For Freedom Alone: The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320

by Edward J. Cowan

The Declaration of Arbroath, 6 April 1320, is one of the most remarkable documents to have been produced anywhere in Medieval Europe. Quoted by many, understood by few, its historical significance had now almost been overtaken by its mythic status. The beginning of a new century, in the wake of the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament, seems an appropriate moment to re-examine one of Scotland's long-cherished historical icons. Since 1998 the US Senate has claimed that the American Declaration of Independence is modelled upon 'that inspirational document', and 6 April is celebrated annually as a day of national significance to all Americans, especially those of Scottish descent. So far such claims have not been the subject of scholarly investigation. This is the first book-length study to examine the origins of the Declaration and the ideas upon which it drew, while tracing the rise of its mythic status in Scotland and exploring its possible impact upon Revolutionary America.

Genres: History, Scotland

162 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Edward J. Cowan FRSE was a Scottish historian. He was born in Edinburgh and educated at Dumfries Academy.

He was Professor of Scottish History at the University of Glasgow and Director of the university’s Dumfries Campus, he previously taught at the Universities of Edinburgh and Guelph, Ontario. A fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, he was also a Visiting Professor in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

Reviews

[Kirsteen Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely well researched piece on the origins of the Declaration of Arbroath and the consequences of it both nationally and internationally. It`s relevance even today, proving that power and change in Scotland was always held in the hands of the people and placing king and government under the watchful eye of the public as all Scots believe it should be.

[Roderick Macdonald]

I cannot lie, this volume, though slim, is a very dense read. This is not a quick guide to history, or a Declaration of Arbroath for dummies, it is a serious, well annotated and referenced history of one of the earliest documents (in the Western tradition, at least) articulating a people's right to self-determination, and as such is a must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of thought towards the idea of universal human rights, for many seeds of that idea lie within the Declaration. In addition, it is regarded as being a direct progenitor of many of the sentiments expressed in the American Declaration of Independence.

The book does not pull its punches in terms of going deep into many aspects of Scottish history leading up to the events of 1320, and the cast of characters and related incidents can start to become hard to hold onto if you are unfamiliar with Scottish history, which sadly, most people are.* However, the bibliography and notes provide good references for folk to dive deeper, and the cast and incidents are crucial to understanding why and how the Declaration came about, and what shaped its very specific language.

All in all I recommend this as a dense read on an important subject. 4.5 stars.

*If you can't deal with dry history books, but are interested in learning more about Scottish history, the historical novels of Nigel Tranter get my vote. He spent a lifetime studying first the castle architecture and then the history of Scotland, and his books are solidly researched, if of course now a product of older scholarship. My personal favourite, and a good stand-alone entry to see if you like his style (there are some trilogies and duologies), is Chain of Destiny.

[Jonathan Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought for £9.99 in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow Waterstones in July 2021. But didn't get round to reading until the anniversary (6 April) in 2023.

Rather than read about the declaration in passing in books about the history of Scotland, I wanted a deep dive into the actual document and its resonance.

This certainly delivers in that aspect but sometimes not on the directions I should have liked or on the manner either.

There was a lot of focus on political theory and the contract of Kingship and being able to depose a tyrant monarch. While this is part of Arbroath, I am more interested in the focus on the declaration of Scottish independence. As someone who has a degree in Politics, I felt as if much of the book had the feel of an academic essay rather than a book, which made for challenging reading and something I'd expect to lose a layperson.

Those nitpicks aside, I enjoyed this exploration of the document and learned much more than I knew originally. In particular, the analysis on the document's influence on the American Declaration of Independence is fascinating - I didn't expect to be as intrigued by this as I was - and it was enjoyable feeling witness to the author working through his own doubts about the influence or not. Furthermore, that academic approach was something I respected throughout. Edward Cowan looks at everything with a sceptical yet open mind rather than from a nationalistic angle in thrall to the document and its status. And I day that is a committed advocate of Scottish Independence.

Finally, I was pleased that the book included a full, modern English translation of 'Arbroath' as this was the first time I had actually ever read it in full. I'd maybe have included it at the very beginning rather than in the appendix but that's not that important. A very worthwhile read overall.

[Commander Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a straightforward 'story' around and of the 'declaration of Arbroath'. I'm not sure that this was what I was looking for. However, it did look at the gestation and to a certain extent the times around the 'declaration' but with a supposition of an understanding of the times and the personalities involved.
The book then went on in an academic and navel gazing way to look at the influences the 'declaration' may exerted on subsequent political thought and the likelihood of various political thinkers may have had of its contents. And all this had to be backed up with sources and evidence of course.
But all that still leaves me with the question of why some of the 'declarations' articles were there in the first place. Further enquiry is required into the age, the place and the people.