How did Robert the Bruce gained more support by 1309?

Answer 1

By 1309, Bruce had defeated his two greatest enemies in Scotland. These were the Comyns, who he defeated at the Battle of Inverurie and the MacDougalls at the Battle of Brander Pass.

Added to his victories over the English at Glen Trool and Loudon Hill, these victories went a long way to restoring his reputation as a general, which had taken a severe blow after the disastrous Battle of Methven in 1306.

The death of Edward I in 1307 also helped Bruce, as Edward II did not initially share his father's determination to crush the Scots. This gave Bruce valuable time and breathing space in which to defeat his Scottish enemies and tighten his grip on the country.

In 1309, he was able to hold his first parliament at St Andrews. This parliament saw the publication of the Declaration of the Clergy, in which the Scottish Church confirms Bruce as King and declares its support for his rule.

Although there was still much work to be done before his kingdom was secure, by 1309 Bruce was widely acknowledged by the Scots as their king. When Edward II eventually attempted to finish his father's work in 1314, he faced a nation united behind a strong ruler and a skilled commander.

The total defeat of the English at Bannockburn confirmed Bruce's place in history, and echoes through the ages as the greatest triumph of the Scottish people.