Discussion/Poll: How do you view Edward Bruce, compared to his brother, Robert the Bruce?

How would you rate Edward Bruce compared to Robert?

  • As good a soldier and a politician.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • As good a soldier, but a worse politician.

    Votes: 2 40.0%
  • A worse soldier, but as good a politician.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • A worse soldier and politician.

    Votes: 3 60.0%

  • Total voters
    5
  • Poll closed .
In mainstream media, we don't tend to hear much about Robert the Bruce's brother, Edward, but the more I read about him, the more intrigued I become. Before his death in 1318, before the death of Robert's daughter, Marjorie, and before the birth of Robert's son, David II, he was supposedly named as Robert's successor, which indicates to me something about Edward (perceived or real) skills.

In terms of politics and battlefield prowess, do you think Edward Bruce was as good as or worse than his more famous brother? Personally, although Robert made some blunders in his time, he was the better politician, while Edward was just as good a soldier.

Please feel free to vote and discuss.
 
He was a good soldier and I think he had a serious chance of making his Irish throne a reality (at least across much of the island, though probably not the Pale) had it happened a little earlier and thus dodging the worst timed famine in Irish history. However actually ruling it would be much more difficult.
 
He was a good soldier and I think he had a serious chance of making his Irish throne a reality (at least across much of the island, though probably not the Pale) had it happened a little earlier and thus dodging the worst timed famine in Irish history. However actually ruling it would be much more difficult.

My thoughts exactly.

Compared to his brother and nephew, David II, would he have been a good King of Scotland? The two PODs I can see him coming to the throne are either 1306, if Robert is killed at the Battle of Methven, or 1308, if, during the civil war against the Comyns, Robert does not recover from the illness which he caught IOTL. Or maybe a third POD is that he survives in 1318 and lives long enough to become regent for his nephew in 1329.
 
In mainstream media, we don't tend to hear much about Robert the Bruce's brother, Edward, but the more I read about him, the more intrigued I become. Before his death in 1318, before the death of Robert's daughter, Marjorie, and before the birth of Robert's son, David II, he was supposedly named as Robert's successor, which indicates to me something about Edward (perceived or real) skills.

What choice did Robert have? The only alternative was a daughter, which that male-chauvinist age would have found hard to take seriously. With all his other brothers dead, Edward was the only game in town.
 
What choice did Robert have? The only alternative was a daughter, which that male-chauvinist age would have found hard to take seriously. With all his other brothers dead, Edward was the only game in town.

True, I guess. Still, that hadn't stopped the Scots from accepting Margaret of Norway as heir, then then as Queen, a decade earlier. Besides, in 1315, Marjorie was an adult and married to one of Robert's most loyal supporters.
 
True, I guess. Still, that hadn't stopped the Scots from accepting Margaret of Norway as heir, then then as Queen, a decade earlier. Besides, in 1315, Marjorie was an adult and married to one of Robert's most loyal supporters.


In the earlier case the only alternatives were very remote cousins - not to mention there were two of them with conflicting claims. Had Alexander III left a surviving brother, little Margaret would probably never have been named.
 
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