Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
What happened to the body of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland after his death in 1329, where was Robert the Bruce buried and what was found inside the coffin of Robert the Bruce when he was dug up in 1818 and 1819? Those questions form the basis of today’s royal history documentary from History Calling.
We start with the death of Robert the Bruce, known as one of Scotland’s most famous Kings and the decision to bury him in two different places in accordance with his wishes (although in the end those wishes weren’t carried out as he’d planned). This section of the video will include the famous story of what happened to Robert the Bruce’s heart and why it was removed from his corpse.
We then fast forward nearly half a millennium to find out what happened when Robert the Bruce's tomb in Dunfermline Abbey was opened in 1818 and again in 1819. The discovery of Robert the Bruce's grave became one of the most important archaeological finds in Scottish history and offered a rare opportunity to examine the physical remains of the King of Scots. I’ll reveal the complete story of Robert the Bruce's burial and tomb, Robert the Bruce's exhumation and the subsequent examination of Robert the Bruce's remains. Using eyewitness accounts I’ll tell you what condition of Robert the Bruce's skeleton was in when it was found, what grave goods were located with him and what these remains revealed about the appearance of Scotland's warrior king, including if Robert the Bruce had leprosy.
By the end of the video you’ll know what Robert the Bruce looked like, how tall Robert the Bruce was, the condition of Robert the Bruce's bones after centuries beneath the Abbey and how he was reburied. You’ll see two casts of Robert the Bruce's skull and learn how it was later used in a Robert the Bruce facial reconstruction.
Subscribe for more documentaries on Scottish kings, medieval history, archaeology, royal burials, historical mysteries and the real stories behind legendary figures.
#RobertTheBruce #RoyalTombs #ScottishHistory
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Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
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EVERY SCOTTISH MONARCH, 848-1625
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LEARN MORE:
Robert the Bruce Tomb Reconstruction
youtube.com/watch?v=6cZln2csMCs
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
What happened to the body of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland after his death in 1329, where was Robert the Bruce buried and what was found inside the coffin of Robert the Bruce when he was dug up in 1818 and 1819? Those questions form the basis of today’s royal history documentary from History Calling.
We start with the death of Robert the Bruce, known as one of Scotland’s most famous Kings and the decision to bury him in two different places in accordance with his wishes (although in the end those wishes weren’t carried out as he’d planned). This section of the video will include the famous story of what happened to Robert the Bruce’s heart and why it was removed from his corpse.
We then fast forward nearly half a millennium to find out what happened when Robert the Bruce's tomb in Dunfermline Abbey was opened in 1818 and again in 1819. The discovery of Robert the Bruce's grave became one of the most important archaeological finds in Scottish history and offered a rare opportunity to examine the physical remains of the King of Scots. I’ll reveal the complete story of Robert the Bruce's burial and tomb, Robert the Bruce's exhumation and the subsequent examination of Robert the Bruce's remains. Using eyewitness accounts I’ll tell you what condition of Robert the Bruce's skeleton was in when it was found, what grave goods were located with him and what these remains revealed about the appearance of Scotland's warrior king, including if Robert the Bruce had leprosy.
By the end of the video you’ll know what Robert the Bruce looked like, how tall Robert the Bruce was, the condition of Robert the Bruce's bones after centuries beneath the Abbey and how he was reburied. You’ll see two casts of Robert the Bruce's skull and learn how it was later used in a Robert the Bruce facial reconstruction.
Subscribe for more documentaries on Scottish kings, medieval history, archaeology, royal burials, historical mysteries and the real stories behind legendary figures.
#RobertTheBruce #RoyalTombs #ScottishHistory
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
EVERY SCOTTISH MONARCH, 848-1625
youtu.be/buXd0qV0rsU
THE RUNAWAY NUN WHO BECAME QUEEN OF ENGLAND | LIFE OF MATILDA OF SCOTLAND | WIFE OF HENRY I
youtu.be/4GiqT-Oh0Bw
THE DEATH, BURIAL AND DESCRATION OF CATHERINE PARR’S CORPSE
youtu.be/p6lPB4uzmwI
DIGGING UP ANNE BOLEYN
youtu.be/EjCxVN7V6FA
THE SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF CHARLES I’S CORPSE
youtu.be/71HpXT1q0EU
INSIDE THE COFFIN OF KING JOHN
youtu.be/dcu6HOAHgqw
DIGGING UP HENRY VI
youtu.be/E_tWkpAv878
LEARN MORE:
Robert the Bruce Tomb Reconstruction
youtube.com/watch?v=6cZln2csMCs
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
