To say the politics of Scotland in the early 14th Century were complicated would be a gross understatement. It is a well-known fact that the system of tanistry used during the reign of the House of Dunkeld was complicated in itself.

Tanistry was a Celtic system whereby a chieftain's successor was chosen by election while he was still alive. The choice was usually his eldest son, or if he had no heir, usually the ablest and oldest of the chieftain's kin. In May 1290 however, the death of the seven-year-old Scottish/Norwegian Queen Margaret threw the whole system into turmoil.

At the time, there were no less than thirteen claimants to the Scottish throne. This fact threatened the peace of Scotland with the struggle for power that could have ensued. Cooler heads prevailed however, and at Edward I of England's request, the claimants acknowledged him as the feudal superior. This allowed Edward to select the next king of Scotland. He chose John Balliol by way of primogeniture over Robert de Brus "The Bruce" who was the main claimant by virtue of tanistry. The Scots accepted Edward's choice, knowing little of the English King's future plans for Scotland.

During John Balliol's reign of Scotland, Edward I of England did everything in his power to embarrass the Scottish King in front of his subjects. After John's position was sufficiently weakened, Edward attacked and King John of Scotland (with little support from his people) was forced to surrender the Kingdom of Scotland on the 11th of July 1296.

Edward placed John in the Tower of London, and took the reins of Scotland as administrator. The Stone of Scone was removed to England (some say another stone was substituted), and the Scottish Crown Jewels were taken also. Over the next ten years Edward earned the nickname 'Hammer of the Scots' for his cruelty to the people. But this only served to aggravate the situation created by his trickery in taking the country. The Scots were a proud people, and some men, William Wallace being an example, were fighting the English openly. Others were waiting for the right opportunity to avail itself.

There were now two main claimants with a serious following in Scotland. One was John Comyn, nephew of the imprisoned King John Balliol. The other claimant was Robert the Bruce. Both of these men served both England and Scotland during this time, consolidating their power and increasing their following. The people and lairds of the north of Scotland favored John Comyn, while in the southwest the power was with Robert the Bruce.

The rivalry among these two great men almost immediately made them enemies, although they remained on speaking terms. The death of William Wallace brought forth a great surge of Scottish patriotism amongst the people. This, combined with the fact that Edward I of England was ill, placed a window of opportunity in front of these men. The time for revolution was at hand. But a revolution, to be successful, would require a leader of all of the people.

Although John Comyn's pedigree and connections made him a famous man, he was considered by many to be weak and a failure. His continuing inaction in the face of opportunity was hampering efforts in the main van of Scottish society. Unless he either took charge, or lent his support to the revolution under Bruce, the window would pass and the revolution would fail. It was this circumstance that forced the events on the fateful day of the 10th of February 1306.

Robert the Bruce called a meeting with John 'the Red' Comyn. John was summoned to join Robert at the Greyfriar's Church to discuss the situation. Although the details of the actual meeting are sketchy, the results are obvious. Some say that the men met and in the course of discussion, Robert the Bruce laid forth a plan asking John for support in his quest for King.

That John would refuse this is understandable, as his Uncle John Balliol was now free from the tower and living in France. His Uncle John also had a son, which made him the rightful heir to the throne of Scotland. Whether John Comyn refused to act or made a threat to expose Bruce is unknown. Needless to say, the 'discussion' suddenly burst into violence. At the end of the fray, John Comyn lay dead along with his Uncle, Sir Robert Comyn. Bruce fled the scene with his entourage and within six weeks, on Palm Sunday March 25, 1306, he was crowned King of Scotland.

This act, considered a murder by many including the Church, allowed Robert the Bruce to successfully unite Scotland after a great deal of time and effort. Eventually, it also gave Robert the power to remove the yoke of England from Scotland, and re-establish Scotland as an independent country.

In 1320 the Declaration of Arbroath was written as an appeal to the pope for the recognition of Scottish independence. In 1328, after the English accepted the Scots' right to their country, the pope also recognized the Country of Scotland as free and lifted the excommunication of Robert the Bruce placed after John Comyn's murder. In 1329, Robert the Bruce died, having lived barely long enough to see true Scottish independence.

by BW, February 2000

Suggested Reading:

The Kings and Queens of Scotland, by Caroline Bingham, Taplinger Publishing Company, 1976

Robert Bruce, by G. W. S. Barrow, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1965

Links:

Queen Margaret

Robert de Brus "The Bruce"

Robert the Bruce

John Comyn

Declaration of Arbroath

English Text of Declaration of Arbroath

Scottish Independence

Murder of the Red Comyn

Braveheart Episode Two