The Bruce

epic by Barbour

Also known as: “The Actes and Life of the most Victorious Conqueror, Robert Bruce King of Scotland”(Show More)

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

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The Bruce is a Scottish epic poem written by John Barbour in 1376. It is considered the first major work of Scottish literature. The poem recounts the struggle for Scottish independence, focusing on the life of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329. It details his leadership in the war against English rule, culminating in the decisive Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and the eventual confirmation of Scottish independence in the Treaty of Northampton in 1328. Barbour's narrative emphasizes the heroism and idealism of the Scottish figures, presenting a vigorous and direct account of these historical events.

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Harry The Minstrel
…acquaintance with John Barbour’s epic The Bruce, with Geoffrey Chaucer, and with Scots, Latin, and French chronicles, belies this.
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…acquaintance with John Barbour’s epic The Bruce, with Geoffrey Chaucer, and with Scots, Latin, and French chronicles, belies this.
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John Barbour
…Scottish national epic known as The Bruce, the first major work of Scottish literature.
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…Scottish national epic known as The Bruce, the first major work of Scottish literature.
Read More