Category: Clan Bruce

A part of Scottish Clans - wikitree.com

Clan Name - BRUCE (aka House of Bruce)

Adapted from Clan Bruce, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Bruce

Origins of the Clan

The surname Bruce comes from the French de Brus or de Bruis, derived from the lands now called Brix, situated between Cherbourg and Valognes in Normandy, France. Both the English and Scots lines of the Brus/Bruce family descend from Robert Brus, 1st Lord Annandale who came to England in 1106. Robert de Brus was a companion-in-arms of Prince David, later David I of Scotland.

In 1124 he followed David north to reclaim his kingdom. When a civil war broke out in England between Empress Matilda and her cousin, Stephen, David I of Scotland led a force into England. However de Brus did not follow David and instead joined the English and at the Battle of the Standard in 1138 he took prisoner his own son, who was now Lord of the lands of Annandale. Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale died on 11 May 1141 and was buried at Gysburn.

Foundation of the royal line

The foundation for the Bruce royal claim came in 1219 when Robert Bruce, 4th Lord of Annandale married Isobel of Huntingdon, daughter of David of Scotland, 8th Earl of Huntingdon and niece of William the Lion. The union brought both great wealth, with the addition of lands in both England and Scotland. Their son, Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale, known as 'The Competitor' was sometime Tanist to the throne.

On the death of Alexander III of Scotland, both Bruce and John Balliol claimed succession. Margaret, Alexander's infant granddaughter was named as heir, however, she died in 1290 traveling to Scotland to claim her throne. Soon after the death of young Queen Margaret, fearing civil war between the Bruce and Balliol families and their supporters, the Guardians of Scotland asked the kingdom's southern neighbour, Edward I of England, to arbitrate among the claimants in order to avoid civil war.

Edward I saw this as the opportunity he had long been waiting for to conquer Scotland as he had Wales and rule over all the British Isles. In 1292 Edward chose Balliol who swore allegiance to the English monarch. It was not long, however, before Balliol rebelled against Edward, eventually leading to John's defeat and forced abdication after the Battle of Dunbar in 1296.

Ascent to the throne

With the abdication of John Balliol, Scotland was effectively without a monarch. Robert the Bruce swore allegiance to Edward at Berwick-upon-Tweed but breached this oath when he joined the Scottish revolt the following year. In the summer of 1297 he again swore allegiance to Edward in what is known as the Capitulation of Irvine. Bruce appears to have sided with the Scots during the Battle of Stirling Bridge but, when Edward returned victorious to England after the Battle of Falkirk, Bruce's lands of Annandale and Carrick were exempted from the lordships and lands which Edward assigned to his followers. Bruce was seen as a man whose allegiance might still be won.

Bruce and John Comyn (a rival for the throne) succeeded William Wallace as Guardians of Scotland, but their rivalry threatened the stability of the country. A meeting was arranged at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, neutral ground. Bruce stabbed Comyn through the heart and, as a result, was excommunicated by Pope Clement V. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone, Perthshire in 1306. Robert led the Scottish army at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 where the English were defeated. In 1334, Thomas Bruce, who claimed kinship with the royal house of Bruce, organized a rising in the Kyle, along with Robert Stewart (later Robert II of Scotland) against the English.

After Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce's son, David II of Scotland, became king on his father's death in 1329. In 1346, under the terms of the Auld Alliance, David marched south into England in the interests of France, but was defeated at the Battle of Neville's Cross and imprisoned on 17 October of that year, and remained in England for 11 years. David returned to Scotland after negotiation of a treaty and ruled there until he died in Edinburgh Castle unexpectedly in 1371 without issue. The line of succession passed to the House of Stewart.

Sir Edward Bruce was made commendator of Kinloss Abbey and was appointed a judge in 1597. He was appointed a Lord of Parliament with the title of Lord Kinloss in 1601. Edward Bruce accompanied James VI to claim his English throne in 1603. As a result he was subsequently appointed to English judicial office as Master of the Rolls. He was granted a barony as Lord Bruce of Kinloss in 1608. In 1633 his son, Thomas, was created first Earl of Elgin. When the fourth Earl died without issue, the title passed to the descendants of Sir George Bruce of Carnock, who already held the title Earl of Kincardine and in 1747 the Earldoms were united.

Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, was a diplomat and ambassador to the Ottoman Empire between 1799 and 1803. He spent much of his fortune rescuing marble sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens, which were falling into ruin. They are now commonly referred to as the Elgin Marbles. His son, James, was Governor General of the Province of Canada and Viceroy of India.

The current chief, Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin, is prominent in Scottish affairs and is convener of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

Clan BRUCE

Clan Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: Clann Brus) is a Scottish clan from Kincardine in Scotland. It was a Royal House in the 14th century, producing two kings of Scotland.

Crest: A lion stantan Azure armed and langued Gules

Motto: FUIMUS (We have been)

Region: Lowlands

District: Fife - Annandale, Clackmannan and Elgin

Plant badge: Rosemary

Gaelic name: Clann Brus - Origin of name is Norman: Bruis, de Brus, de Brusse

Septs: Airth, Bruwes, Bruss, Bruc, Bruys, Brues, Brice, Bryce, Bruce, Bruice, Bruis, Bruze, Broce, Brois, Broiss, Brose, Broise, Brouss, Brus, Bruse, Carlysle, Carruthers, Crosbie, De Brix, Leggat, Randolph, Stenhouse

Names associated with the clan:

Bruce of Elgin (chiefs), Bruce of Kincardine

Earls of Kincardine (1643)

Edward Bruce, 1st Earl of Kincardine (d. 1662)

Alexander Bruce, 2nd Earl of Kincardine (c. 1629–1680)

Alexander Bruce, 3rd Earl of Kincardine (c. 1666–1705)

Alexander Bruce, 4th Earl of Kincardine (d. 1706)

Robert Bruce, 5th Earl of Kincardine (d. 1718)

Alexander Bruce, 6th Earl of Kincardine (1662–1721)

Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Kincardine (1663–1740)

William Bruce, 8th Earl of Kincardine (1710–1740)

Charles Bruce, 5th Earl of Elgin and 9th Earl of Kincardine (1732–1771)