The Bruce

John Barbour's "The Bruce" Illustrated


Anyone who is familiar with George R. R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” novels and has even a passing familiarity with the history of medieval Scotland will recognize the parallels between Westeros and the political intrigue and wars there and what went on in Scotland during the dark ages. From Kenneth MacAlpin, through Macbeth and finally with Robert the Bruce there is a constant flow of claimants fighting wars for a chance to call themselves the king of whatever lands happened to be willing to kneel to them. There are players intriguing behind the scenes from the south in the city of kings and on the continent. There are white haired and seemingly invincible spirits invading from the frigid north, in the form of Vikings, that have to be dealt with at the same time fractious Earls have to be corralled and brought to heel. The land of Westeros was a reality for hundreds of years in the land we now call Scotland.


Long before George Martin came along a Scottish Deacon named John Barbour penned an epic poem about one of these wars. A particularly important war. One in which an unruly collection of clans and disparate people finally wake up and realize they are a nation. Unlike Westeros this is a real country with real people and even better, a true story; a story that not only serves to give these people a shared national history but goes on to help create a unified language and national experience for them.

The epic poem I am referring to is “The Brus”. The story of how Robert the Bruce drives out an occupying force, frees his people and becomes the king of Scotland.

From the Forward for "The Brus" 

Introducing a new edition of the epic Scottish poem of the exploits of Robert the Bruce, The Hero King of Scotland. "The Brus" has been hailed as the Scottish "Canterbury Tales" for its use of the Old Scots tongue. Composed a few years before Chaucer's epic, Barbour's poem marks the unification of both a true Scottish language and independent nation. A language that spans from the time of Bruce until its golden age with Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. Three versions of the poem with, prose text, illustrations, maps and commentary.


Included in this edition of The Bruce (Illustrated):



 A history of the Scottish War for Independence and the role of William Wallace.



 A prose translation of The Bruce with maps and illustrations.



 The original text of “The Brus” in Old Scots



 An English translation of the poem