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The Secrets Hidden in Robert the Bruce's Grave for 500 Years | The coffin of King Robert the Bruce

History Calling

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What happened to the body of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland after his death in 1329, where was Robert the Bruce buried and what was found inside the coffin of Robert the Bruce when he was dug up in 1818 and 1819? Those questions form the basis of today’s royal history documentary from History Calling.

We start with the death of Robert the Bruce, known as one of Scotland’s most famous Kings and the decision to bury him in two different places in accordance with his wishes (although in the end those wishes weren’t carried out as he’d planned). This section of the video will include the famous story of what happened to Robert the Bruce’s heart and why it was removed from his corpse.

We then fast forward nearly half a millennium to find out what happened when Robert the Bruce's tomb in Dunfermline Abbey was opened in 1818 and again in 1819. The discovery of Robert the Bruce's grave became one of the most important archaeological finds in Scottish history and offered a rare opportunity to examine the physical remains of the King of Scots. I’ll reveal the complete story of Robert the Bruce's burial and tomb, Robert the Bruce's exhumation and the subsequent examination of Robert the Bruce's remains. Using eyewitness accounts I’ll tell you what condition of Robert the Bruce's skeleton was in when it was found, what grave goods were located with him and what these remains revealed about the appearance of Scotland's warrior king, including if Robert the Bruce had leprosy.

By the end of the video you’ll know what Robert the Bruce looked like, how tall Robert the Bruce was, the condition of Robert the Bruce's bones after centuries beneath the Abbey and how he was reburied. You’ll see two casts of Robert the Bruce's skull and learn how it was later used in a Robert the Bruce facial reconstruction.

Subscribe for more documentaries on Scottish kings, medieval history, archaeology, royal burials, historical mysteries and the real stories behind legendary figures.

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Robert the Bruce Tomb Reconstruction
Robert the Bruce Tomb Reconstruction

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20 Comments

@HistoryCalling Creator 2 weeks ago Pinned

Let me know below if you think Robert’s remains should have been examined once the grave had been found, or just quickly and quietly moved into a new coffin and nothing more done. For more from me, check out my other online platforms at:

BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): https://amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
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@scottneil1187 2 weeks ago

I lived directly across from Dunfermline Abbey for 12 years. My flat was in the oldest building in Dunfermline, the old coach houses.

@kathleen88863 2 weeks ago

The respectful treatment of the remains of King Robert is remarkable. Compared to other disinternments you have shown us, this was almost a relief!
Excellent episode!
Thanks for another winner.🎉

@stephencarrillo5905 2 weeks ago

YES!! Another HC version of "Tales from the Crypt". Love it. Appreciate the maps and minutiae. To be honest, I probably would have given in to the ghoulish impulse to explore rather than leave the tomb unopened, considering the possibility that it was Robert's final resting place. At least there was no coffin goo to deal with. Liked and hyped, HC. Good woman yourself. 🙏

@wanderingspark 2 weeks ago

There is at least one other error in Jardine's account, and this error is relevant to the question of whether this is Robert the Bruce or Alexander III's grave. The "embroidered linen" cloth found on top of the lead wrapping is not embroidered linen. It is actually a silk cloth-of-gold brocade. The gilt threads in the brocade have linen cores which may be why the 1819 investigators thought the cloth was linen, but the majority of its threads are actually silk. The brocade has a pattern of foliage, birds, and a winged beast that might be a dragon (the fabric is in too poor of condition to definitively identify the beast).

This cloth is similar in both pattern and weaving method to textiles produced in Italy during the 14th century, especially textiles from later in the 14th century, which means the cloth is more likely to be from Robert the Bruce's 1329 burial than from Alexander III's 1286 burial. Additionally, a fancy, expensive fabric made in Italy seems to me like it fits with Robert the Bruce buying a bunch of fancy, expensive materials imported from continental Europe for his tomb.

Source: 'Early Textiles Found in Scotland Part II: Medieval Imports.' By Audrey S. Henshall, G. M. Crowfoot and John Beckwith.
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Vol. 88 (1956) pp 22-39.

@tomless 2 weeks ago

Hopefully we see more Scottish content from you! I know they're not as well known as the English or British monarchs but many of them are so fascinating to me.

@kazoolibra7322 2 weeks ago (edited)

I love hearing about the examination of the old graves of well known historical people! All the grave goods, jewelry, clothing etc. are so interesting and are such vivid "proof of life". 😮😊

@lisatomihiro3488 2 weeks ago

I personally am happy to hear about Scotland, Ireland, and Wales as well as England so I am sorry that so many others are apparently not as interested. Thank you for yet another interesting tomb crawl. I can't wait to see what next week will be like! 🎉

@robertpizor577 2 weeks ago

As a fellow Robert, it does me good to hear the words "King Robert" repeated throughout the video. So thanks for the morale boost for me today if nothing else😂

@edwardofhuncote 2 weeks ago

I'm in with a grin, History Calling Monday; "Scotland The Grave" edition. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😉

@ShelbyPater 2 weeks ago

Another incredible video from HISTORY CALLING! Seriously the best history channel on YouTube! Thank you for all your hard work❤❤❤

@delia88209 2 weeks ago

Since it was Star Trek 60th anniversary last week. Scotty did mention Robert the Bruce in an episode but what was the name of that episode I forgot

@cookiebun95 2 weeks ago

Happy Monday everybody. Wow, what a topic!

@ddouglas3687 2 weeks ago

I'm related to Sir James Douglas who took Roberts heart to do battle in Spain. (The heart is depicted on our coat of arms.) The story of James Douglas is fascinating in and of itself and wish his history was done justice one day! "Ay Douglas!"

@anitalorenz8658 2 weeks ago (edited)

"Now pass thou onward before us, as thou wast wont, and I will follow thee or die" Spoken by Sir James Douglas (Black Douglas) at the Battle of Teba. Douglas threw the silver casket (which he wore around his neck) containing the heart of Robert Bruce into the thickest part of the Moorish enemy horde. The casket was recovered after the battle and returned to Scotland.

@HIDDENHISTORYFILESUSA1 12 days ago

Fascinating documentary! It’s incredible to think that nearly 500 years after Robert the Bruce’s death, the opening of his tomb in 1818–1819 allowed historians to learn so much about the real man behind the legendary king. The details about his skeleton, burial objects, skull casts, and facial reconstruction are especially intriguing. History feels remarkably alive when we can examine physical evidence like this rather than relying only on written accounts. Scotland’s medieval history is full of stories like this that deserve to be remembered. 👑🏴

@melindahajdin 2 weeks ago

If you're wondering who carved that beautiful bust of Robert the Bruce, the sculptor was David Watson Stevenson (1842-1904) one of the most prolific and influential late-Victorian Scottish sculptors. Operating out of his studio in Edinburg, he became renowned for his mastery in both marble and bronze, crafting some of Scotland's most recognizable historical monuments and public artworks.

@Denzil-u8k 2 weeks ago

Dunfermline is my home town. As a child we played in the palace ruins and explored the abbey. On a school day out we did a brass rubbing of the plaque covering his burial site. That tower with King Robert the Bruce brings back amazing memories.

@gracedruien5268 13 days ago

Personally, I find that they treated reburying him as almost a time capsule was actually kind of lovely. They all contributed items, that if they survived, would tell any future people exactly who they had and in what year he had previously been disinterred. And since he is so famous it is likely that at some point he will be disinterred again.