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he years 1306 and 1307 saw the beginning of a new phase in the Scottish Wars of Independence, often referred to as the Bruce-Balliol civil war. With Alexander III deposed by Edward and exiled to France, there was little hope for the nationalist cause. The situation, however, changed with the murder of John Comyn at the hands of Robert Bruce on 4th February, 1306 and the coronation of the latter at Scone on March 25th of that year. Although Robert received some support among the Scots, he was soon driven into exile following two disastrous defeats. Although humiliatingly defeated, this did not discourage Robert, who was able to re-establish himself in the southwest by the death of Edward I in July 1307. Apart from pure chance, the reason for Robert’s success in 1307, in contrast to his defeats the previous year, was his change in tactics. Extensive losses in 1306 forced Robert to abandon the traditional strategy of fortifying his position, fighting in open combat and capturing new strongholds to a more pragmatic approach of guerilla warfare, attrition, and a scorched earth policy which included seizing and dismantling all fortified positions.
Surveying the political scene in Scotland at the time of Robert’s coronation, it is difficult, if not impossible, to say that the odds were in his favor. A list prepared by Barron gives a good idea of most of Bruce’s support by the battle of Methven, including: bishops Lamberton, Wishart, and Murray; earls of Atholl, Mentieth and Lennox; along with James the Stewart, Simon Fraser, James Douglas, Neil Campbell, Gilbert de la Hay and the MacDonald Angus Og.[1] ...