Barbour was an "ecclesiastic" -he was archdeacon of the diocese of Aberdeen- and also an important royal official.
However he is best known for having begun a tradition of "scholarly patriotic writing" which was demonstrated most starkly in his long narrative poem about Robert the Bruce called "The Brus" (1375).
Donnachie (2011) says Barbour -who died in 1395- took "certain liberties" with available material. Nevertheless "The Brus" was based on "oral and written testimony" and must be regarded as an "invaluable historical resource."