A King's Stolen Talisman: The Brooch of Lorn
In 1306, Robert the Bruce's brooch was stolen by the MacDougalls at the Battle of Dalrigh. Or was it?
Welcome back for part two of my series exploring my favourite artefacts in the National Museum of Scotland!
Last week, we travelled 2,500 years back in time to look at the mysterious Ballachulish Goddess. Now, let’s come forward to an artefact with a curious history spanning the 13th to 19th centuries: the Brooch of Lorn.
The Brooch of Lorn is found in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in the National Museum of Scotland. Naturally, this is my favourite gallery as it covers my favourite period in Scottish history—the Scottish Wars of Independence.
Although this gallery is full of a variety of artefacts, the brooch never fails to capture my attention. It is an eye-catching silver piece; a quartzite rock crystal sits at the centre, surrounded by ten pearl-set towers. But what does a decorative brooch have to do with one of the most turbulent and violent periods in Scottish history?
Legend tells us that the answer lies with Robert I of Scotland—better known as Robert the Bruce.