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The story begins with Robert the Bruce, along with other prominent Scottish nobles, meeting with Edward I to accept him as their king in around 1306. They had already led a rebellion that was unsuccessful, where Edward I, Hammer of the Scots, had earned his nickname by winning against the Scots. Robert still wants to be king, as his family has ancient lineage to the thrown of Scotland, but other claimants exist for the Scottish throne and none of them are in position to attack the English due to their strength and possession of many key areas of Scotland. John Comyn was another Scottish noble who also had perhaps just an equal or maybe even stronger claim to the Scottish throne.<ref>For more on the period before and the beginning of the Scottish rebellions against Edward I, see: Traquair, P. (1998). <i>Freedom’s sword: Scottland’s wars of Independence</i>. London: HarperCollins. </ref>

William Wallace is the last major Scottish figure not to accept Edward I as king. Eventually, after several years of being on the run and hiding in the highlands and other regions, William is killed. This is shown in the movie as inspiring rebellion against the English, that the death of Wallace somehow triggers a nationalist rage that sparks Robert to begin to plot to take back Scotland. As the Bruce begins to plot the rebellion, he meets with Comyn in Greyfriars church. However, the two quickly make their own claims to the throne of Scotland and Comyn does not show willingness to side with the Bruce against Edward I. This leads to Robert the Bruce striking and later Comyn dies, which leads to the Bruce being excommunicated but being absolved by the Scottish church leaders as they promoted the rebellion. Six weeks later, Bishop William de Lamberton crowned the Bruce King of the Scots at Scone, which was the traditional place that Scottish kings were crowned. However, despite this, many Scottish nobles did not join his rebellion and he was betrayed, which almost led to his capture but he escaped with a few followers. In fact, at the Battle of Methven where the Bruce and his army was almost destroyed, Aymer de Valence defeated him in a surprise attack. After this, the Bruce may have spent the winter of 1306-1307 in the Hebrides. His wife, Elizabeth de Burgh, was hiding in Kildrummy Castle after this battle, but she was captured after a siege of the castle that was guarded by Robert the Bruce's brother (Niall Bruce). After the castle fell, Niall Bruce was executed. <ref>For more on the events at around the time of the Battle of Methven, see: Saunders, C. J., Le Saux, F. H. M., & Thomas, N. (Eds.). (2004). <i>Writing war: medieval literary responses to warfare</i>. Cambridge ; Rochester, N.Y: D.S. Brewer, pg. 107. </ref>