Robert the Bruce revealed in new images based on dug-up skull

Historians have digitally reconstructed the face of the Scottish king Robert the Bruce.

The images reflect evidence that the warrior king had leprosy which disfigured his nose and upper jaw.

The facial images were based on the cast of a human skull which was excavated in the 19th century from Robert the Bruce's burial site at Dunfermline Abbey.

Robert the Bruce was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329.

His is one of Scottish history's most celebrated warriors, having defeated Edward II's English army at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

The reconstructed images depict a large and powerful head that would have been supported by a muscular neck and stocky frame.

However, historians believe the skull dug up in Dunfermline indicated Bruce suffered from an unidentified ailment, possibly leprosy, which laid him low several times during his reign and was the probable cause of his death.

The project to put a face to the skull was led by Dr Martin McGregor, a senior lecturer in Scottish history at the University of Glasgow.

He was inspired by the discovery of the skeleton of King Richard III of England beneath a car park in Leicester in 2012.

Dr McGregor said: "The case of Richard III revealed how far the technology had advanced.

"I saw an opportunity to apply the technology to the skull held here at Glasgow, first to test the credibility of its connection to Bruce and then to try to add to our knowledge of Scotland's greatest king."

The facial reconstruction was carried out by Professor Caroline Wilkinson from John Moores University.

She said: "Using the skull cast, we could accurately establish the muscle formation from the positions of the skull bones to determine the shape and structure of the face.

"But what the reconstruction cannot show is the colour of his eyes, his skin tones and the colour of his hair.

"We produced two versions - one without leprosy and one with a mild representation of leprosy.

"He may have had leprosy but, if he did, it is likely that it did not manifest strongly on his face, as this is not documented."