Robert The Bruce

What Historical Figures Really Looked Like Will Change How You Perceive The Past

Robert The Bruce

Robert the Bruce, otherwise known as Robert I, was King of Scots from 1306 to 1329. Robert I is best remembered for securing Scotland’s independence from England after waging a guerrilla war against the English. After he defeated Edward II in the Battle of Bannockburn in June 1314, Edward still refused to give up his overlordship of Scotland.

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This prompted the Scottish earls, barons, and the community to pen a letter to Pope John XXII claiming Robert I as the rightful monarch. There are no contemporary works or art depicting Robert the Bruce, but researchers at the University of Glasgow decided to find out what he really looked like.

Using casts from what is believed to be Robert the Bruce’s skull, researchers at the University of Glasgow determined what this Scottish king looked like in person. In the past, artists simply used their imaginations and word of mouth to create portraits and statues of Robert.

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Using Face Lab technology, researchers used legal and archaeological evidence to create his likeness. In 1324, the Pope recognized Robert the Bruce as the rightful king of independent Scotland but he died five years later. He was buried at Dunfermine Abbey and his heart was interred at Melrose Abbey.