John Barbour
John Barbour was a prominent Scottish poet and cleric born in Aberdeen in 1313. He served as the archdeacon of Aberdeen and later took scholarly journeys to Oxford University and France, reflecting his commitment to learning. He is widely regarded as the father of Scottish historical poetry, with his most famous work being the epic poem "The Bruce," composed in 1375. This poem celebrates Scotland's victories during the War of Independence, focusing on the leadership and heroism embodied by Robert the Bruce, while also resonating with themes of nationalism and cultural identity. Although "The Bruce" idealizes its subjects and notably omits references to the revolutionary William Wallace, it is still recognized by some historians for its historical accuracy and significance. Additionally, it marks a transition in poetic form from unrhymed verse to rhyming couplets and is notable for being one of the first major works in the Lowland Scottish vernacular. John Barbour passed away in 1395, and his contributions are commemorated with a marble statue at Aberdeen Cathedral, where he served for nearly four decades.
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John Barbour
Poet
- Born: c. 1313
- Birthplace: Aberdeen, Scotland
- Died: March 13, 1395
Biography
John Barbour was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1313. As the archdeacon of Aberdeen, John Barbour traveled to Oxford University in 1357 and later to France in pursuit of learning. He also served as a clerk of audit in the household of King David II of Scotland. Considered by many to be the father of the history of Scottish poetry, John Barbour wrote several works, some of which have been lost (including a genealogy of the Scottish royal family). His most notable work is the epic idealistic poem The Bruce, named after the great Robert the Bruce and written in 1375. The poem details Scotland’s triumph over the English in the War of Independence in the early fourteenth century and emphasizes the nationalist themes of heroism, leadership, and patriotism among the Scottish people, who were eager to discover their cultural identity. Though it portrays Robert the Bruce and his descendants in an idealized manner (probably because Barbour worked for them), the poem has been praised as the most accurate history of the war by some historians, in spite of the fact that it makes no mention of the key revolutionary, William Wallace, who helped organize early rebellions. The Bruce also serves as a guideline for future kings of Scotland, and warns them against exhibiting the tyranny against which the Scots fought in the war. As a poem, The Bruce marked a change from the tradition of unrhymed poetry into the new method of rhyming couplets and was the first major work written in the Lowland Scottish vernacular, which was comprised of Norman, Anglo-Saxon, and French influences. John Barbour died in 1395, and a marble statue of him adorns the Aberdeen Cathedral, where he was archdeacon for nearly forty years.
