Medieval Europe: Robert Bruce a hero or just like any other king

The Scottish people to this day regard him as a good king who threw out the British people from their lands, he is also used by Scottish politician frequently to create nationalism feelings. In the movie " braveheart " he is often portrayed as a man of integrity and heroic while British were portrayed like drunks with no morals but the truth was not like this at all.

His vengeance story and war of Independence is indeed quite interesting at least in the movies. Bruce was deposed and dishonored by King of Edward's I army and forced to flee. But his wife and daughters were imprisoned and all three of his brothers were brutally executed. He later came back and defeated an large army from kingdom of England under Edward II and made Scotland Independent from English rule, he also freed Ireland from English rule, Invaded northern England, captured and raided it's territories but and was also cruel in many ways, like killing his closest friends. But Scotland remembers him as "Good King Robert" and an national hero. Bruce's final legacy was to confirm "Scotland as separate and distinct, not just as a kingdom but as a community, a people and ultimately a nation.". However his legacy is also trouble to the union of Great Britain & Scotland and can easily stirs up Scottish nationalist sentiments anytime.