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May 1303: Edward I invades Scotland once more, with a view to subjugating the country once and for all.
3 February 1304: The Community of Scotland under the Guardianship of John III Comyn or the Red Comyn, agrees a peace treaty with Edward I.
22 April 1304: Edward I besieges the last Scottish stronghold, Stirling Castle. It surrenders three months later when the food runs out.
3 August 1305: William Wallace is captured near Glasgow after periods spent as guerrilla and abroad. He is tried in London on 23 August, then executed.
10 February 1306: Robert the Bruce, the grandson of the Robert Bruce who had competed with John Balliol for the crown in 1292, murders John III Comyn, the Red Comyn, head of one of the most powerful familes in Scotland and his only rival as future king in a church in Dumfries.
25 March 1306: Robert the Bruce moves to fill the power vacuum in Scotland and crowns himself King Robert I.
10 May 1307: At the Battle of Loudon Hill in Ayrshire, Robert the Bruce defeats forces loyal to the English.
7 July 1307: King Edward I of England dies.
Friday, 13 October 1307: King Philip IV rounds up the Knights Templar in France as part of his campaign to gain control of the Order's vast wealth. In 1312 he persuades Pope Clement V to dissolve the Order, which in Scotland sees their assets, previously controlled from Temple, transferred to the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and administered from Torphichen Preceptory.
November 1307: Robert the Bruce secures his power base by taking Comyn castles at Urquhart and Balvenie.
8 November 1308 : Death of the theologian, philosopher, and logician, John Duns Scotus.
24 June 1314: An English army under King Edward II sent to relieve Stirling Castle is defeated by Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. Edward II only narrowly escapes with his life. It is the most notable single military victory in Scottish history.
1315: Robert the Bruce invades Ireland and his brother is declared King.
1318: Robert the Bruce captures Berwick Castle.
6 April 1320: The Declaration of Arbroath is addressed to the Pope in an effort to have him recognise Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland (and remove the excommunication that followed his murder of the Red Comyn in a church). It defines the relationship between the Scottish King and the Scots people.
17 March 1328: The Wars of Independence finally end with the Treaty of Edinburgh and Northampton.
July 1328: Robert the Bruce's four year old son David is married to Joan, the seven year old sister of Edward III of England.
7 June 1329: Robert the Bruce dies aged 55. He is succeeded by his five year old son, David II.
1329: The title Dominus Insularum or "Lord of the Isles" is first used, by John of Islay in a letter to Edward III of England.
8 August 1332: The Scots are defeated by the English led by Edward Balliol (son of John Balliol) at the battle of Duppin Moor, near Perth. Among those killed is the Guardian of Scotland, Donald, Earl of Mar. The Scots subsequently select Sir Andrew Murray (son of the Andrew Murray who had fought alongside William Wallace at Stirling Bridge and uncle of David II)to become Guardian of Scotland.
24 September 1332: Edward Balliol is crowned King of Scots at Scone. This leaves Scotland with two kings: Edward Balliol and David II.
17 December 1332: Edward Balliol is surprised by Sir Andrew Murray in a dawn attack at Annan, and flees the country.
May 1333: Edward III invades Scotland in support of Edward Balliol and besieges Berwick Castle. Sir Andrew Murray is captured by the English and imprisoned in Durham Castle.
19 July 1333: The Scots are heavily defeated by Edward III at the Battle of Haildon Hill as they try to relieve Berwick Castle. David II, still a boy, goes to France for safety.
1334: The English, with a remarkable lack of forethought, allowed Sir Andrew Murray to ransom himself and return to Scotland. Sir Andrew Murray then yet again forces Edward Balliol to flee to England.
Summer 1335: Edward III launches his largest invasion so far of Scotland in support of the claims of Edward Balliol. He wipes out all but scattered pockets of support for David II.
September 1335: Sir Andrew Murray is appointed Guardian of Scotland for the second time.
30 November 1335: The Battle of Culblean, near Ballater, sees the defeat of Edward Balliol's forces under David de Strathbogie by Sir Andrew Murray.
1336: Edward III invades yet again in support of Edward Balliol.
February 1337: Sir Andrew Murray begins a campaign that slowly rolls back the English occupation of Scotland. Edward Balliol flees, for the final time, in May, only to find that Edward III is more interested in war with France than war with Scotland.
1338: Sir Andrew Murray dies and his role as Guardian of Scotland on behalf of David II passes to Robert Stewart, who is King David's nephew, but eight years older than him at 22.
16 June 1338: The English give up their siege of Dunbar Castle, whose defence is commanded by Agnes Randolph of Dunbar, after five months.
June 1341: David II returns to Scotland from France, aged 17.
17 October 1346: David II responds to a French request to help take the English military pressure off them in France by raiding Northumberland. At the Battle of Neville's Cross, near Durham, David II is captured by the English under Edward Balliol and taken to London.
1349: The Black Death reaches Scotland, killing as many as 200,000 people out of a population of 1 million over the following two years.