So much so that the word has become a decisive term to describe a turning-point in any dire situation. And Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, whose all but personal triumph it was, enshrined his name in the history of Scotland, England and the lands beyond. When even the most determined and courageous would have given up on the struggle long before, Bruce fought on. His victory, against overwhelming odds, was one of the greatest achievements in military history and became part of the folklore of Scotland's perpetual struggle for self-direction.