Edward’s Bruce’s Invasion of Ireland. London: J. Murray, 1923. First Edition. Pp vi, 179. Folded map of Ireland illustrating Bruce’s Invasion at frontispiece. Ex library copy, with ink stamps & with occasional label residue to endpapers. Rebound in rexene boards, title in gilt to spine. A very good copy.

Edward Bruce was the brother of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. Together they had successfully defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and attained Independence for Scotland. In 1315 Edward was the Earl of Carrick, in Galloway, Scotland, and had thousands of unemployed soldiers in his domain. On May 25th 1315 he landed at Larne Harbor (north-east Ireland) with the largest force to ever hit the island. Six thousand battle-hardened veterans clad in mail offloaded from the ships. Large numbers of light Irish infantry soon joined them and the Battles began in earnest. The Gael alliance was almost unstoppable and started to reel off a string of victories. For this, Edward was well received and after almost a year he was crowned King of Erin (Ireland) at Dundalk on May Day, 1316. He soon had almost all of Northern Ireland in his grasp, and in September his brother Robert arrived to help him. They took most of the midlands of the Island but failed in taking Dublin, as they had no siege engines. Meanwhile, the beginning of a general famine was making it difficult to provide for his soldiers in the field. After going back to Ulster early in the year of 1317, Robert the Bruce returned to Scotland and the management of his kingdom with a promise of supplies and more men. As Edward Bruce had lost momentum and an army led by John de Birmingham was marching against him in the late summer of 1318. Birmingham’s forces were vastly superior to those of Edward Bruce, but he was emboldened by his string of victories and sallied forth against the menace. His force of Scots, Irish and Meath rebels met the army on October 14th, 1318 and were soundly defeated. Edward himself was slain after a gallant stand, his remaining Scots returning home however they could. Edward’s allies were left leaderless and suffered greatly after this defeat. Thus, the English Lordship of Ireland was restored.