Robert de Brus crowned King of Scots by Isabella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan in 1306
Robert de Brus, I King of Scots | Robert the Bruce
Separate Burials of Body and Heart of Robert the Bruce I
King of Scots
Retrieved from http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_heart.htm:
On his deathbed in 1329, Robert the Bruce asked that his
heart should be carried into battle against the "Infidels" because he
himself had not been able to go on a Crusade. (Removing internal organs after
death was a common practice in those days). Bruce's body was buried in
Dunfermline Abbey and when it was exhumed in 1818 it was found that his ribs
had been sawn through, indicating that his heart had indeed been taken from his
body.
Sir James Douglas is said to have taken Bruce's heart in a
casket with him to Spain in 1330 but, in a battle against the Moors, Douglas
was killed. Sir William Keith brought Bruce's heart back to Scotland and it was
buried in Melrose Abbey.
In 1921, during excavations beneath the Chapter House at
Melrose Abbey, a conical leaden casket was discovered. It measured 10 inches
high and was 4 inches in diameter at the base but tapering towards the top. It
was pitted but otherwise in good condition.
The casket was reburied but in 1996, it was removed again
from beneath the Chapter House floor and examined once more. Historic Scotland
said "It is not possible to prove absolutely that it is Bruce's heart. But
it is reasonable to assume that it is".
Image credit RampantScotland.com
On 22 June 1998 it was reburied at Melrose Abbey. On 24 June
(the anniversary of Bruce's victory at Bannockburn in 1314) the Scottish
Secretary of State unveiled a plaque on the ground at the place where the heart
now lies. The design for the stone slab was created by Victoria Oswald a BBC
sound engineer. The inscription on the stone, from Barbour's "The
Brus" reads "A noble hart may have no ease, gif freedom failye"
Translated, this reads "A noble heart cannot be at peace if freedom is
lacking" It incorporates a carving of a heart entwined in the Saltire, the
basis of Scotland's national flag.
Credit: http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_heart.htm
(n.d.)
Image credit RampantScotland.com
Heart interred at Melrose Abbey, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Retrieved from Wikipedia:
Melrose is the location of Melrose Abbey, re-founded for the
Cistercian order by David I in the early 12th century, one of the most
beautiful monastic ruins in Great Britain. It is the site of the burial of the
heart of Scottish king Robert the Bruce. An excavation was led to find a sealed
casket, but it was not opened, and it was actually discovered by high school
students involved in the dig. The casket was placed in a sealed lead cylinder,
and was then re-buried in the abbey back at its proper resting place. The
remains of the Abbey are cared for by Historic Scotland (open all year;
entrance charge).
Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melrose,_Scotland
Body interred at Dunfermline Abbey (now part of Church of
Scotland Parish), Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunfermline_Abbey
