696 years ago today, on June 7, 1329 (May 10, 1329 in the lunar calendar), King Robert Bruce of Scotland passed away. Robert Bruce (Middle Irish: Roiberta Briuis; Scottish Gaelic: Raibear Bruis, July 11, 1274-June 7, 1329) was an important king in Scottish history, with his royal name "Robert I". He led the Scots to defeat the English army and ensure the independence of the kingdom. Robert Bruce was born into a Scottish aristocratic family. His paternal ancestors were Scottish-Norman (French-speaking descendants of the Vikings). He followed William the Conqueror to Britain from Normandy. His maternal ancestors were Scottish Gaelic. In the 1292 battle for the succession to the Scottish throne, his grandfather Robert Bruce, the "contender" Lord V of Anandal, was one of the main contenders, but failed in the competition. "Contender" Robert Bruce announced his retirement from politics after refusing to swear allegiance to his winning political opponents without being caught. The next day, Robert Bruce, the eldest son of the "competitor", also surrendered the title to his eldest son Robert Bruce. Later, the Bruce family allied with King Edward I of England to oppose the new king from the Barrio family, and in 1296 they swore allegiance to the King of England. In 1297, when the independence movement broke out in Scotland, Robert Bruce received an urgent letter asking him to support Edward I's army, but he took the opportunity to revolt. The rebellion he organized was later suppressed and his daughter was coerced into being taken hostage in England, but later that year, the Scots under the leadership of William Wallace won a great victory at Stirling Bridge, and Robert became active again. In 1298, Edward defeated William Wallace, the Scottish rebel leader at the Battle of Falkirk. Wallace abdicated from the Lord Protector and Robert became one of two successors. But another successor, John Cumin, was also an in-laws of the Barrio family, the original contender for the Scottish throne, so the two could not cooperate. In 1299, Robert officially retired as Lord Protector and later turned to Edward again. In 1305, Wallace was arrested and executed, and the Scottish independence movement was temporarily suspended. However, as a nobleman qualified to succeed to the Scottish throne, Robert was still unable to work with another great Scottish nobleman, John Cumming. John Cumin had extensive connections among the Scottish aristocrats, also had rights of succession to the throne, and was seen as more firmly opposed to English rule. In 1306, a conflict broke out between the two in a church. Robert killed each other and soon became king himself (he was excommunicated for this crime in the church). However, under the suppression of Edward I, the independence movement he led was not successful. After failing in the battle, he once fled Scotland mainland and took refuge on the island. In July 1307, Edward I died of illness and was succeeded by the incompetent Edward II. Robert used this opportunity to return to Scotland in February of the following year to lead the independence movement again. He began to win continuously in guerrilla warfare, seizing outposts and even castles occupied by England. In March 1309, Robert organized his own parliament for the first time. In 1310, the Scottish clergy decided to recognize him as King of Scotland. In 1313, Robert also sent his subordinate James Douglas into northern England to attack the other side's homeland. However, until eight years later, in 1314, Robert always avoided a head-on battle with the English army in the open. In 1314, the Scottish and English troops fought at Bannockburn and achieved a decisive victory. This battle became a major turning point in the Scottish independence movement. Although the two sides still fought since then, the basic victory has tilted towards the Scots. In 1320, the Pope began to recognize Robert's status and withdrew his excommunication order. In 1328, Edward III, the successor of Edward II, signed an agreement with Bruce to recognize the independent sovereignty of the Kingdom of Scotland. In 1329, Robert died of illness and was respectfully called a national hero by the Scots. In one version of the well-known "spider weaving web story", the protagonist is Robert Bruce. Due to the ups and downs in his life, he suffered a disastrous defeat during the initial process of being crowned king and resisting Edward I and had to go to sea to escape. Rumors say that he saw a spider weaving a web in the wind and rain. Although he failed repeatedly but did not give up, he finally succeeded, so he was greatly inspired and decided to make a comeback. Robert was called a "brave heart" because in his later years, he felt that he had been capricious for the benefit of the family, excluded dissidents and used allies, and had stained his hands with blood in the church, so he decided to launch a crusade to clear his guilt. But he himself was too seriously ill to accompany the expedition, so he asked his loyal subordinate James Douglas to lead the team and asked that his heart be taken out after his death and stored in a box for traveling together. After Robert's death, Douglas faithfully kept his promise. He left Scotland in the early spring of 1330, wearing a silver glazed urn tied with a chain around his neck and containing Robert Bruce's heart. On his way to Seville, Douglas was greeted by King Alfonso XI of Castile. Alfonso entrusted Douglas to command part of his army during the Battle of the Moors in Granada. In this battle, Douglas was ambushed. He took out the heart in the box and threw it forward with force and shouted: "Forward, brave heart, as you have done before, and Douglas will follow you or die bravely"(Forward, braveheart, aseverthourewonttodo, and Douglas willfollow the eurdie.) (One said he stayed in his arms and talked to himself), and eventually died in battle. This is where the allusion of "brave heart" comes from. (Hollywood's adaptation of "Braveheart" originated from this story, but with major modifications and deviations). Robert Bruce's heart was taken back to Scotland by Douglas's comrade William Keith and buried in Melrose Abbey. Comments: With a truly brave heart, Hollywood has always had the habit of making up history. In addition to political and military capabilities, this person's personal strength is also extremely high.