Issue 9 King Robert’s governance of Scotland #2
Declaration of Abroath 1320
-In 1320, the Declaration of Abroath was sent to the Papacy on behalf of the Scottish political
community to express their support for Bruce as their king
-The primary purpose of the Declaration was to persuade the Papacy to lift excommunication
from Robert
-the primary purpose of the Declaration of Arbroath appears to have been to persuade the
Papacy to lift the excommunication on King Robert
-King Robert continually sought recognition of his position from the papacy and the French
in attempts to secure his authority
-King Robert worked hard to undermine John Balliol in order to justify his own usurpation of
the Kingship
-King Robert's declarations were issued in threes - from his nobility, his clergy and himself -
to highlight and consolidate the extent of his support across all sectors of Scottish society
-the declarations were designed to give a sense of communal governing within Scotland as
Robert ruled with his political community
-although these documents were supposedly from sectors of Scottish society, in reality they
were royal propaganda, produced by the King's chancery with seals attached later, over a
number of weeks rather than at a single meeting
-some historians think King Robert used the Declaration of Arbroath as a test of loyalty in
whether his political community would sign it. However, the test did not prevent its
signatories from rebelling within months
-the Declaration of Arbroath stated that if King Robert failed to maintain and defend the
independence of his Kingdom, he like John Balliol would be replaced as King of Scots
-both the Kings of France and England had sent similar letters to the papacy, suggesting that
King Robert was following a typical route of seeking justification for his actions, as well as
recognition and support from the papacy for his government.
Parliaments, law and order
-King Robert was able to restore, strengthen and extend royal parliaments, re-establishing
royal authority after the confusion of constant warfare
Declaration of Abroath 1320
-In 1320, the Declaration of Abroath was sent to the Papacy on behalf of the Scottish political
community to express their support for Bruce as their king
-The primary purpose of the Declaration was to persuade the Papacy to lift excommunication
from Robert
-the primary purpose of the Declaration of Arbroath appears to have been to persuade the
Papacy to lift the excommunication on King Robert
-King Robert continually sought recognition of his position from the papacy and the French
in attempts to secure his authority
-King Robert worked hard to undermine John Balliol in order to justify his own usurpation of
the Kingship
-King Robert's declarations were issued in threes - from his nobility, his clergy and himself -
to highlight and consolidate the extent of his support across all sectors of Scottish society
-the declarations were designed to give a sense of communal governing within Scotland as
Robert ruled with his political community
-although these documents were supposedly from sectors of Scottish society, in reality they
were royal propaganda, produced by the King's chancery with seals attached later, over a
number of weeks rather than at a single meeting
-some historians think King Robert used the Declaration of Arbroath as a test of loyalty in
whether his political community would sign it. However, the test did not prevent its
signatories from rebelling within months
-the Declaration of Arbroath stated that if King Robert failed to maintain and defend the
independence of his Kingdom, he like John Balliol would be replaced as King of Scots
-both the Kings of France and England had sent similar letters to the papacy, suggesting that
King Robert was following a typical route of seeking justification for his actions, as well as
recognition and support from the papacy for his government.
Parliaments, law and order
-King Robert was able to restore, strengthen and extend royal parliaments, re-establishing
royal authority after the confusion of constant warfare
