The Scottish Civil War began after Robert the Bruce killed John Comyn and took control of Scotland from his supporters. Bruce faced many defeats from 1305-1307 due to fighting against both English forces and Scottish forces loyal to Comyn. By 1308, Bruce had defeated his remaining opponents through military victories and destroying the lands of Comyn supporters. Bruce was then recognized as the rightful King of Scotland. The Scottish Civil War ended in early 1309, leaving Bruce in control of the country as he prepared to challenge English forces.

2. LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Describe the key events which shaped the Scottish Civil
War, and ultimately ended it
• Describe events after the Civil War which let Bruce take
control of Scotland, and led up to the Battle of Bannockburn

3. It can be argued that Scotland’s Civil War started the
moment that Robert the Bruce stabbed John Comyn. From
then the nation was divided between supporters of each man.

4. Many of Comyn’s supporters
and family were also
influential, including playing a
role in King Edward’s Court.
This gave them the chance to
seek revenge on Bruce,
including using the significant
power and resources of
England.

5. Bruce’s defeats at Methven
(June 1306) and Dalrigh
(August 1306) were not simply
down to the strength of
England’s army.
In both cases Scots made up a
large part of the opposition
forces. The attack at Dalrigh
was led by John MacDougal
of Argyll (Comyn’s cousin)

6. The struggles that Bruce
faced led to him leaving
Scotland (to an unknown
location).
After being given the
nickname King Hob, it is
said (wrongly) that Bruce
was inspired by a spider to
return to Scotland, which he
did in February 1307.

7. Bruce captured Turnberry
Castle (where he had been
born) in February 1307 and
used the tenants to form an
army.
However that same month two
of his brothers (Thomas and
Alexander) were captured by
the English and eventually
executed.

8. Bruce planned a guerrilla
campaign against the English.
Bruce defeated an English
army patrol at Glen Trool in
April 1307.
The following month, in May
1307, Bruce would again face
Valance, his foe from Methven.

9. The two sides met at Loudoun
Hill in Ayrshire in May 1307
(at a site where William
Wallace once fought).
Valance had a stronger army
but Bruce’s choice of battlefield
– limiting the size of area
Valance could fight in – gave
Bruce victory. More Scots
then joined his army.

10. Bruce then gained another
huge boost to his campaign.
King Edward was leading
another army north to
Scotland, however he died in
the north of England in July
1307. His son, Edward II,
became the new King of
England.

11. Bruce now turned his attention
to winning full control of
Scotland, and this would mean
defeating and controlling
supporters of John Comyn.
In the Winter 1307-1308,
Bruce travelled to the north
east of Scotland and challenged
English forces.

12. Bruce captured various
Comyn-supporting castles
in early 1308:
• Inverlochy
• Urqhuart
• Inverness
• Nairn
Bruce’s successes persuaded
others Scots to join him.

13. Bruce then became ill, with
many of his men believing that
he might die.
Bruce’s men had failed to take
control of Elgin Castle. They
came under attack from the Earl
of Buchan, although were not
destroyed (partly because of poor
coordination between the English
army and Comyn’s backers).

14. In May 1308, the final battle
between Buchan and Bruce’s men
took place at Inverurie.
Bruce left his sick bed to lead his
men to victory. He then took
brutal action against the Buchan
area. In the Harrying of
Buchan, Bruce’s men destroyed
homes, food and livestock and
killed any Comyn supporters.

15. Bruce also had plans to win
control of the south of Scotland.
During the northern campaign,
Bruce sent some men (including
his brother, Edward and Sir
William Douglas) to the south to
fight Comyn’s supporters, and
they won control of Douglas
Castle in June 1308.

16. Bruce then sought to win
control of the Western Isles,
and take revenge for his defeat
at Dalrigh.
In August 1308, Bruce’s men
challenged and defeated the
McDougals at the Pass of
Brander in Argyll, winning
control of Dunstaffnage
Castle.

17. Bruce now had control of Scotland.
He had defeated many of his
enemies, and forced them to join
his side. Others gave him their
support for fear of being attacked
or having their lands taken.
In March 1309, Bruce held his
first official Parliament (at St
Andrews)

18. Bruce received official
recognition as Scotland’s king
from the French king, Philip IV.
Bruce was also given the public
support of Scotland’s bishops in
the Declaration of the Clergy.
The Bishops also again reiterated
Bruce’s forgiveness for the
Comyn killing.

19. Although some nobles still
resented Bruce, the Scottish
Civil War was over by early
1309.
Bruce’s next plan was to
challenge the English
presence in Scotland and win
back control of the areas that
they controlled.

20. King Edward II sent an army
north, but they had to retreat to
Berwick during the winter of
1309-1310.
Bruce led several raids into
the north of England and
refused to fight the English in a
major, open battle. This
generally confirmed Edward
II’s weakness.

21. Over a few years, Bruce and his
men (notably William Douglas,
Thomas Randolph and Edward
Bruce) won control of various
Scottish castles:
• Dundee, early 1312
• Perth, January 1313
• Dumfries, February 1313
• Edinburgh, early 1314
• Roxburgh, early 1314

22. By early 1314, only two major
castles remained in English
hands; Stirling and Berwick.
Stirling was to be handed over to
the Scots by Midsummer Day
1314, unless England acted.
Edward II was under pressure
from his nobles to take action
against Bruce and so sent a huge
army north.