The Scotsman Who Was The Last King of Ireland

So, who was the Scotsman that was the last high king of Ireland? Scottish history tour guide, Bruce Fummey tells the tale or Robert the Bruce, his brother Edward and their invasion of Ireland in opposition to Edward II of England during the Scottish wars of Independence. What was happening in Scotland as Edward Bruce was fighting at Faughart?

He was crowned High King of Ireland in 1316, but his reign was short-lived.

The Scotsman who was the last High King of Ireland was Edward Bruce, the brother of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. Edward Bruce led a military campaign in Ireland from 1315 to 1318, aiming to unite Ireland and Scotland against English rule. He was crowned High King of Ireland in 1316, but his reign was short-lived. His forces struggled against famine, internal conflicts, and English resistance. He was ultimately defeated and killed at the Battle of Faughart in 1318, marking the end of his rule and the Bruce invasion of Ireland.

Edward Bruce’s reign as High King of Ireland (1315–1318) was a bold but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to unite Ireland and Scotland against English rule. His campaign, known as the Bruce Invasion, was marked by military victories, political maneuvering, and devastating hardships.

The Bruce Invasion of Ireland

• In May 1315, Edward Bruce landed in Ulster with a Scottish army of around 6,000 men. He was supported by Irish lords, particularly Domhnall Ó Néill, who saw him as a potential liberator from Anglo-Norman rule.
• By 1316, Bruce was crowned High King of Ireland, but his reign was plagued by famine, internal conflicts, and resistance from Anglo-Irish forces.
• His forces won key battles, including the Battle of Connor (1315) and the Battle of Kells (1315), strengthening his position in northern Ireland.
• However, his campaign was hindered by the Great European Famine, which led to widespread starvation and weakened his army.

The Fall of Edward Bruce

• In February 1317, Bruce and his forces reached Castleknock, near Dublin, but failed to capture the city.
• By 1318, Bruce’s army was severely weakened. He marched south for one final push but was confronted by an Anglo-Irish force led by John de Bermingham at the Battle of Faughart.
• Bruce was killed in battle on October 14, 1318, and his body was dismembered, with parts displayed in various Irish towns as a warning.

Legacy

• Though his reign was short-lived, Bruce’s invasion had lasting effects. It disrupted English control in Ireland and strengthened Irish-Scottish ties.
• His defeat marked the end of Scotland’s ambitions in Ireland, and the Anglo-Norman lordship remained dominant.

Edward Bruce’s story is one of ambition, hardship, and resistance.