March 25, 1306: Robert the Bruce is crowned King of Scots

Robert the Bruce was born in Turnberry Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland on June 7, 1274. He came from a long line of claimants to the Scottish throne, being a descendant of King David I. During his childhood, he was educated in history, civics and languages. He learned a variety of local dialects, French and Latin. Robert's early life was typical of a 13th century European noble. However his young life would soon be thrown upside down with the arrival of the English in Scotland.

In 1286, King Alexander III died, his crown passed to a child named Margaret, the Maid of Norway. Due to Margaret's youth, the Scottish nobles assigned Guardians of Scotland to serve as regents until she would come of age. Then in 1290, Margaret died. This created a crisis between the five remaining claimants to the throne: John Balliol, John Hastings, Floris V, Count of Holland, and Robert. The Guardians feared a civil war, so they asked Edward I, King of England to mediate the situation. The King decided that Balliol had the best claim. Balliol would be proclaimed king in 1292. Subsequently, Robert's father, Robert de Brus gave up his claim in favor of his son's. The Bruces and other nobles believed King John to be a usurper. They increasingly pressured the new to king to recognize their claims. At the same time, King John was growing tired of the demands made by his English benefactors. King Edward insisted on conscripting Scots into his ongoing wars. King John sought French support in order to quell the English. For King Edward, this was the final straw. In 1296, Edward invaded Scotland and John abdicated his throne. Several Scottish nobles, including William Wallace, rose up in protest to the invasion. The Bruces initially sided with the English. After Wallace's defeat at Falkirk, and later imprisonment, Robert's support for the English began to waver. Robert and John Comyn, nephew of the deposed King John, were created Guardians of Scotland, in Wallace's place. When Wallace was executed in 1305, Robert, Comyn, and the other Scottish nobles surrendered to Edward. However their capitulation was not made in full faith, and when Edward died the following year, they took up arms anew. But all was not well. A rift had formed between the two Guardians. Comyn still supported his uncle's claim to the throne, while Robert supported his own. These tensions came to a head on February 10, 1306.

According to some sources, in 1305, John Comyn agreed to give up his uncle's claim and support Robert's. The agreement was made in secret as to not arouse the suspicion of the English. On February 10, Robert and Comyn met at the Chapel of Greyfriars Monastery in Dumfries to discuss how to move forward. In the chapel, Comyn publicly accused Robert of treason. Robert drew his sword and struck Comyn down. His betrayal of the English now known, he had no choice but to rise up against them. He and some of his supporters besieged the English garrison at Dumfries. He pressed his claim and on March 25, 1306, Palm Sunday, he was crowned King of Scots at Scone. Robert's reign would be tied with his English oppressors. In 1314, he was able to defeat the English at the Battle of Bannockburn, ending England's domination over Scotland. King Robert continued to rule a free Scotland, until his death in 1329.