Edward Bruce

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Bruce, Edward (d. 1318), earl of Carrick, lord of Galloway, and self‐styled king of Ireland, brother of Robert I., king of Scots. Bruce had a reputation as an ambitious knight and an energetic, if sometimes rash, military commander, who distinguished himself at Bannockburn (1314). He was appointed heir presumptive to the Scottish throne in April 1315, and then led an expedition to Ireland with the intention of conquering it and, perhaps, of launching from there an invasion of Wales. He landed at Larne on 25 May, and was proclaimed king of Ireland, having been joined by some of the Irish, most notably the king of Cenél nEógain, Donal O'Neill ( Domhnall Ó Néill), who sent his famous ‘Remonstrance’ to the pope explaining his support. In his first campaign Bruce defeated the local Anglo‐Irish colonists, and marched south where, on 29 June, he burned Dundalk, before being forced to retreat by an army led by the earl of Ulster, Richard de Burgh. When the two armies met on 1 September at Connor, Co. Antrim, the earl was decisively defeated. Next, Bruce's army marched to Meath where, in early December, he defeated the lord of Trim, Roger Mortimer, and was joined by the latter's tenants, the de Lacys. The Anglo‐Irish assembled a substantial army to oppose him but in a skirmish near Ardscull, Co. Kildare, on 26 January 1316, their quarrelling leaders failed to overcome him and he marched further south into Laois and Offaly. By now, though, Bruce's army was feeling the effects of the severe famine which coincided with his invasion, and he made a hasty retreat to Ulster. Here Bruce set up an administration and won some of the Anglo‐Irish to his cause, though most continued to oppose him. He also set about the capture of Carrickfergus Castle, which surrendered to him in September 1316. At this point Edward returned to Scotland and by Christmas was joined in Ireland by his brother Robert and an army of gallowglasses. They marched south, forced the earl of Ulster to retreat from Ratoath, and by 21 February were at Castleknock, perhaps with the intention of taking Dublin. The citizens, however, refortified the town walls and burned the suburbs, and the Bruce brothers, unwilling no doubt to risk a lengthy siege, passed on south. By early April they were in north Munster, proposing to join forces with a faction of the O'Briens, but chose not to risk a dangerous encounter with the government army. Instead they withdrew hurriedly to Ulster, and Robert himself to Scotland. Virtually nothing is heard of Edward for the next year and a half until, in the autumn of 1318, he again marched south, but was defeated and killed at the battle of Faughart. The defeat of his planned overthrow of the english lordship of Ireland was one of the most notable achievements in the career of the hapless Edward II.

Bibliography

Duffy, Seán , ‘The Bruce Brothers and the Irish Sea World, 1306–1329’, Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies, 21 (1991)
Frame, Robin , ‘The Bruces in Ireland, 1315–18’, Irish Historical Studies, 19 (1974–5)
Orpen, G. H. , Ireland under the Normans, iv (1920)

Seán Duffy

Bruce, Edward (d. 1318). Brother of Robert I king of Scots, earl of Carrick from 1313, titular king of Ireland (1315–18). Edward Bruce was an outstanding if savage soldier, but arrogant and over-ambitious. As soon as Robert I took the throne in 1306, Edward became one of his foremost commanders. In 1308 he ravaged Galloway, confining English authority in the area to a few castles, which were gradually reduced until 1313; further campaigns followed, culminating in the siege of Stirling castle which began in 1313. It is likely that a wearisome siege was not quite Edward's idea of war; and he made an agreement with the English commander Philip Mowbray that the castle would surrender if not relieved within a year. This meant that Edward II would have to attempt to relieve it, which displeased Robert I, since his policy was always to avoid a pitched battle and rely on guerrilla tactics. However, battle could not be avoided. At Bannockburn (24 June 1314), Edward was in command of the leading brigade. In August 1314, he was among the leaders of a raid into north-east England, which caused widespread damage. In the Parliament of 1315, he was rewarded by being made heir presumptive to the Scottish throne, in the (unlikely) event that Robert I would die without a direct male heir.

It seems that Edward was not satisfied, and felt that, while his brother was king, he could not achieve what he deserved in Scotland. With Robert's full backing, he embarked on an expedition to Ireland. He seems to have landed in Ulster at the end of May 1315, with the support of Ulster nobles, who had close links with Scotland; but then forced them to acknowledge him as king of Ireland, implying an intention to conquer the whole island. He proceeded to the south, ravaging as usual as he went; but did not find the support he expected. By October 1316, he wrote to the Welsh suggesting that he should join them in an attempt to expel the English from Wales, and that he should become prince of Wales as well as king of Ireland! There was so little reality in all this that in 1317, his brother had to come briefly to his aid in Ireland, but with little success. Edward's position as king was impossible to sustain; and in October 1318 he was killed in battle at Faughart, near Dundalk.

Bruce Webster

Bruce, Edward (d. 1318). Brother of Robert I king of Scots, earl of Carrick from 1313, titular king of Ireland (1315–18). Edward Bruce was an outstanding if savage soldier, but an over‐ambitious man. As soon as Robert I took the throne in 1306, Edward became one of his foremost commanders. In 1308 he ravaged Galloway, confining English authority in the area to a few castles; further campaigns followed, culminating in the siege of Stirling castle which began in 1313. At Bannockburn (24 June 1314), Edward was in command of the leading brigade. Next, with Robert's full backing, he embarked on an expedition to Ireland. He Seems to have landed in Ulster at the end of May 1315, with the support of Ulster nobles, but then forced them to acknowledge him as king of Ireland. He proceeded to the south, but did not find the support he expected. Edward's position as king was impossible to sustain; and in October 1318 he was killed in battle at Faughart, near Dundalk.

Edward Bruce d. 1318, Scottish king of Ireland, brother of Robert I of Scotland. He aided his brother in the war for independence from England and in 1315 was declared heir to Robert's throne. With Robert's approval he then invaded Ulster, to which he had some hereditary claim. He was crowned king of Ireland in 1316 and found many Irish allies against the Anglo-Irish rulers. However, he failed to consolidate his gains and was killed in battle in 1318.

Bruce, Edward. See FEDERAL ART PROJECT.

Edward Bruce. See Bruce, Edward.

Edward Bruce See bruce, edward.