The title Earl of Elgin was created in the Peerage of Scotland for Thomas Bruce, 3rd Lord Kinloss (1633). Thomas Bruce was later created Baron Bruce of Whorlton in the Peerage of England (164). His son, Robert, succeeded him, and was also created Earl of Ailesbury in the Peerage of England. The two Earldoms continued united until the death of the fourth Earl of Elgin, when both the Ailesbury and Bruce titles became extinct, and the Elgin title passed to the Earl of Kincardine; the Lordship of Kinloss became dormant. In a related development, Kincardine was awarded the status of a burgh of barony (1663). It had by this time become somewhat prosperous minor port.

British Imperial History

The Bruce Clan provided a long series of the Lords of Elgin. Different Lord Elgins played an important role in British imperial history. The served in many position from an early point in the buildig of the Empire after the loss of the amerucan colonies. James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin was especially important, filling many important assignments (1811-63). He played an important role in the Second Opium War, somethinh that he was not proud of. Other Bruce's played more minor, but still interesting roles in colonial policy.

Created: 8:21 PM 5/22/2016
Last updated: 8:21 PM 5/22/2016