Results of the Scottish Wars

Post Bannockburn Despite being a great victory, Bannockburn was not the decisive victory that ended the war. Edward II escaped, and thus lived on to fight another day. After the battle Bruce took steps to secure his position as undisputed king of Scots. He issued a proclamation in 1314 at a parliament at Cambuskenneth forbidding any Scottish nobles from owning land in England and Scotland.

The war goes on Edward II maintained that he was still overlord of Scotland. Bruce decided to take the war to Edward. Bruce’s brother invaded England-controlled Ireland, in the hope of creating a pan-Gaelic alliance (eventually to include Wales) against England. Unfortunately this met with little success, other then the recapture of the Isle of Man.

Problems for Bruce In 1318 Bruce was excommunicated by the Pope for his murder of Comyn and ignoring papal bulls. Scotland was similarly placed under an interdict. This led to the Declaration of Arbroath. Bruce also had to deal with an attempted assassination and conspiracy to take his throne in William Soulis of Liddesdale (a relative of Balliol) tried to kill the king and invest young Edward Balliol as king.

Declaration of Arbroath This was a direct counter to the Pope’s actions. The statement was sealed by eight earls and 31 barons. It set out to do three things: – to prove that the Scots were fighting a just war – to justify Robert’s leadership – to request the Pope to urge Edward II to leave the Scots in peace. The Papacy did not change its mind until 1328.

What historians say about the Declaration of Arbroath Traditionalist historians have argued that the Declaration of Arbroath is proof of nationalism in Scotland. It shows that the Community of the Realm was behind Robert Bruce. Barrow and Duncan support this view. Others argue that it was a political tool by Bruce, and that many who signed it could not have done so in person.

The war continues Robert took the battle to Edward and invaded England every year between 1314 and Edward invaded Scotland several times, but could not get Bruce to commit to battle. These invasions soon became too costly. Eventually Edward II was murdered by his wife and her lover, Roger Mortimer. Bruce took the opportunity to invade again, this time with a large army. Queen Isabella offered to make peace in the name of her 14-year-old son.

Treaty of Edinburgh 1328 This treaty gave formal acknowledgement of absolute Scottish independence. It set out a marriage agreement between Bruce’s son, David, and Edward III’s sister, Joan. The Scots agreed to pay the English £20,000 (they had stolen six times this amount in previous years).