Declaration of Arbroath to go on display for first time in 18 years

The Declaration of Arbroath will be displayed at the National Museum of Scotland in June for the first time in 18 years.

The display has been organised in partnership between National Museums Scotland and National Records of Scotland, who are custodians of the document.

The iconic and fragile 700-year-old document has not been on public display for 18 years, when it was last displayed at the Scottish Parliament.

It is cared for and preserved for future generations by National Records of Scotland and can only be displayed occasionally in order to ensure its long-term preservation.

The Declaration was initially due to be displayed in April 2020 to coincide with its 700th anniversary, but this had to be postponed due to the pandemic.

It will now be on show from 3 June to 2 July 2023.

The new summer date has been chosen to give as many people as possible the rare chance to see one of Scotland’s most important historical documents.

Dated 6 April 1320, the letter asked Pope John XXII to recognise Scotland’s independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king.

Despite the Scots’ success at the Battle of Bannockburn, Robert I had not been recognised as king by either King Edward II of England or the Pope.

At the time, the Pope desired peace between England and Scotland so that both kingdoms could help in a crusade to the Holy Land.

The Declaration sought to influence him by offering the possibility of support from the Scots for his long-desired crusade if they no longer had to fear English invasion.

Written in Latin, it was sealed by eight earls and about 40 barons.

It was authenticated by seals, as documents at that time were not signed, with only 19 seals now remaining.

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