| “ | You have bled with Wallace! Now bleed with me! | „ |
| ~ Robert the Bruce,rallying the troops |
Robert, the 17th Earl of Bruce is the deuteragonist in the 1995 film Braveheart and the titular main protagonist of it's 2019 sequel Robert the Bruce.
Robert was portrayed by the Scottish actor Angus Macfadyen.
He was the son of a leprosy-ridden Scottish nobleman named Robert the Elder. Robert was dominated by his father, who wished to secure the throne for his son by submitting to the English. Robert was well liked by many Scottish people, both noble and common, and was therefore seen as the best person to lead the Scots.
Shortly after William Wallace began his rebellion, Robert thought it was about time for the Scottish to stand up against the English, but his father still didn't want Robert to charge in with his support, fearing it would bring a bad end to Robert and the family.
Wallace soon helped the Scottish army inflict a devastating defeat on the English northern army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. After being named the protector of Scotland at a meeting of the council, Wallace left after the nobles began bickering among themselves. Robert followed, and urged Wallace not to make enemies of the nobles, but Wallace told him that if he would lead the people against the English the Scots would follow him, and so would Wallace.
At the Battle of Falkirk, urged by his father, Robert fought for the English against William Wallace and the Scots at Falkirk. As a wounded Wallace rushes to attack the English King Edward Longshanks, one of the king's lancers intercepts him, and Wallace is shocked when it turns out to be Robert. Wallace subsequently gives up and prepares to be capture or killed. Remorseful, Robert helps Wallace get to safety before the English can capture him. Robert was torn over helping the English, because Wallace inspired people to fight with him, rather than being conscripted as the men who made up the noble armies were.
When Scottish nobles helped Longshanks capture Wallace in a trap set by Robert's father, Robert berates and disowns his father. Robert's father told him that now he knew what it was to hate, and that he was ready to be a king. Robert replied that his hate would die with his father.
Some time after the execution of Wallace, Robert's father died of his leprosy. Robert became King, and set out to gain the English endorsement of his claim to the throne. At Bannockburn, Robert was set to meet with the English representatives who were looking forward to having their asses kissed by a king. Robert decided that he was not going to grovel to the English, and, desiring to redeem himself for his earlier betrayal, led Wallace's men into a battle against the stunned English army. Even though his troops were starving and outnumbered, they managed to defeat the larger English army, and guaranteed Scottish independence for several more centuries.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- William Wallace
- Craig
- Mornay
- Lochlan
- Hamish
- Steven the Irishman
- Campbell
- Balliol