The Declaration of Arbroath E-Book

Tom Turpie

• Herausgeber: Luath Press
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 70

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

The words of the Declaration of Arbroath echo down the centuries as a supreme statement of defiance against tyranny. But should we read it as a seminal declaration of Scottish national identity or a practical response to a diplomatic problem? The model for the United States Declaration of Independence or as a clever piece of medieval rhetoric? Indicative of the strength of support for the 'hero king' Robert the Bruce or evidence of the weakness of his usurping regime? Seven hundred years on from this declaration – a letter, sent in the name of the barons of Scotland to Pope John XXII – Tom Turpie explains why it was produced and why it contains the extraordinary sentiments it does. He sets it in the context of a world plagued by war and climate change, and explores how the relevance of this letter has ebbed and flowed over seven centuries. In doing so, this book aims to help readers to understand the single most significant document to be produced in medieval Scotland.

Leseprobe

DR TOM TURPIE is a lecturer in History at the University of Stirling. Originally from New Eltham in South London, Tom completed his doctorate at the University of Edinburgh in 2011 on the subject of the cult of the saints in Medieval Scotland. He is the author of several articles on that subject and a 2015 book entitled Kind Neighbours: Scottish Saints and Society in the Later Middle Ages (Brill Publishers, Leiden). Since completing his doctorate, Tom has taught medieval history at Edinburgh and Stirling, and has collaborated on a number of academic and community history projects, including the Family Names UK Project (2013–4), the Fife Pilgrim Way (2016), Kilrenny, Anstruther and Cellardyke Burgh Survey (2016–7) and Inverkeithing Community Burgh Survey (2019–).

First published 2020

eISBN: 978-1-912387-72-4

The paper used in this book is recyclable.

It is made from low chlorine pulps

produced in a low energy, low emissions

manner from renewable forests.

Printed and bound by

iPrint Global Ltd., Ely

Typeset in Quadraat

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The author’s right to be identified as author of this work under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 has been asserted.

© Tom Turpie 2020

Contents

Preface

Note on termonology

Timeline

Introduction

SECTION I Scotland, England and the Papacy in the Middle Ages

Medieval Scotland

Things Fall Apart: War and Climate Change, c.1250–1320

The Wars of Independence

The Emergence of Robert the Bruce

After Bannockburn: Famine and Stalemate

Scotland and the Medieval Popes

SECTION II The Production and Content of the Three Letters

Responding to the Pope

The Content of the Barons’ Letter

SECTION III The Impact and Significance of the Barons’ Letter since 1320

The Reception of the Letters and the End of the War

The Long-term Significance of the Barons’ Letter in Scotland

The Barons’ Letter and the Declaration of Independence

Recent Historical Controversies and Debates

CONCLUSION The Declaration of Arbroath: What it meant then and what it means now

The Other Letters from 1320

Robert I’s Cover Letter

The Letter from the Clergy

The Declaration of Arbroath in Latin

The Declaration of Arbroath in English

Preface

I first encountered The Declaration of Arbroath as a boy, reading Nigel Tranter’s epic Bruce Trilogy on holiday. In Tranter’s masterly but sympathetic take on the career of Robert I of Scotland, the letter is a statement of a nation, signed by hundreds and reflecting the widespread support for the hero king. When I next encountered it, as an undergraduate student, I was intrigued to find that scholarly research has shown that it is a far more complex and interesting document than the one found in Tranter’s account. Historians have focused on the way it was put together, the immediate diplomatic and political context in which it was produced, and traced its reception down the centuries. As a researcher, my main focus has been on the section that explores the origins and history of the kingdom of the Scots, and the development of their relationship with St Andrew. It was finally as a university teacher, exploring the significance of this document with students native to Scotland and from across the globe, that the longer-term influence that this letter has had on Scotland and beyond became clear. What has also become clear from this experience is that understanding of the purpose and content of the letter produced in 1320 beyond university academics is limited. This book will attempt to address this, answering readers’ questions of why and how the Declaration was produced, why it includes the sentiments it does, allowing you to appreciate and enjoy this vital and relevant piece of Scotland’s past as I do.

Note on terminology

The Declaration was originally one of three letters delivered to the Pope by Scottish envoys in the summer of 1320 and only became known as the Declaration of Arbroath fairly recently. It is referred to in this book as ‘the Barons’ Letter’ or ‘the letter’. All translations from the original Latin of the text into English used in the book, as well as the Latin text itself, follow Sir James Fergusson, The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320 (Edinburgh, 1970).

Timeline

1189–92

Scottish Church granted ‘Special Daughter Status’ by Papacy

1286

Death of Alexander III

1290

Death of the Maid of Norway, Alexander’s only heir

1291–2

The Great Cause; the legal process to choose a new King of Scots

1292 (November)

John Balliol chosen and inaugurated King of Scots

1295

Scots seek alliance with King Philip IV of France

1296

Wars of Independence begin with Scottish attack on Carlisle, English attack on Berwick and Battle of Dunbar; King John surrenders to Edward I

1297

Rebellion led by William Wallace and Andrew Murray ends with Scottish victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge

1298

Scottish forces under Wallace defeated at the Battle of Falkirk

1301–2

Debate in Rome between Scottish and English procurators, Edward I forced to back down

1303

Philip IV of France makes separate peace with Edward I following defeat at Battle of Courtrai

1303–4

Edward I invades Scotland, again captures Stirling Castle and forces surrender of John Comyn and most Scottish nobles

1305

William Wallace captured and executed

1306 (February)

Robert Bruce murders John Comyn at Dumfries Greyfriars Kirk for which he is automatically excommunicated, inaugurated at Scone as Robert I on 25 March

1307 (July)

Death of Edward I, succeeded by Edward II

1308–10

Robert I personally absolved by Pope for murder of Comyn

1309

Declarations of the Scottish Clergy and Nobility sent to Philip IV, justifying support for Robert I

1314 (June)

Scottish victory at the Battle of Bannockburn

1315–22

Great European Famine

1315

Robert I excommunicated for invasion of Ireland

1317

‘Remonstrance of the Irish Princes’ – letter sent to Pope John XXII from Ireland with similar theme to Declaration of Arbroath

1317

Truce between Scots and English forces declared by Pope John XXII

1318 (October)

Death of Edward Bruce at the Battle of Faughert in Ireland

1319

Bovine Pestilence

1319

Robert I excommunicated by Pope John XXII and Papal Bulls summon the King and four bishops to Avignon for 1 May 1320

1320 (March)

Meeting of General Council at Newbattle

1320 (April)

Declaration of Arbroath sent to Pope John XXII at his palace in Avignon

1320 (August)

Pope John XXII suspends excommunication of Robert I and four Scottish bishops

1327 (January)

Edward II deposed and murdered by English opposition and is succeeded by Edward III

1328 (March)

Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton ends First War of Independence

1329 (June)

Death of Robert I, succeeded by David II

1332

Edward Balliol invades Scotland and starts Second War of Independence, David II forced into exile

1337

Beginning of Hundred Years’ War limits English support for Balliol

1341

David II returns from exile

1346

David II captured at the Battle of Neville’s Cross

1356

Balliol gives up claim to Scottish throne

1357

David II ransomed and Second War ends

1689

First publication of the Barons’ Letter by itself and in translation from Latin to English

1776

United States Declaration of Independence

1904

A local historian, J Brodie, first used the term Declaration of Arbroath

1998

Senate Resolution 155 officially designated 6 April, the date on the Declaration of Arbroath, as Tartan Day in the US

2016

Declaration of Arbroath placed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register

Reproduction of the ‘Tyninghame’ (1320AD) copy of the Declaration of ArbroathWikimedia Commons

Introduction

Non enim propter gloriam, diuicias aut honores pugnamus set propter libertatem solummodo quam Nemo bonus nisi simul cum vita amittit.

It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone which no honest man gives up but with life itself

These words are from a letter or petition that has been known since the early 20th century as the Declaration of Arbroath. It was written in the name of the barons, freeholders and community of the kingdom of Scotland and sent in April 1320 to Pope John XXII at his palace in Avignon.