Jeremy Watson: Scotland's Robert the Bruce Remembered
One was a national hero and guerrilla fighter who restored Scottish pride before dying a glorious, if bloody, martyr's death. The other was a self -serving opportunist who betrayed his countrymen in his own ambitious quest to become the King of Scotland.
Well, according to the movies anyway. Now aristocratic descendants of Robert the Bruce are fighting to restore the legendary king's reputation as the true saviour of Scotland after Hollywood gave the honours to William Wallace.
The campaign is being led by Lord Elgin, the 37th chief of the Bruce clan - his 13th-century forebear Robert was the seventh - who will use the 700th anniversary of Bruce's accession to the throne next year to highlight his ancestor's achievements for a new generation.
A ceremony to his memory will be held at Scone Palace in Perthshire, close to the former abbey where Bruce was named king, and the royal standard of Scotland raised.
Then Lord Elgin, his family and descendants of the noblemen who acknowledged the king's legitimate enthronement at the time, will dip their family flags in homage to the Bruce.
"William Wallace was a great hero and met a martyr's death with great honour," said Lord -Elgin. "But I didn't watch Braveheart the box-office hit starring Mel Gibson as Wallace because I think I might have died on the spot owing to the way Bruce was portrayed.
"After Wallace's death, Bruce had to start all over again to fight for a united Scotland, and his military approach was far superior. After Bannockburn, it culminated in the marvellous achievement of being made king."
Well, according to the movies anyway. Now aristocratic descendants of Robert the Bruce are fighting to restore the legendary king's reputation as the true saviour of Scotland after Hollywood gave the honours to William Wallace.
The campaign is being led by Lord Elgin, the 37th chief of the Bruce clan - his 13th-century forebear Robert was the seventh - who will use the 700th anniversary of Bruce's accession to the throne next year to highlight his ancestor's achievements for a new generation.
A ceremony to his memory will be held at Scone Palace in Perthshire, close to the former abbey where Bruce was named king, and the royal standard of Scotland raised.
Then Lord Elgin, his family and descendants of the noblemen who acknowledged the king's legitimate enthronement at the time, will dip their family flags in homage to the Bruce.
"William Wallace was a great hero and met a martyr's death with great honour," said Lord -Elgin. "But I didn't watch Braveheart the box-office hit starring Mel Gibson as Wallace because I think I might have died on the spot owing to the way Bruce was portrayed.
"After Wallace's death, Bruce had to start all over again to fight for a united Scotland, and his military approach was far superior. After Bannockburn, it culminated in the marvellous achievement of being made king."