3,257
edits
Changes
→The Main Story
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>
From that time on, Robert the Bruce had realized to defeat the English he would have to conduct a most Guerilla mostly guerrilla war. This proved to be very successful and he began to have some success in attacking the English in places they did not expect. When he did next meet the English in battle, he wanted to choose the ground where the battle would be. In May 1307, the advantage point for him was at Loundoun Loudoun hill, a place that was trapped on either side by marshes. While the Bruce was aware of this, the English were not. They saw his small army that was poorly equipped and fell into his trap. They had also produced trenches that restricted English movements to areas that were prepared with spears. Robert the Bruce was attacked by Aymer de Valence, once again, but this time he had made conditions perfect for his victory, which he was able to take. <ref>For more on Aymer de Valence, see: Phillips, J. R. S. (1972). <i>Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, 1307-1324: baronial politics in the reign of Edward II</i>. Oxford: Clarendon Press. </ref>
While the movie ends there, it is clear that this was a turning point. Soon after this battle, Edward II took over England from his father after he had died and he was far less ableto fight the Scots effectively. After more successful operations by the Bruce and the major defeat of the English at the Battle of Bannockburn, where once again Robert the Bruce had to use creative tactics to makeup for his inferior numbers. After that time, it was Robert the Bruce who launched invasions on the English and was later recognized as the Scottish king by Edward II's successor, Edward III.<ref>For more on Edward II, see: Warner, K. (2015). <i>Edward II: the unconventional king</i>. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Amberley.</ref>
[[File:Outlaw.jpeg|thumb|The movie Outlaw King tells the tale of Robert the Bruce and his rise to the Scottish throne. ]]
