A list of puns related to "Robert the Bruce"
In our timeline, after the Battle of Bannokburn, Robert the Bruce sent his brother Edward to unite Ireland and drive the English out. While initially successful, Edward Bruce was crowned High King of Ireland, the English eventually defeated Edward's 6,000 man army and the dream of a celtic empire died with Edward.
What if the expedition succeeded? What if Scotland and Ireland united their kingdoms similar to the union of Great Britain? How would history change?
For example:
What to expect at Bannockburn? What would life for me be like? How would we fight against the known superior English army?
So, English power is very much in decline during this period, with Scotland reasserting its independence, gaining continental links and alliances with France and Robert the Bruce looking to expand the war to challenge the English elsewhere, as well as hunt down Scottish rivals who had fled to Ireland. Therefore, in 1315, his brother invades Ireland with a few thousand men and the support of the minor, disaffected Irish "Kings" (they called themselves that but by this period, its difficult to recognise them as anything but warlords). The Scots envisioned a "grand gaelic alliance" (even though the Bruces and most of the Scottish aristocracy are descended from Norman nobles invited in by David II by now) and looked to reclaim the isle of Mann, perhaps even threatening the English hold on Wales. This invasion came to nothing, as the campaign lost momentum and support as the initially welcomed army began to live off the land and turned the inhabitants against them. By 1318, the English and their Irish allies were able to defeat and kill Edward in the battle of Faughart in the same year. But what if the invasion had some limited success, or even total success?
Limited: The English, facing pressure from the Scots in the North, famine in 1315-1317, revolts across Edward of England's realm (that are suppressed) tension with nobles that would later break out into the Dispenser war and general dissatisfaction with Edward's rule, are unable to muster the resources necessary to challenge Edward locally and withdraw from Ulster, either without a fight or after minor skirmishes. The King of Tyrone and several minor lords who had invited Edward Bruce over give their support to him as High King of Ireland, and other minor lords who had stayed neutral or were dependent on English patronage now pledge support, but in reality, Scottish power remains rooted in the North, in what is now Ulster. Frontier situations develop, with minor lords and Kings raiding and feuding, seeking support from either the Scots or the English to achieve local supremacy in warfare that waxes and wanes. English retain control of Dublin and the surrounding Pale, with some Anglo-Irish Lordships giving lip-service but being de-facto independent. Edward Bruce and his descendants are dependent to some degree on the senior, Scottish branch of the family. Some minor Welsh family members with links to the Kingdom of Gwynedd return to make their case to Robert to support risings in Wales but nothing comes
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