The country was divided between Irish dynasties and Anglo-Irish lords, each ruling separate parts of Ireland. JSTOR ( January 2023) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)īy the early 14th century, Ireland had not had a recognised High King since Ruaidri mac Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair ( Rory O'Connor), who had been deposed by his son in 1186.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. This section needs additional citations for verification. Alexander's mother was Isabella, daughter of John of Strathbogie, 9th Earl of Atholl. He did have an illegitimate son, Alexander Bruce, who would later inherit his father's earldom. In 1317 he was granted dispensation by the Pope to marry Isabella daughter of William, Earl of Ross, although it is doubtful that the marriage took place.

Some time between 13, Edward was created Earl of Carrick, a title previously held by his maternal grandfather Niall of Carrick, his mother and his elder brother. This led to the Battle of Bannockburn on 23–24 June 1314, where he commanded a Scottish schiltrom. It was he who made a possibly ill-judged pact with the English governor of Stirling Castle, which led to the English sending a large army to relieve the castle. He played an important role capturing and slighting English-held castles in south-west Scotland, including Rutherglen Castle which he successfully recaptured from the English in 1313. The three younger Bruce brothers Nigel, Thomas and Alexander were all captured and executed by the English during this period, but Edward survived. This was a common Scottish and Irish cultural practice, and would tie in with, and perhaps explain, parts of his later life.Įdward fought alongside Robert throughout his struggle for the Scottish throne, including his desperate period on the run and as a guerrilla. The Irish medievalist Seán Duffy suggests that he was probably fostered in Ireland as a child, likely by the O'Neills of Ulster, while Archie Duncan suggests some period of time spent with the Bissetts of the Glens of Antrim. His date of birth is unknown, but it was probably not very long after Robert was born in 1274 he was old enough to be fighting in 1307 and to be given an independent command not long after. Robert the Bruce was the eldest in the past there was some dispute over whether Edward was second, or third behind Nigel, but one recent account has him fourth behind Nigel and Alexander. Edward was one of five sons of Robert de Brus and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick, but the order is uncertain.

Butterfingers! by Malcolm Carrick