Editing Robert the Bruce (section)

=== "Great Cause" ===
{{main|Great Cause}}

Robert's mother died early in 1292. In November of the same year, [[Edward I of England]], on behalf of the [[Guardians of Scotland#Guardians of Scotland during the First Interregnum 1290–1292|Guardians of Scotland]] and following the [[Great Cause]], awarded the vacant Crown of Scotland to his grandfather's first cousin once removed, [[John Balliol]].<ref>{{harvnb|Scott|1982|p=29}}</ref>

Almost immediately, [[Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale]], resigned his lordship of Annandale and transferred his claim to the Scottish throne to his son, antedating this statement to 7 November. In turn, that son, [[Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale]], resigned his earldom of Carrick to his eldest son, Robert, the future king, to protect the Bruce's kingship claim while their middle lord (Robert the Bruce's father) now held only English lands.<ref>{{harvnb|Macnamee|2006|p=49}}</ref>

While the Bruces' bid for the throne had failed, the Balliols' triumph propelled the eighteen-year-old Robert the Bruce onto the political stage in his own right.<ref>{{harvnb|Penman|2014|pp=36–37}}</ref>