Ireland's Scottish High King

In Faughart, County Louth, overlooking the border town of Dundalk, lies the remains of Edward de Bruce, brother of Robert de Bruce,  a Scotsman who crowned himself High King of Ireland. It was here in on October 14, 1318, that he met his end at the point of a sword.  Both countries original names where greater Scotia and lesser Scotia-Greater Scotia meaning Ireland and lesser Scotia meaning Scotland. 

 On May 26, 1315, Edward de Bruce landed on the shores of Larne with an army to overthrow English rule of Ireland. At first, he set his sights on laying siege to Carrickfergus Castle but the castle’s impregnable fortifications meant that he would have to look elsewhere.  De Bruce then turned his attention to Roche Castle, a formidable looking castle perched on top of a rocky outcrop. Bruce took one look at the Castle and decided that it would be virtually impossible to capture. So instead he headed to the nearby town of Dundalk which he proceeded to burn to the ground. 

After victories at the battle of Connor and at the Battle of Kells Edward de Bruce's forces looked unstoppable but then a foe came that de Bruce couldn’t defeat- the weather and famine. This led to the Scottish forces pillaging of the locals and had the effect of the turning many of the Irish against his forces.

At Faughart Co Louth on October 14, 1318, the weakened and depleted Scottish Army faced John de Berminghams force of 20,000.  De Bruce was advised that it would be prudent to withdraw his forces and wait for reinforcements but instead of retreating Edward decided upon a head-on full-scale assault. Predictably, the battle was a disaster.  A knight by the name of Sir John Maupas cut Bruce down and ended his short reign as High King of Ireland. The King was  beheaded, and his arms and legs were cut off and sent to the four corners of Ireland as warning to any other Irish who may have been thinking of rebelling against their English overlords. And so, ended the reign of Irelands Scottish High King.