Robert I the Bruce, King of Scots

Dunfermline Abbey, site of Robert's body

Expert says toe bone undergoing DNA testing may not actually belong to Robert the Bruce

By Stephen Gallacher in The Sunday Post July 28, 2019

Last week it was revealed geneticists were DNA testing a toe bone belonging to Robert I the Bruce, King of Scots?through=303650988800006466, taken from his remains at Dunfermline Abbey. They hope to confirm the lineage of Robert the Bruce, and even discover how he died. However one of Scotland’s foremost archaeologists, Dr Murray Cook, says the toe might not belong to the Bruce at all. “A very elaborate tomb was discovered at Dunfermline Abbey in the early 1800s, and it was assumed to relate to Robert the Bruce because he was the most famous king buried there,” explained Dr Cook.“However, there are a number of medieval kings buried at that location, including David I, King of Scots who converted the site to an abbey and gave it an upgrade and additional funding.“The location of Robert the Bruce’s grave is where we might assume the founder, David I, was buried.” Eight kings are buried at Dunfermline Abbey and, without markers indicating who is interred, we can never be sure of the identity of each of the remains, according to Dr Cook.

“All we know for sure is we’ve got a body, and we’ve got an elaborate tomb which was destroyed in the Reformation,” he said.“It could be Robert the Bruce, it could be David I, it could be Malcolm III, 'Canmore', King of Scots “We’re just assuming the tomb belonged to Robert the Bruce – but we don’t actually know. Everybody knows that we don’t know for sure – it just never gets pointed out. “There’s a good chance the individual in the tomb is him. But there’s never been a good case put forward that it is definitely Robert the Bruce.”

Genetic marker discovered for descendants of Bruce clan

By Univerity of Strathclyde, Glasgow -1 February 2022

A distinct genetic marker, carried by descendants of Robert the Bruce’s close relatives, has been identified by researchers at the University of Strathclyde.The genealogy researchers have found the marker in male line descendants of the Bruces of Clackmannan, who were related to Robert the Bruce from 1306 to 1329. It is in the Y chromosome DNA of two different lines of descent from Sir Robert Bruce, 2nd Baron Clackmannan & Rate; proprietor of lands of Kennet who lived in the second half of the 14th century. One of the descendants who has taken a test is Rollo Bruce, a retired textile research editor from Oxfordshire.

Although there are varying theories about the exact relationship between the Bruces of Clackmannan and King Robert the Bruce, there is a consensus that it was very close. In the Register of the Great Seal for 1365, a charter of David II, king of Scots confirms a grant of lands in Clackmannan to Sir Robert Bruce, 2nd Baron Clackmannan & Rate; proprietor of lands of Kennet who is described in Latin as “dilecto et fideli nostro consanguineo” (our beloved and faithful kinsman). This Robert is first mentioned in 1360 as the young heir of his father, Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan .

The genetic marker has been given the name FTB15831.Graham Holton is Principal Tutor on Strathclyde’s Genealogical Studies Postgraduate Programme, based in the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning. He said: “Y chromosome DNA tests taken by male line descendants of two of Robert of Clackmannan’s sons, Sir Robert Bruce, 3rd Baron of Clackmannan and Edward, show that they both carry the marker FTB15831. This means it may also have been carried by their close relative, King Robert. “This discovery means that anyone living today who tests positive for the marker is descended from the same family as the famous King.

“Although the test takers from both lines carry FTB15831, one of them also has an additional genetic marker, indicating his descent from Sir Robert Bruce, 3rd Baron of Clackmannan , who died around 1405. Further research may reveal more markers for specific branches of the Bruce family. https://www.strath.ac.uk/whystrathclyde/news/2022/geneticmarkerdiscoveredfordescendantsofbruceclan/''