Robert The Bruce (1314 Battle of Bannockburn)

Saltire Jewellery have created a design based on the Tillychin Axe which was in common use at the time of Bannockburn.  Tillychin Axes had a wooden shaft and could be used as a single or double handed weapon.  Our design is based on a battle-axe head which was found at the farm of Tillychin at Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire.  The Axe head dates from the 1300’s.  We can offer you a Sterling Silver Robert The Bruces Broken Axe Kilt Pin/Brooch.  See details below of our card insert that comes along with the piece.

Robert the Bruce’s Broken Axe  (see our Bruce’s Axe Kilt Pin)

Prior to the main battle of Bannockburn, Robert the Bruce is identified by Henry de Bohun an English champion Knight. A fully armoured De Bohun lowered his lance and began a charge to kill the King of Scotland. King Robert was mounted on a small horse armed only with a battle-axe and wearing no armour. As De Bohun’s great war-horse thundered towards him, the King stood his ground, while being watched with mounting anxiety by his own army. With the Englishman only feet away, Bruce turned aside avoiding his lance, stood up in his stirrups and hit the Knight so hard that he split his helmet and head in two. The shaft of his axe broke such was the force of his downward swing.

This pre-battle encounter and Bruce’s bravery has become legendary. On returning to his army, he was rebuked by his commanders for the enormous risk he had taken, the King only expressed regret that he had broken the shaft of his axe.