Edward Bruce (Edubard a Briuis as he was known in medieval Gaelic), (c. 1275 – October 14, 1318) was King of Ireland and Earl of Carrick. He was the younger brother of Robert I of Scotland, and supported his brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland, then pursued a claim in Ireland. Middle Irish is the name given by historical philologists to the form of the Irish language from the 10th to 16th centuries; it is therefore a contemporary of Middle English. ... // April 22 - The first of the Statutes of Westminster are passed by the English parliament, establishing a series of laws in its 51 clauses, including equal treatment of rich and poor, free and fair elections, and definition of bailable and non-bailable offenses. ... October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events 1 April: Berwick-upon-Tweed is captured by the Scottish from the English Emperor Go-Daigo ascends to the throne of Japan End of the reign of Emperor Hanazono, emperor of Japan Pope John XXII declares the doctrines of the Franciscans advocating ecclesiastical poverty erroneous Qalaun Mosque, Cairo... Henry VIII, became King of Ireland in 1542. ... The Earldom of Carrick has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of Ireland. ... Robert I, the Bruce, in a conjectural drawing Robert I, (Roibert a Briuis in medieval Gaelic, Raibeart Bruis in modern Scottish Gaelic and Robert de Brus or Robert de Bruys in Norman French), usually known in modern English today as Robert the Bruce (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), was... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification...

Early life

Edward was a son of Robert de Brus, Lord of Annandale and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick. His date of birth is unknown, but as the second of five brothers it was probably not long after his older brother was born in 1274. The Irish medievalist Seán Duffy suggests that he was probably fostered in Ireland as a child. This was a common Scottish and Irish cultural practice, and would tie in with, and perhaps explain, parts of his later life. Robert Bruce whom genealogists name Robert Bruce IV (c 1250 - c 1304), 6th Lord of Annandale, Earl of Carrick jure uxoris was a feudal lord in Scotland and Northern England during prelude stages of Wars of Scottish Independence. ... Marjorie of Carrick, 3rd Countess of Carrick (1256-1292) was the daughter and heiress of Neil of Carrick, 2nd Earl of Carrick, and Countess of Carrick in her own right. ... Events May 7 - In France the Second Council of Lyons opens to consider the condition of the Holy Land and to agree to a union with the Byzantine church. ...

Edward fought alongside Robert throughout his struggle for the Scottish throne, including his desperate period on the run and as a guerilla. The three younger Bruce brothers Niall, Thomas, and Alexander were all captured and executed by the English during this period, but Edward survived. He played an important role capturing and slighting English-held castles in south-west Scotland, and he was a commander at the Battle of Bannockburn on June 23-June 24, 1314. A slighting is the deliberate destruction of a fortification without opposition from its builders or its last users, respectively. ... Combatants Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England Commanders Robert Bruce Edward II of England Strength about 8,000 20,000 Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Bannockburn (June 23, 1314 – June 24, 1314) was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... Events June 24 - Battle of Bannockburn. ...

Some time between 1309 and 1313, Edward was created Earl of Carrick, a title previously held by his maternal grandfather Níall mac Donnchada, his mother and his elder brother. The Earldom of Carrick has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of Ireland. ... Níall mac Donnchadha of Carrick was the second man to bear the title Mormaer, or Earl, of Carrick. ...

Fathering one or two sons

A probable marriage with Isabella, daughter of John of Strathbogie, 9th Earl of Atholl, produced a son, Alexander Bruce, who would later inherit his father's earldom. There are records to suggest a second son, Thomas, was also a result of their union. A record for intended marriage to Isabelle de Ross does exist, dated after the probable death of Isabella Strathbogie, but there is no evidence that the marriage actually occurred. This second marriage is also improbable as Edward was campaigning in Ireland at the time, and a marriage in the midst of these events is unlikely. The assumption that Isabella Strathbogie's brother, David of Strathbogie, 10th Earl of Atholl, turned on Robert because of the 'wronging' of his sister is also unproven and unlikely, as the dates do not correlate, and many scholars believe this changing of allegiances was related to land and political disagreements.

King of Ireland

Historical background

By the early 14th century, Ireland had not had a High King since Ruaidri mac Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair who had been deposed by his son in 1186. The country was divided between Irish dynasties and Anglo-Irish lords who ruled parts of Ireland. The High Kingship of Ireland was a pseudohistorical construct of the eighth century AD, a projection into the distant past of a political entity that did not become reality until the ninth century. ... Note: Rory OConnor can also refer to the Irish Republican of the 1920s, who fought in the Anglo-Irish War and the Irish Civil War Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (d. ... Events John the Chanter becomes Bishop of Exeter. ...

In 1258 some of the dynasties and clans elected Brian Ua Neill to this position; however he was defeated by the Normans at the battle of Downpatrick in 1260.

The invasion of Ireland

Bruce's main mission in invading Ireland was to create a second front in the ongoing war against England, draining her of much needed men, materials and finance by creating havoc on the island. This became critical when the Isle of Man was recaptured by English-backed Scots from King Robert's control in January 1315, thereby threatening the south and south-west of Scotland and also reopening up a potential source of aid to the English from the Anglo-Irish and native Irish.

Added to this was a request for aid from the King of Tír Eógain, Domnall mac Brian Ó Néill. Ó Néill had been troubled by Anglo-Irish incursions to the south-east (the de Verdons), the east (tenants of the Earl of Ulster) and west (also by the Earl of Ulster) of Tír Eógain and in order to retain his lands, he and some twelve of his vassals and allies jointly asked for aid from Scotland. The Bruce brothers agreed, on condition that they would support Edward as King of Ireland, as the brothers envisaged themselves as separate rulers of Scotland and Ireland, while Robert would regain Man and Edward possibly making an attack on Wales, with Welsh support. They personally envisioned "a grand Gaelic alliance against England", between Scotland and Ireland since both countries had a common heritage. The title of Earl of Ulster has been created several times in the Peerages of Ireland and the United Kingdom. ... The title of Earl of Ulster has been created several times in the Peerages of Ireland and the United Kingdom. ... The Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, whose language is of the Gaelic (Goidelic) family, a division of Insular Celtic languages. ...

Ó Néill approved of the conditions for himself and on behalf of his vassals, and preparations began. At about this point, Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, received news from Irish sources that an invasion was about to take place, and made his way to Ireland where he held land, mainly in and around the castle and town of Trim. He had previously fought against the Bruces at Bannockburn where he was taken prisoner and freed to return King Edward II's royal seal, lost in the rout. Roger de Mortimer, 1st Earl of March (25 April 1287 – 29 November 1330), grandson of the 1st Baron Wigmore, was the best-known of his name. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Edward II, (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until deposed in January, 1327. ...

The Scottish assembly met at Ayr on April 26, 1315, just across the Irish Channel from Antrim. As King Robert did not yet have any legitimate male heir, Edward was proclaimed his legal heir and successor as King of Scotland and all other titles in case of his death. Edward's invasion fleet also munstered there, having received calls to assemble as far back as at least the previous month. The Royal Burgh of Ayr (Scottish Gaelic, Inbhir Àir) in the south-west of Scotland is a burgh situated on the Firth of Clyde. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... Events August 13 - Louis X of France marries Clemence dAnjou. ... Irish Channel can refer to: Irish Channel, New Orleans, a neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. ... Statistics Province: Ulster County Town: Antrim Area: 2,844 km² Population (est. ...

Arrival and the Campaign of 1315

On May 26, 1315 Edward and his fleet (estimated at in excess of 6,000 men) landed on the Irish coast at points at and between Olderfleet Castle at Larne, and Glendrum. His brother had sailed from Tarbert for the Western Isles with his son-in-law Walter Stewart, to subjugate them till "all the isles, great and small, were brought to his will." Edward meanwhile was swiftly faced by an army led by vassals of the Earl of Ulster such as the de Mandevilles, Savages, Logans and Bissets of the Glens, and their Irish allies, led by Sir Thomas de Mandeville. However they were defeated in battle by the Scots under Thomas, Earl of Moray. Subsequently, the Scots managed to take the town, though not the castle, of Carrickfergus. May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... Events August 13 - Louis X of France marries Clemence dAnjou. ... There are a number of places called Tarbert in Scotland, and each is characterised by a narrow strip of land, usually where two lochs nearly meet. ... The title of Earl of Ulster has been created several times in the Peerages of Ireland and the United Kingdom. ... Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray (d. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ...

In early June Ó Néill and some twelve fellow northern Kings and lords met Edward Bruce at Carrickfergus and swore fealty to him as King of Ireland. The Irish annals state that Bruce "took the hostages and lordship of the whole province of Ulster without opposition and they consented to him being proclaimed King of Ireland and all the Gaels of Ireland agreed to grant him lordship and they called him King of Ireland." In fact, Bruce was never to receive anything more than purely nominal recognition from any of the more powerful Irish Kings, and despite entreatys at various times over the next three years was ignored by those whom he did not directly interest. He did however directly or indirectly rule much of eastern and mid-Ulster. Henry VIII, became King of Ireland in 1542. ...

In late June, Edward proceeded with his army from Carrickfergus along Magh Line (Six Mile Water), burning Rathmore, near Antrim town, which was a holding of the Savages. He then went south by way of the Moiry Pass - called "Innermallan"/"Enderwillane"/Imberdiolan" in contemporary accounts - between Newry and Dundalk. This ancient routeway had been for centuries the passage south out of Ulster into the Kingdom of Mide, Leinster and Munster but because of its narrowness Ulster armies had frequently ambushed and been ambushed at the pass. Here he was met by Mac Duilechain of Clanbrassil and Mac Artain of Iveagh, both of whom had submitted to him at Carrickfergus. Their attempted ambush ended in their defeat and the army pressed on, destroying de Verdon's fortress of Castleroache, and on June 29 attacked Dundalk. The town, another possession of the de Verdon's, was almost totally destroyed with its population, both Anglo-Irish and Gaelic, massacred alike. The Six Mile Water, also known historically as the Ollar, is a small river in southern County Antrim, Northern Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... The Kingdom of Mide existed as a kingdom since at least the early historic era. ... Statistics Area: 19,774. ... Statistics Area: 24,607. ... June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ...

In July, two separate armies opposing Bruce met and assemble at Sliabh Breagh, south of Ardee. One was led out of Connacht by Richard Og de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and his ally, the King of Connacht, Felim mac Aedh Ua Conchobair. The second consisted of forces raised in Munster and Leinster by Justicier, Edmund Butler of Ormonde (father of James, 1st Earl of Ormonde). The Scots-Irish army was located at Inniskeen, ten miles north. In between Sliabh Breagh and Inniskeen was the village of Louth. De Burgh moved his army north of Louth and set up camp while his cousin, William Liath de Burgh attempted to ambush Bruce's forces. While some skirmishing did result in a number of Scots deaths, Bruce refused to give battle and instead, with the Ó Néill, retreated northwards to Coleraine via [[Armagh. Bruce and Ó Néill sacked and burned Coleraine, threw down the bridge over the river Bann and faced off de Burgh's pursuing army on the opposite bank. While both sides now were experiencing shortages of food and supplies, Bruce and Ó Néill could at least draw support from local lords such as Ó Cathain and Ó Floinn. Mindful of this, de Burgh eventually withdrew back forty miles to Antrim, while Butler had to return to Ormond due to lack of supplies. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Connaught redirects here. ... Richard Og de Burgh, also known as Richard de Burgh, was the 2nd Earl of Ulster, 3rd Lord of Connacht. ... Felim mac Aedh Ua Conchobair, born 1293, King of Connacht 1310-1316. ... Statistics Area: 24,607. ... Statistics Area: 19,774. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 55. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ...

In addition to this, Bruce sent separate messages both to King Felim and a rival dynast, Cathal Ua Conchobair, promising to support them if they withdrew. Cathal managed to return to Connacht and had himself proclaimed king, leaving Felim with no choice but to return to put down his rebellion. Worst was to follow: De Burgh found himself deprived of not two but three allies and their armies when his kinsman, Walter mac Walter Cattach Burke deserted back to Connacht at the head of several hundred men, probably to guard his own estates from the upcoming conflict. Thus when in August Bruce and his men crossed the Bann (in four ships supplied by Scots sea captain, Thomas Dun, de Burgh retreated still further to Connor, where on either the first or ninth of September a charge by the Scots-Irish led to his defeat. William Liath was captured and taken as hostage to Scotland by Moray who arrived there on September 15 1315 to raise more troops, "his ships filled with booty." De Burgh retreated back to Connacht, while other Anglo-Irish took refuge in Carrickfergus Castle. Connor may refer to: In geography: Connor, Maine, unorganized territory in Aroostook County, Maine, United States Connor, County Antrim, a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland In fiction: Connor (Buffyverse), fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television program Angel Connor MacLeod, main character from the Highlander movies Connor... Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman castle in Northern Ireland, situated beside the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim and on the shore of Belfast Lough in the northeast of Ireland. ...

Finally appraised of the seriousness of the situation, Edward II had on September 1 ordered an assembly of the leading Anglo-Irish, which met at Parliament in Dublin in late October, but no decisive action was taken. On November 13, Bruce marched further south via Dundalk - where, incredibly, some gave them the right hand", i.e., a fight - garrisoned Nobber on the 30th, and advanced to Kells, where he was met by Mortimer. Mortimer had managed to raise a large force consisting both of his Anglo-Irish and Gaelic vassals, in addition to forces of other magnates. At the same time, Bruce was reinforced by Moray who had returned from Scotland with around five hundred fresh troops and supplies. The Battle of Kells was fought on the sixth or seventh of November, with Mortimer being decisivly defeated by Bruce. Mortimer was forced to retreat to Dublin while his lieutenant, Walter Cusack, held out at Trim. He almost immediately set sail for England to urge Edward II for reinforcements. At the same time, Governor of Ireland (and Bishop of Ely) John de Hothum began to take drastic action to defend Dublin from Bruce, such as leveling entire tenement and churches. September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in red and orange—the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, and the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... Arms of the Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. ...

After sacking and burning Kells, Bruce proceeded to do the same to Granard, Finnea, the Cistercian monastry of Abbeylea and raided Angaile (Annaly), the lordship of Gaelic lord O Hanely. Bruce spent Christmas at de Verdon's manor of Loughsewdy, consuming its supplies entirely and before leaving, razing it to the ground. The only manors left alone belonged to Irish lords intimidated to join him, or that of a junior branch of the de Lacy family who in an effort to gain lands voluntarily joined him. Granard (Gránard in Irish) is a town in the north of County Longford, Ireland and has a traceable histroy going back to 236AD. It is situated between three rivers, the Shannon, the Erne, and the Inny. ... The Order of Cistercians (OCist) (Latin Cistercenses), otherwise Gimey or White Monks (from the colour of the habit, over which is worn a black scapular or apron) are a Catholic order of monks. ... crest of de Lacy Lacy´s purple lion De Lacy (Lascy, Lacie) is an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy (Calvados). ...

Famine

At first the Irish/Scottish alliance seemed unstoppable as they won battle after battle, in less than a year they had most of Ireland in their control. However by the beginning of 1317 famine had stricken most of the country making it difficult for King Edward to provide food to most of his men. Shortly Robert the Bruce returned to Scotland and management of his own kingdom, but promised more aid and more volunteers to help his brother. For almost a year the Anglo-Norman barons did little to retake any land since the famine made it difficult for either side to provide food to soldiers in the field.

Marriage

Edward obtained a dispensation for a marriage to Isabella of Ross, daughter of Uilleam Mac an t-Sagairt, on June 1, 1317. Their marriage may or may not have taken place before Edward's death; in any case, they had no children. Uilleam II of Ross was the second successor of Ferchar mac in tSagairt, as Mormaer of Ross (1274-1323). ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... Events The Great Famine of 1315-1317. ...

Faughart

Then in the late summer of 1318, John de Birmmingham with his army began a march against Edward the Bruce. On 24 October 1318, the Scots-Irish army was badly defeated at the Battle of Faughart by de Birmmingham's forces. Edward was killed, his body being quartered and send to various towns in Ireland, and his head being delivered to King Edward II. The Annals of Ulster (erronously under the year 1315 summed up the hostile feeling held by many among the Anglo-Irish and Irish alike of Bruce: October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... Events 1 April: Berwick-upon-Tweed is captured by the Scottish from the English Emperor Go-Daigo ascends to the throne of Japan End of the reign of Emperor Hanazono, emperor of Japan Pope John XXII declares the doctrines of the Franciscans advocating ecclesiastical poverty erroneous Qalaun Mosque, Cairo... Edward II, (April 25, 1284 – October, 1327), of Caernarvon, was king of England from 1307 until deposed in January, 1327. ...

"Edward Bruce, the destroyer of Ireland in general, both Foreigners and Gaidhil, was killed by the Foreigners of Ireland by dint of fighting at Dun-Delgan. And there were killed in his company Mac Ruaidhri, king of Insi-Gall Hebrides and Mac Domnaill, king of Argyle, together with slaughter of the Men of Scotland around him. And there was not done from the beginning of the world a deed that was better for the Men of Ireland than that deed. For there came dearth and loss of people duing his time in all Ireland in general for the space of three years and a half and people undoubtedly used to eat each other throughout Ireland."

Historical aftermath

He is buried on the Cooley peninsula near Dundalk, Co. Louth. Edward Bruce has given rise to the perception that there was a strong fellow feeling amongst mediaeval Scotsmen and Irishmen that they had a common enemy in the shape of England. This is reflected in the 1996 Mel Gibson film Braveheart where Irishmen come to join William Wallace in his fight against Edward I.

Sources

• Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, GWS Barrow, 1976.
• Annals of Ireland 1162-1370" in "Britannia" by William Camden; ed. Richard Gough, London, 1789.
• Robert the Bruce's Irish Wars: The Invasions of Ireland 1306-1329, Sean Duffy, 2004.
• The Greatest Traitor: The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, Ian Mortimer, 2004.

External Sources

The Annals of Ulster: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001B/index.html