Robert Bruce issue 9 governance essay bank
FACTORS
-Royal authority (statue of disinheritence Cambuskenneth 1314, parliaments, economic
state with trade and usage of burghs)
-Justification of kingship (declaration of 1309 & 1320 -clergy & Abroath,
administration, church
-Securing succession (talizies of 1315 & 1318))
-Soules conspiracy
Intro
-“He was known to later generations of his countrymen as ‘Good King Robert’ - Barrow
-The idea of control & government and the usage of that to justify Bruce’s kingship and
establish a Bruce dynasty was central to how Bruce approached the governance of the
kingdom.
Royal authority
Parliaments/legislation
-the idea of control over government can be backed up by the fact that at least 19 parliaments
were recorded during his reign. The issues of which they discussed were concerning royal
rights, treaty ratifications, talizies and taxation.
-the 1318 parliament at Scone set the principles of which Robert’s government was to be
based, such as putting forward the noble principle of equal justice for the rich and poor
labelled ‘freedoms of hanky Kirk.’ This essentially meant that the crown was in charge of
exports in goods and money.
-however, he put measures in to keep people in place such as punishing soldiers breaking the
law while in service.
-this is significant because Bruce needed a strong and stable army to prove his might as king,
and to fight against others who would not tolerate his kingship. Wapinschaws which were
inspections which ensured men were aimed according to their own station.
-the conduct of Bruce in terms of legislation and parliament was similar to the previous kings,
while the rest were a reflection of troubled times of war and land seizures.
, -however, Reid goes further than this arguing that Bruce’s government deliberately
barked back to to previous reigns (apart from Balliol’s) to justify his own kingship.
-Reid also argues that though appealing to the past, Bruce could not recreate it because
of the development of the Community of the Realm. As such he had to satisfy his
kingship.
-“Without the community’s support, which was won by good government, there could
be no effective kingship.”
-over 50 of King Robert's acts linked his rule to that of Alexander Ill, establishing his royal
continuity with Kings of old
-Robert pursued the full territorial interests of King Alexander, including his recovery of the
Isle of Man in the 1320s, highlighting his strength and effectiveness as King
-King Robert utilised sheriffs as vital elements of local royal government and increased their
landed resources to strengthen their power
-King Robert was able to effectively revive royal administration, including the roles of
chamberlain, justiciar etc
-King Robert's government was dependent on the administrative support of the Chancery
under Bernard de Linton
Justice/administration
-The removal of the powerful Comyns and their allies left a power vacuum in Scotland which
Bruce filled with his loyal lieutenants.
-Barrow suggests Robert was more insistent on specific military service to ensure he got the
type of army he required: nobles who could fight on foot alongside infantry.
-Randolph in the north was given great powers, and Douglas in the south were granted with
estates with powers of justice.
-While traditional justiciary were appointed, these barons were given powers to exclude royal
officials.
-Barrow says that sherrifs remained “the crucial figure in royal administration.”
-however, there is only one record showing a new sherrifdom was created during his reign.
Taxation
-The 1326 parliament at Cambuskenneth recofnised Roberts financial difficulties in
continuing the war with England and rewarding supporters resulting in a great deal of
income.
-The earls, barons, burgesses present granted him a tenth of their revenue, which in return for
the king, gave up other property seizures.
FACTORS
-Royal authority (statue of disinheritence Cambuskenneth 1314, parliaments, economic
state with trade and usage of burghs)
-Justification of kingship (declaration of 1309 & 1320 -clergy & Abroath,
administration, church
-Securing succession (talizies of 1315 & 1318))
-Soules conspiracy
Intro
-“He was known to later generations of his countrymen as ‘Good King Robert’ - Barrow
-The idea of control & government and the usage of that to justify Bruce’s kingship and
establish a Bruce dynasty was central to how Bruce approached the governance of the
kingdom.
Royal authority
Parliaments/legislation
-the idea of control over government can be backed up by the fact that at least 19 parliaments
were recorded during his reign. The issues of which they discussed were concerning royal
rights, treaty ratifications, talizies and taxation.
-the 1318 parliament at Scone set the principles of which Robert’s government was to be
based, such as putting forward the noble principle of equal justice for the rich and poor
labelled ‘freedoms of hanky Kirk.’ This essentially meant that the crown was in charge of
exports in goods and money.
-however, he put measures in to keep people in place such as punishing soldiers breaking the
law while in service.
-this is significant because Bruce needed a strong and stable army to prove his might as king,
and to fight against others who would not tolerate his kingship. Wapinschaws which were
inspections which ensured men were aimed according to their own station.
-the conduct of Bruce in terms of legislation and parliament was similar to the previous kings,
while the rest were a reflection of troubled times of war and land seizures.
, -however, Reid goes further than this arguing that Bruce’s government deliberately
barked back to to previous reigns (apart from Balliol’s) to justify his own kingship.
-Reid also argues that though appealing to the past, Bruce could not recreate it because
of the development of the Community of the Realm. As such he had to satisfy his
kingship.
-“Without the community’s support, which was won by good government, there could
be no effective kingship.”
-over 50 of King Robert's acts linked his rule to that of Alexander Ill, establishing his royal
continuity with Kings of old
-Robert pursued the full territorial interests of King Alexander, including his recovery of the
Isle of Man in the 1320s, highlighting his strength and effectiveness as King
-King Robert utilised sheriffs as vital elements of local royal government and increased their
landed resources to strengthen their power
-King Robert was able to effectively revive royal administration, including the roles of
chamberlain, justiciar etc
-King Robert's government was dependent on the administrative support of the Chancery
under Bernard de Linton
Justice/administration
-The removal of the powerful Comyns and their allies left a power vacuum in Scotland which
Bruce filled with his loyal lieutenants.
-Barrow suggests Robert was more insistent on specific military service to ensure he got the
type of army he required: nobles who could fight on foot alongside infantry.
-Randolph in the north was given great powers, and Douglas in the south were granted with
estates with powers of justice.
-While traditional justiciary were appointed, these barons were given powers to exclude royal
officials.
-Barrow says that sherrifs remained “the crucial figure in royal administration.”
-however, there is only one record showing a new sherrifdom was created during his reign.
Taxation
-The 1326 parliament at Cambuskenneth recofnised Roberts financial difficulties in
continuing the war with England and rewarding supporters resulting in a great deal of
income.
-The earls, barons, burgesses present granted him a tenth of their revenue, which in return for
the king, gave up other property seizures.
