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Celtic Radio Community > Gathering of the Clans > The Bruce (de Brus)

Posted by: Camac 12-Feb-2008, 08:01 PM

12/02/08

To those members who are really into Scotlands' History I would like to mention that whilst in Scotland last October I watched one of the series "The Clans" the night I watched it it was about the Clan Campbell and one of the asides they brought up was that they seem to have proof that Robert the Bruce was a Leper.
This fact was of course kept secret from the people at the time as no one would have followed him and History would have taken a far different course. In the movie Braveheart (piece of garbage) it was his father that was portrayed as having Leprosy.

Camac.

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 05-Mar-2008, 02:15 PM

Camac, Garbage.... ah, but what drama, what soul stirring cinematography, heartwretching emotions, glorious heights for man. Heck, it is what it is, a movie for entertainment yanked from the history of man. You yank anything and you don't get the whole thing nor is it always identifiable.
Did you know to this day people still find the mansion on the Beverly Hillbillies tv show and stop and ask for Jed. LOL
On the Clan Campbell, Clan MacNaughton has a long history intertwined with them.
History is always better than the movie.

Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 05-Mar-2008, 07:33 PM

Camac, no one has proof one way or the other as to the question of Bruce and leprosy. There have been claims and counter claims for nearly seven hundred years now. In my opinion, he did not. It is true that virtually no one would follow a leper. It is also true that it would have been impossible for Bruce to hide the fact that he had it. He lived for many years in the field, with his men in very primative conditions. In those circumstances, no one would be able to keep a physical defect secret.

As to the origin of the rumor, there has been some speculation that it was started by the English to try and discredit Bruce. No one will ever know the true origin of the rumor, but the consensus of historians has come to the view that it was false.

Posted by: Camac 06-Mar-2008, 12:26 PM

Ulsterscotnutt;

Yeah! History is always a thousand times better than a movie. If they had followed the life of Wallace closer they would have made a real blockbuster. The MacNaughten, Campbell, MacArthur, and MacGregor are all "guid Argyllshire men".

Camac.

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 06-Mar-2008, 02:20 PM

Camac,
You are so right! I have gotten so far behind in my reading because of an addiction to movies on tv. I will watch one more movie tonite "Waking Ned Devine" and then I will give up tv for my books again.

Next to read is: The Scotch Irish A Social History by James G. Leyburn

Then: The People With No Name - Ireland's Ulster Scots, America's Scots Irish, and The Creation Of A British Atlantic World 1689-1764 by Patrick Griffin

Up until now I have been pot shoting my reading from early Scottish history, clan history, Isle history, etc.

I think what I am going to do is read backwards into time.

I just finished Taverns and Turnpikes of Blandford, Massachusetts 1733-1833 and UlsterScots and Blandford Scouts, both by Sumner Gilbert Wood.

Posted by: Camac 06-Mar-2008, 02:27 PM

Ulsterscotnutt;

If you have not already read it and do not mind the suggestion read "How the Scots Invented the Modern World" by Arthur Herman . It might surprise you.

Camac.

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 06-Mar-2008, 02:33 PM

Camac,
Just added to the list. Thanks alot for the recommendation. When read, I will let you know my penny and halfs worth.
THX, UlsterScotNutt

Posted by: Fionna Machumhail 26-Apr-2008, 01:38 PM

QUOTE (Camac @ 12-Feb-2008, 09:01 PM)

I don't think we'll ever really know what exactly it was, not without "forensic" testing anyway!

History states he had an "unclean" disease, which could mean leprosy, syphillis, psoriasis, some sort of neuropathic malady even. Who's to know?

Posted by: Camac 26-Apr-2008, 08:09 PM

Fionna Machumhail;

What ever the malady he was and still is Scotlands' Greatest Warrior King.

Camac.

Posted by: Fionna Machumhail 28-Apr-2008, 06:01 AM

QUOTE (Camac @ 26-Apr-2008, 09:09 PM)

Fionna Machumhail;

What ever the malady he was and still is Scotlands' Greatest Warrior King.

Camac.

Got that right.

......and that, my friends.......is the rest of the story.

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 28-Apr-2008, 07:15 AM

Posted by: Camac 28-Apr-2008, 09:13 AM

USN;

The following is a list of some books about the Bruce if you or for that matter anyone else is interested.

" The Rebel King by Charles Randolf Bruce & Carolyn Hale Bruce. Bks. 1, 2, and 3. (Historical Fiction)

The Bruce by John Barbour.( written in prose and Scottish English)

The Bruce Trilogy by Nigel Tranter.

Also my friend go to google and call up "The Signal of the Bruce" .

Camac.

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 28-Apr-2008, 10:59 AM

Camac, Thank you, I will add these to my list of readings, it grows daily!!!!

Excellent read:
http://www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave/history/bruce/excerpt1.htm

Posted by: Camac 29-Apr-2008, 10:08 AM

QUOTE (UlsterScotNutt @ 28-Apr-2008, 11:59 AM)

Camac, Thank you, I will add these to my list of readings, it grows daily!!!!

Excellent read:
http://www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave/history/bruce/excerpt1.htm

Usn;
Hey Buddie; The Signal of the Bruce is one of if not my favourite poem. I use the last verse in my signature.

Camc

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 29-Apr-2008, 10:59 AM

QUOTE (Camac @ 29-Apr-2008, 11:08 AM)

QUOTE (UlsterScotNutt @ 28-Apr-2008, 11:59 AM)

Camac, Thank you, I will add these to my list of readings, it grows daily!!!!

Excellent read:
http://www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave/history/bruce/excerpt1.htm

Usn;
Hey Buddie; The Signal of the Bruce is one of if not my favourite poem. I use the last verse in my signature.

Camc

Camac, I can see why it would be a favorite. A great choice.
UlsterScotNutt

Posted by: Fionna Machumhail 29-Apr-2008, 11:18 AM

Besides reading up on the subject online, I'm wanting to go by the library the next time I have TIME.....and check out a book or two, The Rebel King is just one of them I'm wanting to read.

Though I've always been interested in the history... found out a week ago...we have family line that goes back to de Brus and beyond.

Icing on the cake!

Needless to say I was more than just a little surprised and elated.

Posted by: Camac 29-Apr-2008, 12:22 PM

QUOTE (Fionna Machumhail @ 29-Apr-2008, 12:18 PM)

Icing on the cake!

Needless to say I was more than just a little surprised and elated.

Fionna Machumhail;

Let me also recommend "The Brus" by John Balfour. Both my birth family and my adopted family stood with the Brus at Bannockburn.

Camac.

Posted by: A Shrule Egan 29-Apr-2008, 07:17 PM

Don't forget about his brother, Edward, who Robert sent to Ireland to help the Irish fight the English. Unfortunately, Edward, eventually died in battle. Robert did join him for a few months and then returned to Scotland.

Posted by: Camac 30-Apr-2008, 06:35 AM

QUOTE (A Shrule Egan @ 29-Apr-2008, 08:17 PM)

Edward Brus died in battle at Faughart near Dundalk Ireland. He would not heed the advice of his senior knights and wait for re-enforcements but instead took on overwhelming Anglo-Irish forces and was soundly defeated. Rumour has it that he exchanged armour with a lower ranking knight to disguise himself. Edward was nothing like his brother, he was impatient and vainglorious and through his folly the attempt to unite Ireland failed.

Camac.

Posted by: Silvermane 08-May-2008, 08:49 AM

I am almost finished with Book 1 of The Rebel King. I met Charles Randolf Bruce & Carolyn Hale Bruce at the Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival back in February. I love the book. I picked up the first 3 books. There is talk about a movie deal but nothing firm so far.

Posted by: Lady-of-Avalon 09-Nov-2008, 08:02 AM

Silvermane,

Though Robert the Bruce was a great King I don't have any books about is biography. I will look for the books you mention above, I want to read more about this King though as popular as he was for his war exploits and what he did for the people of Scotland, we don't know much about the man himself.

LOA

Posted by: Camac 09-Nov-2008, 08:25 AM

LOA;

There is also the "Bruce Trilogy " by Nigel Tranter .

Camac.

Posted by: Lady-of-Avalon 18-Nov-2008, 12:18 PM

Thanks for the title my friend,
I will make sure to look it up...have you read it before?

LOA

Posted by: tyoung34461usa 16-Jan-2009, 05:08 PM

QUOTE (Fionna Machumhail @ 26-Apr-2008, 02:38 PM)

QUOTE (Camac @ 12-Feb-2008, 09:01 PM)

I don't think we'll ever really know what exactly it was, not without "forensic" testing anyway!

History states he had an "unclean" disease, which could mean leprosy, syphillis, psoriasis, some sort of neuropathic malady even. Who's to know?

Greetings Fionna Machumhail,
You say: "I don't think we'll ever really know what exactly it was, not without "forensic" testing anyway!

History states he had an "unclean" disease, which could mean leprosy, syphillis, psoriasis, some sort of neuropathic malady even. Who's to know?

"
[FONT=Arial]
I can see it now, a brand new show on CBS called "Highlands CSI"!! Sorry I couldn't resist!

Thomas

[FONT=Arial]

Posted by: Fionna Machumhail 21-May-2009, 08:16 AM

Since we know where he's buried, I imagine tissues samples COULD still be taken, should the right people request, and permission be granted.

Just a thought...

Posted by: MelissaDawn7 27-May-2014, 10:49 AM

History is so interesting! Some things are very well documented so we know (almost) exactly what happened...and some things are vague and people can only guess! In some cases, it's hard to tell what's the true history and what's the legend too.