The Declaration of Arbroath’ became the most famous and symbolic document in our nation’s history: its influence stretches across the centuries and around the globe.
"Conquered by No One" is a collaboration between more than 50 writers and offers new insights into how the men behind the document – a disparate, at times untrusting and rebellious group of Barons and Earls – were drawn together.
Edited by the University of Aberdeen’s Neil McLennan, it explores for the first time the lives and motives of all 39 signatories of the Declaration looking at their conflicted personal, family, land and wider interests north and south of the border.
Their letter was an appeal to the Pope John XXII to lift the excommunication of Robert the Bruce and recognise him as the rightful king of Scotland.
A translation of Pope John XXII’s reply is included.