Drafted on April 6, 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was a letter addressed to Pope John XXII. It was signed by Scottish nobles, earls, and barons at Arbroath Abbey in Angus. The document served a dual purpose: it sought the Pope’s recognition of Scotland’s independence and legitimized Robert the Bruce’s kingship, which was contested by England and questioned by the papacy.

The letter eloquently asserted that Scotland had been an independent kingdom for centuries and had the right to choose its own king. It famously declared that the Scots would never submit to English rule, emphasizing that the kingdom’s freedom was paramount, even over the life of its monarch. The document proclaimed:

“For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”

This statement embodies the spirit of national self-determination and has echoed through the centuries as a rallying cry for liberty.

The Declaration’s Political and Symbolic Importance

Politically, the Declaration of Arbroath was a diplomatic maneuver aimed at gaining international support and recognition, particularly from the Pope, who wielded immense influence over European rulers. The Scots sought to counter English propaganda that Robert the Bruce was a usurper and to solidify their legitimacy as an independent kingdom under their chosen monarch.

Symbolically, the Declaration was a declaration of the collective will of the Scottish people, expressed through their leaders. It asserted the principle that kingship was conditional on serving the people’s interest, and if a king failed in this duty, the people had the right to replace him. This was a radical idea for the time, predating later concepts of popular sovereignty and democracy.  shutdown123