A Dissertation; Concerning The Competition For The Crown Of Scotland, Betwixt Lord Robert Bruce And Lord Baliol In The Year 1291; Wherein Is Proved, That By The Laws Of God And Of Nature, By The Civil

Who had the stronger claim to medieval Scotland’s crown: Robert Bruce or John Balliol? A kingdom argues its past.In this razor-sharp scottish legal history treatise, eminent scholar Thomas Ruddiman revisits the scottish crown succession 1291, weighing the rival titles of robert bruce vs balliol against the laws of God, of nature, and the intricate feudal laws of scotland. More than a narrative of events, it is a rigorous medieval constitutional law study, tracing how lineage, homage, and sovereignty intersected in late thirteenth century scotland. Ruddiman patiently dismantles opposing pamphleteers and sets the Bruce claim within the fundamental law and constitution of the realm, turning a distant dispute into a living, urgent legal argument.At once a vivid portrait of medieval scotland history and a key example of jacobite era political writings, it reveals how eighteenth-century minds mined the past to contest the present. It follows a pivotal historical crown succession debate, now indispensable for scottish history students seeking primary material and as a reference for legal historians exploring monarchy, legitimacy, and precedent. For readers of thomas ruddiman works, it stands as a concentrated study of succession that illuminates the evolution of Scottish constitutional thought.Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions. Restored for today’s and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector’s item and a cultural treasure. Ideal for historians, students, and classic-literature collectors, it invites renewed engagement with Scotland’s legal past.