Scotland's champion Robert the Bruce

Scotland's greatest champion freed the Scots from English control and brought about independence for Scotland. The English renounced all their claims and peace was established between the two countries.
Although he was descended from nobility and was crowned King at Scone in 1306 he had to fight with great courage and determination to prove himself, to gain the confidence of his people and gradually defeat his enemies, and to win back all the castles taken by the English until the final great victory at Bannockburn in 1314 where his 6000 men defeated the army of 20,000of England.
Precious little is known of his youth. He could have been sent to be fostered with a local family, as was the custom. We can presume that Bruce was raised speaking all the languages of his lineage and nation and was almost certainly fluent in Gaelic and Norman French, with Latin. Although there is no direct evidence, it is perfectly plausible that he also knew English. Robert's first appearance in history is on a witness list of a charter issued by Alasdair MacDomhnaill, Lord of Islay. His name appears in the company of the Bishop of Argyll, the vicar of Arran, a Kintyre clerk, his father and a host of Gaelic notaries from Carrick.Robert
Bruce's reign also witnessed some diplomatic achievements. The Declaration of Arbroath of 1320 strengthened his position, particularly vis-à-vis the Papacy. Pope John XXII eventually lifted Bruce's excommunication. In May 1328 King Edward III of England signed the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, which recognised Scotland as an independent kingdom, and Bruce as its king.
His body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey, while his heart is buried in Melrose Abbey. His heart was to be taken on crusade eventually to the Holy Land, but only reached Moorish Granada, where it acted as a talisman for the Scottish contingent at the Battle of Teba.

Stirling Castle is easily seen and signposted from anywhere in the Stirling area.