1274
Robert Bruce born at Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire.
1286
Death of King Alexander III of Scotland. His only direct descendant is Margaret the ‘Maid of Norway’, a three-year-old infant.
1290
The Maid of Norway dies soon after landing in Orkney, triggering a succession crisis. King Edward Istys of England is invited to arbitrate between the ‘Competitors’ for the crown of Scotland.
1292
John Balliol is crowned King of Scotland and renders homage to Edward I for his kingdom.
1296
War between England and Scotland begins.
March: Edward I storms and sacks the town of Berwick with much slaughter.
April: Scots routed at the battle of Dunbar. Many Scots lords are sent south to imprisonment in England.
John Balliol submits and resigns his kingdom to Edward I.
1297
11 September: William Wallace and Andrew Moray defeat English at the battle of Stirling Bridge.
1298
Wallace elected Guardian of Scotland.
22 July: Battle of Falkirk. Scots defeated by Edward I.
Wallace resigns the Guardianship.
1304
Stirling Castle taken by Edward I.
1305
William Wallace captured.
23 August: Wallace hung, drawn and quartered in London.
1306
10 February: John ‘The Red’ Comyn murdered by Robert Bruce in the Greyfriars Church, Dumfries.
25 March: Bruce crowned King of Scots at Scone.
19 June: Battle of Methven. Bruce defeated by the Earl of Pembroke.
11 August: Bruce defeated at Dalry by John MacDougal of Argyll.
1307
May: Bruce wins his first significant victory over the Earl of Pembroke at Loudon Hill.
7 July: Edward I dies at Burgh-by-Sands on the Solway coast.
1308
The ‘Herschip of Buchan’, Bruce devastates the lands of the Earl of Buchan and his supporters following his victory at Inverurie.
August: Bruce defeats John of Lorn at the pass of Brander.
1310
September: Edward II invades Scotland.
1311
Edward II’s campaign of 1310–11 proves futile and he withdraws in August.
1312
August: Bruce raids the north of England.
1313
January: Bruce captures Perth.
February: Fall of Dumfries.
May: Bruce takes Isle of Man.
1314
Scots take Roxburgh and Edinburgh. Only Bothwell and Stirling remain in English hands.
17 June: English cross the Tweed at Wark and Coldstream.
22 June: Forward elements of the English army reach Falkirk.
23–24 June: Battle of Bannockburn. Edward II’s English army is disastrously defeated by Robert Bruce’s Scots.
25 June: Edward II flees to Dunbar and takes ship for Bamburgh in Northumberland.
November: Cambuskenneth Parliament, forfeiture of Bruce’s opponents.
1315
Edward Bruce invades Ireland.
July: Siege of Carlisle.
1318
April: Berwick falls to the Scots. Edward Bruce killed at battle of Faughart near Dundalk in Ireland.
1319
Edward II besieges Berwick. Douglas and Moray invade England. ‘The Chapter of Myton’.
1320
Declaration of Arbroath.
1322
16 March: Battle of Boroughbridge.
August–September Edward II’s last Scottish expedition is a failure.
October 20: Battle of Old Byland.
1327
21 September: Edward II deposed and murdered at Berkeley Castle. His son is crowned as Edward III.
1328
Treaty of Edinburgh ends this phase of the Scottish Wars.
1329
Death of Robert Bruce.
1330
The Good Sir James Douglas killed fighting against the Moors in Spain.
1332
Death of Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray.