Hilary Duff was stunned to learn on Monday's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? that she's related to the most important king in Scottish history.
The 30-year-old actress went into TLC ancestry show knowing that her dad Robert Duff came from a prominent, well-off family, but knowing little of her mother Susan Colleen Cobb's 'poor Southern roots.'
Experts amazingly managed to trace her history to the other side of the pond — discovering that her 21 times great grandfather was royalty in the 13th century and one of the most important figures in Scottish history, the King of Scots, Robert the Bruce.
Family history: Hilary Duff was stunned to learn on Monday's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? that she's a descendant of the most important king in Scottish history
Deemed one of the most famous warriors of his country, he led his nation's knights in two separate wars at the same time — both a civil war as well as one against English rule, ultimately victorious and leading to the independence of Scotland.
'If this was the 13th century you would be a princess,' genealogist Nick Barratt told her as she visited Scotland, adding: 'I feel I should bow!
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Share 18 shares'You're a royal. And not only that, Robert the Bruce for me is the superhero of the medieval kings.'
The Lizzie McGuire star got to walk in Dunfermline Abbey where Robert the Bruce walked himself.
Medieval king: The 30-year-old actress walked in Dunfermline Abbey where Robert the Bruce walked himself centuries ago
Scottish king: English genealogist Nick Barratt showed Hilary her family tree dating back to Robert the Bruce, King of Scots
She also viewed his burial spot, saying: 'Crazy to think I've gone my whole life never hearing of this man, and now I'm finding out that he's my 21-times great grandfather and also such a huge important part of history and such a brave man.'
Centuries later, some of her family met a gruesome end in Scotland — with her nine times great grandfather Sir Robert Spottiswoode being publicly beheaded as part of what Barratt called a 'very bloody civil war.'
'He was the king's man so he gambled everything on the king winning the war. And the king didn't,' Barratt told her.
Burial spot: The Lizzie McGuire star also viewed the burial spot of Robert the Bruce in the abbey
Famous warrior: Robert was a famous warrior and is revered in Scotland as a national hero
The family astonishingly continued to play a crucial part in history once one relative arrived in America — leading the fight against the real-life Pirates of the Caribbean, including the man Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow was modeled on.
After the civil war forced them from Scotland, Sir Robert's grandson Alexander Spotswood — Hilary's seven times great grandfather — was sent to America by English aristocracy to be the lieutenant governor of the colony of Virginia, effectively running Virginia for British royalty.
'He had to balance the will of the crown and the interests of the people of Virginia,' Warren Hofstra, professor of history at Shenandoah University, told her. 'He was also responsible for the defense and the safety of the colony.'
American history: Dr. Warren Hofstra of Shenandoah University informed Hilary that her family played a crucial role in US history, too
Virginia governor: Hilary's seven times great grandfather Alexander Spotswood was sent to America by English aristocracy to be the lieutenant governor of the colony of Virginia, effectively running Virginia for British royalty
His prominence meant there were still copies of letters he wrote in 1716 through 1718 where he started warning of the threat of what Hofstra insisted where the 'pirates of the Caribbean.'
'That's insane!' Hilary said, adding: 'I think I feel proud of him.'
Letters and ancient English newspaper articles showed how his warning eventually led to a 1717 proclamation by the King of England where the governor was 'charged with capturing them and he can use whatever means he likes.'
Pirates problem: Letters written by Alexander Spotswood in 1716 through 1718 were made available for Hilary to read
Another historian, Professor of History Douglas Burgess, explained: 'They can be captured and killed anywhere they're found by anyone that finds them. And they'd be rewarded for it.'
The historical material showed how the actress's ancestor was focused on trapping a pirate known as Captain Thatch, or Blackbeard, who was deemed the biggest threat with at least 400 men aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge.
'Tough and stubborn and scary as hell. All I can think of is Jack Sparrow right now,' Hilary laughed, with Burgess saying: 'That is not an accident.'
Infamous pirate: Letters showed Alexander dealing with the infamous pirate Blackbeard
'Blackbeard is actually the inspiration for Johnny Depp's character.'
She learned that it eventually led to a deadly battle with Blackbeard's men, one in which the notorious pirate was eventually killed, beheaded — and with his head mounted on the front of one of the victorious boats to be shown off when it reached land weeks later.
'It was probably pretty macabre,' the historian admitted as Hilary looked disgusted and said: 'Gross!'
The actress was understandably stunned to learn her family's important history.
'It just gets crazier and crazier,' she said. 'I feel honored.'
Crazy history: Hilary was shocked to learn of her crazy family history
She also felt particularly thrilled to be able to share it all with her son, Luca, now six, saying: 'I couldn't dream this stuff up and now I get to hold these stories close to my heart and share them with my son.
'He's loved pretending to be a knight, and now I get to tell him that actually in our blood and in our history his grandfather was a king.
'His favorite thing in the world is going to bed and me telling his stories, so now I have really cool, interesting stories to tell him that are true about his family.
Family stories: The actress said she was looking forward to telling her six-year-old son Luca about his grandfather being a king
'There are so many stories and so much to be proud of. To be able to share that with Luca and maybe him being able to learn of the long line of truly brave and courageous and respected people will instill him wanting to do something himself like that.'
She also seemed thrilled that it all came from her mother's side of the family.
Before making all her discoveries, she had admitted: 'I know that my dad was born into money and I think it was a hard thing for my dad's mother to accept my mom right away because she didn't come from money.
Family portrait: Hilary said that her father Robert was born into money but her mother Susan was from 'super poor' Southern roots
'My whole life, all I've ever heard is that my mom grew up super poor and on the rough side of town. I don't think it was an easy upbringing.'
Saying it made her mom a 'spitfire' who 'fought' and 'worked hard' as she wanted better, it also meant she had a 'big loss of information' from her mother's side of the family while all the historical stories stemmed from her paternal side.
She seemed thrilled that her history with powerful, strong-willed relatives could explain some of their character, with her saying: 'I think of maybe my mom or maybe myself of having those qualities of, ''Go get 'em, we can do this.''
Mom's side: The singer was excited to learn that her mother's side of the family had roots tracing back to Scottish royalty
'I feel really excited for my mom's side of the family. Knowing her poor Southern roots, it's a really cool bow to tie around the story.'
Before her amazing discoveries on the show, Hilary had said: 'My parents always told my sister and I that we were a Heinz 57 — just made up of a bunch of different stuff, like Dutch and Scottish and Irish and German….'
Afterward she said: 'We are still Heinz 57, but here's more specifics. I mean, really it's an amazing family tree.'
Tears in her eyes, she also said her family's history of bravery 'will be a really good secret weapon to use on myself' whenever she feels scared.
Secret weapon: Hilary said the family history lesson was a 'really cool bow to tie' around her mother's poor Southern roots
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