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How Robert the Bruce’s fight for Scotland’s freedom was possibly planned at Ardchattan Priory, Argyll.
Gillian and I stood in the 13th ruined archway of the burial ground at Ardchattan Priory. Here, on the North side of Loch Etive we saw a small skull and crossbones carved into the archway. “What on earth is that?” Why on earth would devout Christians 800 years ago be carving this pirate symbol into the granite? (Our photograph shows it)
By linking many disparate elements of the story together, making a few guesses here and there we can come upon a truly surprising conclusion. We guess that an alliance may have been forged in secrecy at the Parliament of Ardchattan which helped Bruce to win the great Battle of Bannockburn.
The Knights Templar story
The Knights who fought and led the Crusades to win Jerusalem in the 12th century, had become extremely rich. They lent vast sums of money to the Kings of Europe. The French King persuaded the Pope to excommunicate the Templars and to try them in Paris on October 13th 1307 on jumped up charges of heresy. This mean that all Europe was free of debts. Dirty game politics. Always has been, always will be. The Templars went on the run.
The Knights Templar hide in Scotland
The Templars had been granted lands in Scotland 100 years before by the great King David 1st. They built about 100 Temples. Despite the trial of the Templars in Paris these lands were never seized by the Scottish government of Robert the Bruce.
Knights Templar leave France to hide out in Scotland
Two days before the Paris trial of the leading Templars it is recorded in French Masonic history that Templar ships left at midnight from La Rochelle, reportedly heading to Scotland. Scotland was apparently designated as the place of refuge for the Templar relics.
The shadowy associations between the Bruce and the Knights
After the Trial, the Knights scattered. A good place to hide would be the remote West Coast of Scotland. There are many odd associations between the Knights and the Bruce. While Bruce was King, two Scottish Knights were ordered to an Inquisition at Holyrood Palace. No one seems to have been found, nor found guilty of anything. In 1311 it is recorded that Bishop Lamberton of St. Andrews, Scotland’s leading cleric, gave the Knights his protection. Why? Bruce’s heart was carried after his death to the Spanish crusade, by his friend James Douglas, and who else? Why, a leading Knight.. Both Bruce and the Knights would want to keep any association between them secret.
The Ardchattan Priory “Parliament”
At the Ardchattan Parliament, probably held in 1308, the year after the Knights Templar were excommunicated, they would have warmly welcomed support by Scotland’s ruler. He also needed experienced warrior friends, and they needed his protection. He owed them nothing but neither party would want to boast of any relationship.
Skull and crossbones in Ardchattan Priory and the Templar association
The Catholic Church taught that the resurrection of man was a bodily resurrection. The Knights, contrary to the beliefs of the Church, thought that only the skull and two bones were needed to be buried for their owners to go to heaven.
The skull and crossed bones were a popular motif on the graves of fallen Knights.
When Templars later turned to widescale piracy they flew the Skull and Cross-
More Templar relics in Argyll
In Argyll, there are Templar carvings, and slabs, at Kilmartin, and more skull and crossbones carvings.
HOW THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR HID IN ARGYLL, ON SCOTLAND’S WEST COAST AND POSSIBLY MADE
AN ALLIANCE WITH KING ROBERT THE BRUCE AT ARDCHATTAN PRIORY -
Knights Templar near Oban in Argyll Scotland. The Bruce Parliament at Ardchattan Priory. Possible alliances between Robert the Bruce, the MacDonalds, and the Knights Templar which may have helped Bruce to win at the Battle of Bannockburn. Excommunication by the Pope of both Robert the Bruce and of the Knights Templar and the resulting secrecy between them.
The skull and crossbones icon of The Templars carved into
the ancient stone of Ardchattan Priory, Loch Etive