Written during the Scottish wars of Independence against England, the Declaration of Arbroath is held amongst Scotland’s historical state papers. We examine this remarkable document written to the Pope in 1320, which included the famous line in the Scot’s argument for recognition in the face of English military and political warfare; it is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself".

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• The Declaration of Arbroath, National Records of Scotland (NRS)

COURSE OUTLINE

• The Scottish wars of Independence: the English King Edward I annexes Scotland following the death of Alexander III.
• Rebellion and William Wallace: the battles of Stirling Bridge and Falkirk
• The rise of Robert the Bruce, Scottish victory at the Battle of Bannockburn (1314)
• Ongoing warfare in the time of Edward II, diplomatic pressure including the excommunication of Robert the Bruce by the Pope
• The Declaration of Falkirk, written by the Scottish barons
• The survival of the document, including 11 of the 50 seals

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Appreciate the key historical events of the Scottish Wars of Independence
2. Understand and appreciate the importance of the Declaration of Arbroath in Scottish history