Robert the Bruce (Civ6)

Robert the Bruce
Introduced in Rise and Fall
Civilizations	Scottish
Leader bonus - Bannockburn
Can declare a War of Liberation with Defensive Tactics, instead of Diplomatic Service. +100% Production in all cities and +2 Movement for all units for the next 10 turns after declaring a War of Liberation.
Leader agenda - Flower of Scotland
Will not attack his neighboring civilizations unless they break a promise to him. Dislikes civilizations waging war on their neighbors, and likes those at peace with their neighbors.
Religion
	Catholicism

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"No man holds his own flesh and blood in hatred, and I am no exception."

Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), more commonly known as Robert the Bruce, was king of Scots from 1306 until his death. He is best known for defeating England in the First War of Scottish Independence, successfully securing Scotland's status as an independent kingdom. He leads the Scots in Civilization VI: Rise and Fall.

The inventions should flow non-stop from Robert the Bruce's Scotland, especially when their neighbors let them hang onto their freedom.

Intro

Robert the Bruce, as the stalwart defender of Scotland you are no stranger to war, yet rarely do you seek to inflict it. If you keep your people happy, you'll inspire them to greatness. Let anyone who takes advantage of your weaker neighbors meet your fearless highlanders. They can teach the true meaning of freedom.

In-Game

Robert's unique agenda is Flower of Scotland. He will not attack his neighbors unless they break a promise to him, and dislikes civilizations who attack their neighbors.

His leader ability is Bannockburn. He can declare a War of Liberation after discovering Defensive Tactics, and receives +100% Production and +2 Movement for the first 10 turns after doing so.

Detailed Approach

Scotland is a strong civ in the fields of science and engineering and want to keep their people as happy as possible to fuel their advances. Plan out your cities carefully so you can try to get a Golf Course next to every city center (and adjacent to an Entertainment Complex if possible too). You are a great neighbor because you will often go to war to restore territory lost by your neighboring civs -- it is worth it to get into those fights for the boosts in Movement and Production. The Highlander should allow you to secure your gains just as you push into the 20th Century and start moving Scotland toward victory, probably in the space race.

Lines

Robert the Bruce is voiced by Donald Pirie. He speaks Early Scots/Middle English in a Scottish accent.

Voiced

Codename	Quote (English translation)	Quote (Early Scots/Middle English)	Notes
Agenda-based Approval	Wise to keep peace with your neighbors. Blood feuds are paid at great expense.	It were wys, pes to kepen mid thy neighbours. Blood fedes payeth men at greet expense.
Agenda-based Disapproval	Keep your wars distant. Otherwise you track the muck through your own lands.	Kep thine werres forein. Or elles shalt thu trailen þe mok thrugh thine ain londs.
Attacked	You gormless radger! You'll dine on your own teeth before you set foot in Scotland!	Thu dusie astumpt fool! Thu shalt suppen of thine ain teeth afore thu set forth foot in Scotland!
Declares War	War lingers in our hearts. Why carry on with a false peace?	Werre abideth on oure hertes. Wherefor perseveren mid a faws pes?
Defeated	A lonely wind blows through the highlands today. A dirge for Scotland. Can you hear it?	An alanich winde bloweth thrugh þe Highlandes þeday. A dirge for Scotland. Canst thu het heren?
Greeting	I am Robert the Bruce. Scotland follows me—be it through fields of wheat or of battle.	Ik em Robert Brus. Scotland me folweth, be het thrugh feldes of whete or thrugh battalie.
Quote from Civilopedia	No man holds his own flesh and blood in hatred, and I am no exception.	Nane holdeth his ain flesh and blood in hate, and ik nae an excepcioun.	According to English chronicler Walter of Guisborough (who wrote in Latin) this is the first sentence of his words to the knights of his ancestral lands of Annandale when he joined the rebellion against Edward I of England — "No man holds his own flesh and blood in hatred and I am no exception. I must join my own people and the nation in which I was born. I ask that you please come with me and you will be my councillors and close comrades."

Unvoiced

Delegation: Please accept my people's finest tweeds and haggis. Oh, and hark to the pipers! Are they not grand?

Accepts Delegation from Player: I've received your delegation and treated them to a cèilidh. We danced until the roosters crowed!

Rejects Delegation from Player: Scotland would rather have true words from you than fair gifts, so I have sent your delegation back.

Accepts Player's Declaration of Friendship: What a happy day! We will stand together as one, like the two arms of the saltire.

Rejects Player's Declaration of Friendship: I think you're the right sort, but Scotland still has their reservations about you. Not now.

Requests Declaration of Friendship: In a world of seething backbiters, fair-minded folk must unite as friends.

Player Accepts Declaration of Friendship: Magnificent.

Accepts a Trade Deal: Hmm. Agreed.

Rejects a Trade Deal: What a shabby offer. No.

Denounced by Player: You reeking midden! You crooked broker of worthless words! Get out of my sight!

Denounces Player: You feckless idiot! I'd brain you with an axe, but I'm afraid your thick pate'd shatter it.

Invitation to Capital: I've a mind to look at your capital. And as I'm a fair man, I'll bring you to see Scotland's.

Invitation to City: While you're in the neighborhood, wouldn't you want to see our capital?

Civilopedia entry

Born among the Scottish aristocracy, Robert the Bruce is best remembered for his stalwart leadership of Scotland during the nation’s war for independence with England in the late 13th century. Despite a great many obstacles standing in the way of his ascension, Robert successfully claimed the throne of Scotland and led his people to victory over the oppressive rule of the English.

Although the details of his early life are uncertain, as the son of Robert VI de Brus, a Scottish Lord, Robert was born into a line of Scottish nobility that no doubt afforded him an education and upbringing well beyond that of his typical countrymen. By the time he was 18 years old, Robert was already entangled in the elaborate web of politics surrounding the rule of Scotland.

Following the death of its queen in 1290, Scotland entered an interregnum or gap in governance. Edward I, King of England (known famously as Longshanks), was asked to choose between the various claimants competing for the vacant throne. When Edward selected John Balliol as the rightful heir in 1292 (over Robert the Bruce’s grandfather), both Robert and his father refused to accept the new king.

As England now moved to exert further influence over Scotland, the Bruces sided with Longshanks rather than support the tenuous grip of newly crowned King John. This choice would find the Bruce family at odds with many of their countrymen, leaving them allied with England in a growing conflict against their own nation (which had allied itself with France in the meantime).

Hearing of this new alliance, in 1296 England launched an outright invasion of Scotland and King John was quickly dethroned by Longshanks. Although Scotland was once again left without a true monarch, Robert finally broke from his father's wishes and sought to align himself with those seeking to revolt. However, it wasn't until 1298 after once again siding with Longshanks at the Battle of Falkirk that Robert truly broke from the English king. After seeing his fellow countrymen defeated, including the equally noteworthy Sir William Wallace, the time had come for change. When Wallace ceded the title of Guardian of Scotland, Robert was named his successor.

Following a series of purported agreements and broken promises over the future of the Scottish throne, in 1306 Robert met with John Comyn, nephew to prior King John. Comyn was another strong claimant to the throne and potential rival to Robert. The details of their meeting are still debated to this day, but what is known for certain is that at some point the two came to blows and Comyn was killed by Robert. Less than two months later, Robert was named King of Scots by his fellow noblemen.

As King, Robert led Scotland in a prolonged conflict against England that persisted not only through the reign of Edward Longshanks but also that of his son, Edward II. For nearly eight years, Scotland and England volleyed for control of the nation, culminating in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. By some accounts Robert's forces were outnumbered three to one, yet through clever tactics the Scottish emerged victorious. Suffering thousands of casualties, the battle was an utter humiliation for England and King Edward. With momentum on his side, Robert now pushed the back the English in their own lands as well as their territories in Ireland.

When the Pope finally recognized Robert as the true king and sole ruler of Scotland in 1324, England's claims to the country were all but over. By 1327, the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton officially marked the end of what eventually came to be known as the First War of Scottish Independence.

Although he lived to see his homeland free of English rule, on June 7th, 1329, Robert died at the age of 54 of unknown causes. Despite the political conflicts that plagued the Bruce family during his formative years, Robert rose to the call of his people, finally shaking off the threat of England after more than a decade of turmoil.

Trivia

• Robert the Bruce's diplomacy screen shows the Scottish Highlands with a castle in the distance.
• There is a hidden stool on Robert the Bruce's diplomacy screen. He is sometimes seen standing with one leg on the stool, and kicks it off the screen and unsheathes his sword if the player declares war on him.
• Robert the Bruce's leader ability references the battle in which he fought and defeated the English, while his leader agenda is named after a song that commemorates his victory in that battle, also a proposed national anthem for Scotland.
• Robert the Bruce's tabard is patterned after the Royal Banner of Scotland, using the same color scheme and lion rampant.
• The pommel of Robert the Bruce's sword bears the Firaxis logo.
• Robert is the ancestor of three other Civilization VI leaders: Ludwig II, Victoria, and Wilhelmina.
  • Additionally, he is also the ancestor of Frederick the Great, who led the Germans in Civilization and Civilization IV.

Gallery

Promotional image of Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce on the loading screen (in Gathering Storm)

A statue of Robert the Bruce at Stirling Castle (which appears to have inspired his in-game model)

Videos

Civilization VI- Rise and Fall – First Look- Scotland

First Look: Scotland

Related achievements

Let gentle blood shew generous might Win a regular game as Robert the Bruce A reference to The Lord of the Isles, a narrative poem by Sir Walter Scott.

Mulligan Build a Golf Course in a tile where you had previously attempted to build a Wonder, but got beaten to the Wonder by another Civ. A reference to the call in golf to redo a poor shot and not have it count on the score card.

See also

• Robert the Bruce in other games

External links

• https://civilization.com/news/entries/civilization-vi-rise-and-fall-robert-the-bruce-leads-scotland/