The Battle Of

Bannockburn

June 24th MCCCXIV

A Brief History.

In 1286 A.D. King Alexander III of Scotland died in a riding accident. His only legitimate heir was his three-year-old grand daughter, Princess Margaret, who was in Norway at the time.

In July of 1290 King Edward of England arranged the marriage of his son, Edward, to the young Queen Margaret. Unfortunately Queen Margaret, also known as “the Maid Of Norway”, died while travelling from Norway to Scotland, a country she had never seen.

This left Scotland without a monarch.

In 1291 King Edward declared himself Overlord of Scotland, adding that if the Scots wanted to oppose his lordship over their country they would have to do so by force of arms. From 1296, when Edward invaded and sacked Berwick-upon-Tweed, to the mid 14th century, this is exactly what they did.

Against a series of attacks from their superior neighbour, resistance leaders such as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce managed to organise a costly but ultimately successful defence of the tradition of an independent Scottish kingdom.

The wars began when Edward took advantage of the fact that he had been chosen to arbitrate the “Great Cause”, the dispute over the succession to the crown of Scotland. Thirteen more or less serious “competitors” recognised Edwards overlordship and agreed to abide by his decision. In 1292 he settled the issue by awarding the crown to John Balliol.

Edward subsequently treated Balliol in such an overbearing manner as to drive him into opposition, which Edward then interpreted as rebellion.

Edward, and his successors, had much greater resources than the Scots at their disposal, but not so great that they could afford to garrison Scotland the same way Edward had done to North Wales.

The English could win pitched battles, as Edward had done when he defeated Balliol at Dunbar in 1296, and Wallace at Falkirk in 1298.

However, English overconfidence sometimes lead to defeat, as at Stirling Bridge in 1297 and Bannockburn in 1314.

What the English could not do was persuade the Scottish people to accept their rule. Indeed, Edwards policy of treating the Scots as rebels instead of as foreign enemies, and punishing them savagely when captured, was generally counter-productive. It strengthened their patriotism and resolve.

Even so, in spite of Edwards’ determination, there were times when Scotland’s prospects looked bleak, as after Bruce’s defeat at Methven, in 1306, by Aymer de Valens, Earl of Hereford, King Edwards lieutenant. Bruce got his own back on Valens at Loudon Hill in 1307.

Fortunately, for the Scots, Edward died in 1307 and was succeded by his ineffective (and some say effeminate) son Edward II.

This created opportunities for Bruce that he exploited to the full, finally forcing England to recognise his kingship in 1328.

Chronology of Battles

E = English victory. S = Scottish victory.

1296 Battle of DUNBAR (E)

1297 Battle of STIRLING BRIDGE (S)

1298 Battle of FALKIRK (E)

1304 Fall of STIRLING CASTLE (E)

1305 Capture and execution of William Wallace.

1306 Battle of METHVEN (E)

1307 Battle of LOUDON HILL (S)

1307 Death of Edward I

1314 Battle of BANNOCKBURN (S)

Bannockburn wasn’t the end of it all though. The Scottish wars of independence carried on for many years (see page 4).

Even though the Scots lost many of the battles they eventually won the war and retained their tradition of an Independent Scottish Kingdom.

The Eve of The War.

By June 23rd 1314, Stirling castle had been under siege by Edward Bruce, King Robert’s brother, for many months. King Edward II of England had arrived at the ford where the old Roman road crosses the Bannock burn with an army that was intended to relieve the castle at Stirling.

The English army consisted of some 40,000 men. 2,500 heavy cavalry, 2,000 Welsh archers, 500 light cavalry and the rest made up of highly trained infantry.

Robert the Bruce’s army could boast only 13,000 men .

Bruce had figured that the English would come by the old Roman road and had got to Bannockburn first.  Knowing the English army would be huge Bruce chose to fight the battle in the narrow gap between the woods surrounding the village of Bannockburn and those on Gillies hill, near where the road fords the Bannock.

When the English arrived, Sir Philip Mowbray stole out of the besieged Stirling castle and met with Edward II. Mowbray, the governor of Stirling Castle, pleaded for a force to relieve the garrison. Edward granted him 500 mounted knights

Mowbray knew the Scots positions would make using the roads impossible, so he lead the force along a narrow path, within a gorge, leading from the village to the castle. However, before they had managed to pass Bruce spotted them and dispatched a division to engage them.

The Scots charged down the bank and blocked the English path. The 500 horsemen, full of confidence, charged the Scots who grounded their spears and braced for impact.

The first wave of cavalry hit the Scots shiltron with tremendous force but the Scots held their line and many English knights crashed to their death on the wall of spears. The English lost more men with each charge but still they could not break the Scots lines. The Scots line then charged at the English. The tired and disoriented English retreated forthwith. Of the 500 knights, sent to relieve Stirling castle, less than 400 survived the engagement with the Scots. The Scots lost only six men.

This small victory elated the Scots. Although they knew there was worse to come, their victory would not only demoralise the English but proved, without doubt, what a well organised shiltron could achieve.

Once the bulk of the English army had crossed the Bannock and taken up positions facing the Scots, a young knight, Henry De Bohun (whose home was Caldicot castle), noticed a lone figure riding along the Scottish lines. Moving closer Bohun realised that the lone rider was none other than King Robert himself. Realising his quest for glory, and that he could end the war in one go, Bohun spurred his mount to a gallop and aimed his lance at Bruce. Bruce, riding a smaller horse, and armed only with an axe, held his ground until the last moment. Just before Bohun hit him Bruce moved aside and, with one blow, split Bohun’s helm and skull. While Bruce’s generals were chastising him for facing a fully armoured knight alone, risking his life, Bruce complained that he had broken the haft of his favourite battle axe.

That night both armies held vigil and prayed for a victory in the battle to come the following day.

The Battle.

By first light, on the morning of June 24th, the Scots were already at their positions. Bruce gave them one final address before they were given their blessing by the church. Edward II, seeing his opponents kneeling, laughed aloud believing they were begging for his mercy. It was pointed out to the King that, yes, they were begging for mercy, but not from him.

The first wave of English knights crossed the Bannock and prepared to charge. Bruce ordered his men out of the trees, and forming into their shiltrons, they took up positions to face the onslaught. However, within the English cavalry there was confusion as two commanders argued over who was to lead. One called for advance, but was followed by only a few men, the rest of the knights, momentarily confused, struggled to follow.

The English eventually managed a charge and hit the shiltron with tremendous force. Many men were killed outright on the Scottish pikes, others fell, or were dragged from their mounts to be crushed beneath their own men, or killed by the Scots.

The English were highly disorganized, as was now becoming apparent. Many of the Welsh archers had now crossed the burn and were given the order to shoot, before the cavalry had retreated. Unfortunately they were hitting more Englishmen than Scotsmen. Bruce now ordered his 500 horsemen to charge out of the trees and rout the archers from the field.

With the archers scattered and the cavalry in disarray, and retreating, there was great confusion in the ranks. The Scots, seeing this, lifted their pikes and advanced, in perfect formation, driving back the struggling English. What remained of the cavalry retreated and charged, each time being beaten back by the wall of spikes. With the forward ranks of knights being forced into the advancing rear ranks the English army’s fate was sealed The shiltrons pushed on and on, pushing more and more men into the horrific crush of disorganized English. Horses and men tripped and stumbled over men and horses until, as one eye witness put it, “a man could cross the burn dry shod”.

Soon almost all of the English, many of whom had not even had a chance to fight, were scattering. Many drowned as they tried to cross the Forth, others were crushed or killed in the mad rush to escape. Few English were left fighting on the field and Bruce, seeing the victory was his, gave the order to break up and give chase.

Sir James “Black” Douglas, seeing Edward II making his escape, set off in pursuit. The young King soon reached the gates of Stirling castle but, no matter how much he pleaded, Sir Philip Mowbray would not let him in. With Black Douglas close behind, Edward II had little time to argue and set off south. After many days hard riding, with Douglas in pursuit all of the way, Edward made it to Dunbar. From there a ship took the defeated King to England.

Meanwhile, back at the battle field, a few English knights and men were captured. Men of noble birth, among them Sir Aymer De Valens, Earl of Hereford. In October 1314, these men were ransomed and exchanged for King Robert the Bruce’s wife and daughter, Elizabeth and Marjorie, whom he had not seen for eight years, since they were captured by Edward I’s army.  

The Aftermath.

The Scots victory at Bannockburn wasn’t the end of the Scottish Wars of Independence, not by a long shot. There was still a lot of bad feeling between the two nations. There were still a lot of battles to be fought and won before Scotland could truly say she was an independent nation.

In 1318, the Scots captured Berwick-upon-Tweed, again.

In 1320, the Scottish barons got together, at Arbroath, and wrote a declaration, which they sent to Pope John XXII, seeking papal diplomatic support in the war of independence. The declaration concluded that if Robert the Bruce should submit to the English then the Scots would make another king, ”for so long as a hundred men remain alive we will never in any way be bowed beneath the yoke of English domination; for it is not for glory, riches or honours that we fight, but for freedom alone, that no man of worth yields up, save with his life”.

In 1327, Edward II, king of England died (Editors note:-Edward allegedly died during surgery for chronic piles, which involved the administering of a red, hot, poker to the afflicted part of the anatomy). He was succeeded by Edward III, then aged fifteen. Edwards mother, Isabella of France, and her lover, Mortimer, temporarily took control of England.

 In 1328, the Treaty of Northampton was made by Isabella and Mortimer when they found themselves running short of funds after the expensive, and embarrassing , failure of their Stanhope Park campaign against the Scots. In the treaty they recognized Robert the Bruce’s kingship and renounced all claims in, and over, Scotland. In return Bruce paid £20,000, most of which found its way into Isabella and Mortimer’s private coffers. In the opinion of young Edward III and the English people, the treaty was a sell out.

In 1329, Robert the Bruce died. He was succeeded by the four year old David II. As the new king was so young Edward Balliol, the disinherited son of John Balliol, laid claim to the Scottish throne.

1330 saw Edward III seize power from his mother and Mortimer.

On the 12th of August 1332 there was a battle at Dupplin Moor, near Perth. The disinheritedEdward Balliol had victory over a larger force of over confident Scots, fighting in support of David II. Balliol crowned himself king of Scotland but was deposed four months later.

On July the 19th 1333, Edward III led an army at the battle of Halidon Hill. Edward III had offered Edward Balliol support in regaining his crown, in return Balliol had offered Edward a large slice of Scotland. Together they laid siege to Berwick, which had been in Scottish hands since 1318. Naturally the Scots didn’t want to lose Berwick and so battle commenced. Though greatly out numbered the English fought well but the Scots were disorganised and Edward won the day.

Balliol was installed upon the Scottish throne as a puppet king and, true to his word ceded a large part of his kingdom, including Berwick, to Edward III, thereby condemning the Scots to further cross-border warfare as they tried to recover their lost territory.

Edward III lost interest in Scotland as he had a greater war to fight in France, and when Balliol died in 1356 David II regained the Scottish throne.

There were still minor cross– border disputes as both the English and the Scots made cattle raids. These raiders became known as Border Reivers and many families, on both sides of the border, can claim decadency from these raiders.

In 1604, on the death of Elizabeth I, James VI of Scotland inherited the kingdom of England and the two nations were united under one monarch. Not quite what Edward I had in mind, but the same result never-the-less.

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Reference Sources:

Literature:-

The History Today companion To British History. Collins & Brown. ISBN 1-85585-178-4

English Heritage, British Battles. Ken & Denise Guest. Harper & Collins. ISBN 0-00-470968-3

Chronicle Of Britain  And Ireland. J&L International Publishing. ISBN 1-872031-35-8

Internet:-

Www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave/history/bruce/bannock.htm

Www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave/history/bruce/banseq.htm

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A Dragons Eye publication For Anmod Dracan.

All rights reversed

Mark Sanderson/ Dragons Eye. 2003