Of all the names which grace the pages of Scottish history, it is that of Bruce which shines with the most radiant hue. The great Clan Bruce is forever connected with their most illustrious forefather, King Robert the Bruce, champion of Scotland's struggle for independence, a man revered for centuries in the hearts of Scottish patriots. The Bruces originate from a powerful French family, who arrived in Britain with the Norman invasion of 1066. The first Robert de Brus, from whom the Clan descend, was a warrior noble who supported William I in his conquest of England. His son, Robert (1078-1141) became a firm friend of Scotland's King David I and his loyalty met with great rewards. Robert was granted rich and fertile lands in Annandale, over which Bruce was created the first Lord of Annandale.
The Bruces' claim to the throne emerged through the 4th Lord of Annandale's marriage to King William the Lyon's niece in the 13th Century. When the 5th Lord's claim was overturned in favour of the puppet king John Balliol, the power of the Scottish Crown was ceded to the infamous Edward I, King of England. The 7th Lord of Annandale and 2nd Lord of Carrick, Robert the Bruce, initially stood by King Edward, but revoked his loyalty upon the English monarch's cruel torture and execution of the patriot William Wallace. In 1306, Robert had himself crowned King, much to the chagrin of the English sovereign. Bruce's leadership proved to be brilliant, and the flower of Scottish independence flourished under his control. In 1314, King Robert the Bruce achieved the crowning glory of the independence movement at the Battle of Bannockburn. Here the Scots defeated a larger English army and ensured that Scotland would be ruled by Scots, free from the shackles of any overlord. From these glorious beginnings, the Bruces have continued to be an honoured Clan. The Bruces natural affinity with the monarchy ensured success, and the Bruces obtained the Earldom of Elgin in 1633, followed by the Earldom of Kincardine in 1647. The Clan Bruces' exploits have charmed Scotland down through the centuries, with James Bruce of Kinnaird being renowned for his African explorations. True to his Bruce blood, James adventured down the Nile to Abyssinia between 1768 and 1772. He survived this dangerous challenge, only to die falling down the stairs of Kinnaird House while rushing to assist a lady into her carriage. Another Bruce of note is Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, who obtained ancient Greek sculptures for display in the British Museum in 1799., where they can still be seen to this day. The Bruce Clan crest is of a lion, and the proud motto reads "Fuimus" meaning, in Latin "We have been". The chief is Andrew Bruce, the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, who resides in Broomhall, Fife.
Your ancestral
crest ring is a very powerful emblem of your heritage.
A true family heirloom, to be cherished for centuries by Your descendants.
