Murder before the altar
On 10 February 1306, Robert the Bruce stabbed John Comyn — known as the Red Comyn — before the high altar of Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. It was an act of sacrilege, murder, and political calculation that changed the course of Scottish history.
The background was the long struggle for the Scottish crown. Bruce and Comyn both had strong claims to the throne. They had met at Greyfriars to negotiate — possibly to agree that one would support the other's bid for kingship. What went wrong is unclear. According to tradition, Bruce discovered that Comyn had betrayed him to the English. Words were exchanged, and Bruce drew his dagger.
Bruce reportedly rushed out of the church and told his companions he thought he had killed Comyn. Roger de Kirkpatrick is said to have replied, "I mak siccar" (I'll make sure) — and went back in to finish the job. The phrase became the Kirkpatrick family motto.
The consequences were immediate and severe. Bruce was excommunicated by the Pope for murder in a church. Edward I of England declared him an outlaw. But Bruce moved fast — within six weeks he had himself crowned King of Scots at Scone. What followed was eight years of guerrilla warfare, flight, defeat, and eventual triumph at Bannockburn in 1314. The murder at Greyfriars set Scotland on the path to independence.