Despite being one of the many Scottish nobles who fought for England’s King Edward I against William Wallace, Robert the Bruce has acquired the reputation as one of Scotland’s great patriots. But he attained the throne as Robert I only through the murder of John Comyn, a man who, despite having common political aims in seeking Scottish independence, was a personal enemy.

Bruce and Comyn: Competing Claims to the Throne

Scotland had been left with a wealth of claimants to the throne after the death of the child-queen Margaret, the Maid of Norway, in 1290. After some argument the crown was finally settled on John Balliol; but Balliol’s reign was an unhappy one, ending his abdication, leaving Scotland under English overlordship. This left two men with strong claims, John Comyn and Robert Bruce, as possible contenders for the throne.

Both men claimed the throne by virtue of their descent from daughters of King William the Lion, but Comyn’s claim, which derived, like that of the Scottish King John Balliol, from the older sister, was generally considered the stronger. In addition, he was the nephew and strong supporter of Balliol (his mother being the king’s sister) which gave extra weight to his argument.

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