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Scotland In The 13th Century

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Scotland during the late 13th century and early 14th century was in relative shambles in regards to political and economic situations from degrading agency and relationship to England. The Scottish Kingdom caught up in a perilous situation after the succession crisis after King Alexander III died suddenly in 1286 without a proper heir. Alexander's children had predeceased him by his first wife and the only proper heir was the Margaret of Norway. Margaret of Norway was the daughter of Margaret of Scotland (Alex's daughter) who died beforehand married to Eric II of Norway that added to the complexity of the situation. The death of the Maid of Norway in September 1290 left no closely related bloodline in Alexander III family and opened the door …show more content…

When Robert the Bruce ascended the throne in 1306 the defiance and animosity toward the English became apparent with the battles and land claims. Bruce's ascension to the throne came at the murder John Comyn in Greyfriars Church, Dumfries in February 1306. This incident before his crowning in March which he was excommunicated by the Pope for the argument and killing of a Scottish noble in a church. The ascension of the throne came with a convoluted history of the Bruce family strong arm approaches to gain power and reputation against other tribes and the quest to rule the kingdom of Scotland. Sources under Robert the Bruce came to acknowledge the bias against William Wallace similar to how the English pinned him as a robber, ruffian, and cruel leader of Independence. This notion of the Bruce prejudices and censorship add to the negative perceptions toward the mythology of Scottish leaders and their control over literature at the time of their reign. A series of military victories between 1310 and 1314 won Bruce a majority of control over Scotland. The Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 against the Edward II English forces solidified his position as the rightful king of Scotland. The military victories fueled more intervention in other states on the British Isles with the boosted moral of the Scottish soldiers for independence from England and other monarchical

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