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Bruce's Exile in Ireland and Guerrilla War
Between 1306 and 1307 Robert Bruce, defeated after his coronation, fled to Rathlin Island and the Antrim coast of Ireland, waging small-scale guerril…
Timeline
- 1306Methven · MorayAfter his coronation Bruce was defeated near Methven by English reinforcements; his brother Neil Bruce and wife and daughters were captured. Bruce fled west with his remnants, reaching the Isle of Arran, then crossing to Rathlin Island in Ireland for refuge.
- 1306Rathlin Island · County AntrimBruce took brief refuge on Rathlin Island, where his brother Edward Bruce also operated. The island's rugged terrain, only about fifteen kilometers from Scotland's west coast, allowed him to watch English movements and maintain contact with mainland Scotland.
- 1306–1307Antrim coast · County AntrimBruce organized small-scale raids around Antrim in Ireland, trying to win local Gaelic chiefs' support and tie down English forces. Though he failed to establish a secure base, he preserved the core anti-English force, laying the groundwork for his later return to Scotland.
Sources
- Robert the Bruce: Exile in Ireland https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-the-Bruce-king-of-Scotland
- Rathlin Island and the Bruce Exile — National Museums NI https://www.nmni.com/our-museums/ulster-museum/