It was the 23rd May 1308. By the end of this eventful day, there would be a significant and dramatic turn in the fortunes of King Robert the Bruce. Because, it was on this day, 700 years ago, at The Battle of Barra, that he finally and unequivocally defeated the man who at that point in time was his greatest and most despised enemy. That man was John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan.

The mutual hatred between these two men stemmed from an event which took place two years earlier, on 10th February 1306, at Grey Friars Kirk, Dumfries. For reasons which have generated much speculation – but that remain unresolved – Robert Bruce and his supporters murdered Comyn’s uncle, known as Red Comyn. Fighting for Scottish independence, the same cause as Bruce, Red Comyn and his associates had previously taken an active part in the wars against the English. However, following his murder, Red Comyn’s family and allies now saw Bruce as the greater and more detested foe, a view also held by many of his countrymen at that time. With his closest supporters in attendance, Bruce was crowned King of Scotland at Scone on 25th March 1306.

After a bloody defeat at the hands of the English in the Battle of Methven, King Robert Bruce was forced into hiding. Only just managing to avoid capture, he fled to the island of Rathlin, off the west coast of Scotland. It was during this period that he watched a determined little spider repeatedly trying to build its web. Its persistence inspired him to continue the fight for independence. Many believe this to be the origin of the saying ‘If at first you don’t succeed try, try again’.

Bruce returned to Scotland an outlaw and waged a series of successful guerrilla attacks against the English and their supporters. When King Edward I (the hammer of the Scots) died in July 1307, his son Edward II succeeded him. However, he was distracted by events in England, and failed to support his allies in Scotland. Bruce took full advantage of this situation. With his expanding army behind him, Bruce, with one or two notable exceptions, met with little resistance and won victory after victory as he forged his way through Scotland, eventually taking Inverness, before heading for Aberdeenshire.

Early in 1308 Bruce arrived at Inverurie, where he was struck down by an illness so serious and debilitating that he had to be carried on a litter by his supporters. A combination of severe food shortages, bitterly cold weather conditions and insufficient sustenance, medicine and shelter, meant his health deteriorated rapidly.

His brother, Sir Edward Bruce, took the decision to move him to Strathbogie Castle, at Huntly, and set up a camp at nearby Slioch in well-wooded, boggy countryside that he considered would be easily defended. During this interlude, many of Bruce’s men, fearing their great leader would die, gradually slipped away, leaving only a force of around 700 by the spring of that year.

Aware of his illness, and assuming that Bruce’s diminished army would be vulnerable, his sworn enemy, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, decided to attack the camp. Together with two of his knights, Sir John Mowbray and Sir David Brechin, he started an archery battle that would last for three days. However, it had little impact on the well-situated camp at Slioch. Comyn had no option but to withdraw and wait for additional support.

It was soon after this, although his brother was not yet fully recovered, that Sir Edward Bruce decided they should return to their camp at Inverurie. Meanwhile Comyn had gathered forces of more than 1000, and set up camp in a ruined hill fort at the top of Barra Hill, near Oldmeldrum. To this day it is still referred to locally as Comyn’s camp. Early in the morning of 23rd May, Comyn sent out a scouting party, led by Sir David Brechin, which successfully ambushed and killed some of Bruce’s men who had been stationed in an outpost. Those that survived fled back to Bruce’s camp to inform him of the attack.

On hearing this news, Bruce was so angry that without more ado he rose from his sick bed, determined to revenge the deaths of his men. Astride his horse, though supported on either side by two of his horsemen, he led his men in a surprise attack upon Comyn. With his army of 700, fierce, courageous and ready for battle, and the King’s standards flying, he advanced on Oldmeldrum.

Comyn’s men were hastily assembled at North Mains, which lies between Barra Hill and the marshes of the Lochter Burn. But, met with this formidable sight, led by the king they had believed was too ill for the battlefield, some of the rear sections of Comyn’s army allowed their fear to get the better of them, and they took flight. The panic spread quickly through the remainder of his men, and before long, only Comyn, his knights and men at arms were left to try to hold their ground. Realising they were facing certain defeat, they too turned and fled in the direction of Fyvie, with Bruce’s knights close on their heels. Not only had John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan, been ousted from his own lands, he and his followers had suffered a total humiliation at The Battle of Barra. It is said locally, that Robert the Bruce, weakened by his illness, sat down on a large chair shaped boulder at the top of Barra Hill and watched the running battle as his men pursued Comyn’s fleeing army.

Comyn and Mowbray initially took refuge in Fyvie Castle before escaping to the coast and a ship to England, where Comyn died later that year. Bruce gave the order to burn and destroy all of Comyn’s castles, farms and strongholds. Comyn’s relatives and allies met with bloody and brutal deaths. Those not butchered were left to starve, in what became known as the ‘Herschip’ or harrying of Buchan.

The Battle of Barra was a defining moment in the short-lived but ruthless Scottish Civil War, itself part of the prevailing Scottish Wars of Independence. With the support of the people of Aberdeen, who rose against the English garrison, then handed the City over to Bruce, he had control of the whole area from the Moray Firth to the Tay. Now he went from strength to strength, never lost another battle, and eventually went on to a spectacular victory at the Battle of Bannockburn, securing the throne.

To mark the 700th anniversary of this landmark in history, the Meldrum and Bourtie Heritage Society have plans to create a memorial with an information board. They hope to incorporate the chair shaped boulder, known as ‘Bruce’s Seat’, traditionally believed to be the one used by Robert the Bruce to watch the battle.

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