4. Declaration of Arbroath - the triumph of the nation state in 1328.
Bruce’s victory at Bannockburn was a sensational result. Bruce’s enemies in Scotland now had a choice: pay homage to Bruce or leave the country. Many of his Comyn / Balliol enemies went to England. Their lands were confiscated and given to Bruce’s supporters.
But Edward II did not accept that Bruce was King of Scotland or that Scotland was free of his overlordship. The war went on. Bruce continued to attack the Northern counties of England several times and his surviving brother led an invasion of Ireland where he too was killed in battle.
The support of the Pope was vital if Edward II was to accept Bruce’s claim so in 1320, the Scottish Bishops and nobles sent a letter to the Pope to ask for his support. This letter became known as the “Declaration of Arbroath”.
Revision Task D5: First, Find out about the Declaration of Arbroath by reading this website page.
Then read the source and answer the question below.
Source D explains why the Scots sent the Declaration of Arbroath to the Pope in 1320.
Source D
In the years after Bannockburn, although Bruce controlled Scotland, he was not accepted internationally as its king. Earlier efforts to gain recognition by invading the north of England had failed. They had only annoyed Edward. The Scots then tried to increase the pressure on Edward by invading Ireland, but this ended in disaster when Edward Bruce was killed in 1318. When they sent the declaration to the Pope in 1320, they hoped he would recognise Bruce as king.
Why did the Scots send the Declaration of Arbroath to the Pope in 1320? (Use Source D and recall) 5 marks
