Robert the Bruce: Have we been saying his name wrong?

Robert the Bruce's victory at 1314's Battle of Bannockburn is celebrated in the song Flower of Scotland and he has been portrayed on TV and in film - famously in Hollywood's Braveheart.

But have we been saying his name wrong for years?

According to a new episode of BBC Radio 4's You're Dead to Me, some historians would prefer to see the "the" in his name get the chop.

It is argued the King of Scots was likely never known as The Bruce in his lifetime, and his name was corrupted hundreds of years after his death.

Bruce was crowned in 1306 at Scone Palace, near Perth, and died in Cardross in 1329.

Historian Greg Jenner, who hosts You're Dead to Me, said: "We chose to do Robert Bruce because there is so much name recognition and there is the big anniversary of course - 750 years since his birth.

"He is so important for Scottish people. And he is a symbol - he was the king that won independence."

Jenner, who was historian on the Horrible Histories TV show for 11 years, describes You're Dead to Me as a comedy show that takes history seriously.

He said: "We pair up comedians at the top of their game with fantastic academics and we have this great conversation on a subject."

Over more than 100 episodes so far, the show has explored the stories of Queen of Sheba, American showman PT Barnum, Agatha Christie - and the history of time itself.

For Robert Bruce, the show brought together Shetland comedian Marjolein Robertson and Dr Iain MacInnes, a Dornoch-based senior lecturer in history at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Jenner said: "It is a funny romp through his life talking about the politics of the 13-14th Century between Scotland and England and politics internally in Scotland."

He said Bruce would swap sides depending on which would benefit him the most, adding: "Robert Bruce was a strategist. He played the game."

The Bruce family, who originally came from France, had a claim to the Scottish throne following the death of King Alexander III.

Dr MacInnes said Bruce was ruthless in his ambition, and murdered a rival in a church and was prepared to put Scots, English and Irish "to sword".

"He makes himself king violently," said the academic.

Away from the battles and bloody campaigning, the show has examined some of the myths and contentious issues around the King of Scots - including that name.

Dr MacInnes said: "I think it's a corruption of the Bruces' name in Latin - de Bruce - but it is used to emphasis the prominence of him in Scottish history.

"It does make him stand out a bit more, but it is not likely he was known as Robert the Bruce when he was alive. He was the seventh Robert Bruce and named after his father and grandfather."

Dr MacInnes said some historians would prefer he be called Robert Bruce, as he would be if he was alive today.

He added: "Ultimately he should be King Robert I, rather than Robert the Bruce."

You're Dead to Me is available on BBC Sounds and 30 minute episodes are broadcast on Radio 4 on Saturdays.