Unusual Artifacts: Cast of the Skull of King Robert the Bruce, 1819

Cast of the Skull of King
Robert I (the Bruce)
William Scouler, 1819
The Royal Collection

Scottish King Robert I (known as Robert the Bruce) began life as Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick. Robert was initially a staunch supporter of English King Edward I. However, due to a rather complicated series of decisions, he switched his allegiance to the Scots. But, he had some difficulty there, too. So, he murdered his remaining Scottish rival, John Comyn, in 1306 and claimed the throne of Scotland as his own (his argument was that he was the great-great-grandson of Scottish King David I). Few agreed—at the time—with Robert the Bruce’s usurping of the throne, but nonetheless, he was crowned at Scone.


The Bruce then proceeded to fight—well, everyone. He fought the Scots, he fought the English and he killed a lot of people. After booting most of the English out of Scotland, Robert had become such a pest that King Edward III, in 1328, finally gave in and agreed that Robert was the King of Scotland, and that his heirs would remain royal. Fair enough. It didn’t last. But, it satisfied Robert for awhile. He died in 1329 and was buried in the crypt at Dunfermline Abbey.

Robert the Bruce lay quite peacefully—for the first time ever, really—for just about five centuries before the Abbey’s great tower collapsed in 1818. Well, this didn’t do good things to the abbey’s foundation and a lot of deceased folks had to be disinterred. That’s never fun. Among them was our friend Robert I. Understandably, people were quite chuffed to stumble upon good ol’ Bruce and took a great deal of time studying what was left of him—measuring him, and taking plaster casts of his various remaining parts. Here’s his skull! To be accurate, this is a plaster cast of his skull which was completed by William Scouler in 1819. The cast was rather cleverly displayed on this jaunty red-velvet-covered stand atop a rosewood plinth with brass inlay. The plinth also doubles as a convenient storage container. The plaque reads: Cast in plaster by Wm Scouler 1819. Interred 1329. Re-interred 1819.

As the inscription would have us believe, Robert the Bruce was, in fact, re-interred at the Abbey. But, not before much rejoicing and Scottish patriotism. He’s remained relatively trouble-free since 1819.

Card of the Day: The Throne at Windsor Castle

Thrones, thrones, thrones. Lots of thrones. Lots of thrones, all in different places—all very similar looking. We continue our look at the 1935 Churchman Cigarette Card Jubilee Series with this image which is labeled “The Throne Chair Windsor Castle.” Well, that doesn’t tell me much. There are several thrones at Windsor Castle. This seems to be the only blue one. I can tell by the cipher that it was made for Edward III. So, that helps.


Let’s look at it. Yes, indeed, this chair was made for King Edward III in 1350 and is, technically, the Order of the Garter Throne. As best I can tell, it’s not in use, but it does remain at Windsor Castle. Edward III was born at Windsor Castle and spent a lot of time and money in expanding and redoing the place. This was part of his efforts. He was also the King who established the Order of the Garter. So, this throne was used in the Garter Throne Room which we see pictured below. Queen Elizabeth II uses a different throne in there today. The only photograph I can find of this chair comes from a photographer who has his work heavily copyrighted. I don’t want to irritate him by using his image without permission, so I’ll link to it in case you’re interested.

The Garter Throne Room as it is today.
Images from the Royal Collection.

Unusual Artifacts: Cast of the Skull of King Robert the Bruce, 1819

Cast of the Skull of King
Robert I (the Bruce)
William Scouler, 1819
The Royal Collection

Scottish King Robert I (known as Robert the Bruce) began life as Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick. Robert was initially a staunch supporter of English King Edward I. However, due to a rather complicated series of decisions, he switched his allegiance to the Scots. But, he had some difficulty there, too. So, he murdered his remaining Scottish rival, John Comyn, in 1306 and claimed the throne of Scotland as his own (his argument was that he was the great-great-grandson of Scottish King David I). Few agreed—at the time—with Robert the Bruce’s usurping of the throne, but nonetheless, he was crowned at Scone.


The Bruce then proceeded to fight—well, everyone. He fought the Scots, he fought the English and he killed a lot of people. After booting most of the English out of Scotland, Robert had become such a pest that King Edward III, in 1328, finally gave in and agreed that Robert was the King of Scotland, and that his heirs would remain royal. Fair enough. It didn’t last. But, it satisfied Robert for awhile. He died in 1329 and was buried in the crypt at Dunfermline Abbey.

Robert the Bruce lay quite peacefully—for the first time ever, really—for just about five centuries before the Abbey’s great tower collapsed in 1818. Well, this didn’t do good things to the abbey’s foundation and a lot of deceased folks had to be disinterred. That’s never fun. Among them was our friend Robert I. Understandably, people were quite chuffed to stumble upon good ol’ Bruce and took a great deal of time studying what was left of him—measuring him, and taking plaster casts of his various remaining parts. Here’s his skull! To be accurate, this is a plaster cast of his skull which was completed by William Scouler in 1819. The cast was rather cleverly displayed on this jaunty red-velvet-covered stand atop a rosewood plinth with brass inlay. The plinth also doubles as a convenient storage container. The plaque reads: Cast in plaster by Wm Scouler 1819. Interred 1329. Re-interred 1819.

As the inscription would have us believe, Robert the Bruce was, in fact, re-interred at the Abbey. But, not before much rejoicing and Scottish patriotism. He’s remained relatively trouble-free since 1819.