Descended from nobility Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scotland at Scone, in the year 1306. Scotland's champion  King, Bruce freed the Scots from English control on June 23rd and 24th, 1314, on the battlefield of Bannockburn. His army of 6,000 men defeated Edward II's English army of 20,000 men.

The Declaration of Arbroath, an affirmation of Scottish independence, was sent to the Pope but the Pope did not recognize Bruce for four years as the rightful king of Scotland. After Edward III ascended to the throne, Bruce's army harassed the English so much that Edward III was forced to acknowledge his sovereignty and Scotland's freedom.

 Not long after the peace Bruce died. He was buried in Dunfermline Abbey. He had always wanted to go on a crusade.  When he  died his heart was placed in a silver casket and kept by Sir James Douglas who planned to take it on a crusade to  the Holy Lands. Douglas joined the army of the King of Spain and while fighting a battle was killed. But before he died, he threw the casket in the midst of the battle crying, "Now go before, brave heart, as you always did, and I shall follow you or die." The casket was recovered and returned to Scotland.