Sheltron A sheltron ( also sceld - trome , schiltrom or shiltron ) is a compact body of troops forming a battle array , shield wall or phalanx . The term is most often associated with Scottish pike formations during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries . Etymology . The term dates from at least 1000 AD and derives from Old English roots expressing the idea of a " shield - troop " . Some researchers have also posited this etymological relation may show the schiltron is directly descended from the Anglo - Saxon shield wall , and still others give evidence " schiltron " is a name derived from a Viking circular formation ( generally no less than a thousand fighters ) in extremely close formation , intended to present an enemy ' s cavalry charge with an " infinite " obstacle ( that is , a perimeter horses refuse to breach ) . Matters are confused by the fact that the term in Middle English could clearly refer to a body of soldiers without reference to formation , including cavalry and archers . The first mention of the schiltron as a specific formation of spearmen appears to be at the Battle of Falkirk in 1297 . There is , however , no reason to believe this is the first time such a formation was used and , indeed , may have had a long previous history in Scotland , as the Picts used to employ spears in block formation as the backbone of their armies . Examples of the formation . Circular schiltrons . There are two recorded Scottish instances of circular schiltrons : William Wallace ' s army at Falkirk ( 1298 ) , and Thomas Randolph ' s forces on the first day of Bannockburn ( 1314 ) . The circular formation is essentially static . At Falkirk , the formation was fortified by driving stakes into the ground before the men , with ropes between . Charles Oman describes the formation thus : Rectilinear schiltrons . There are numerous accounts of rectilinear schiltrons — they were employed at the battles of Glen Trool ( 1307 ) , Bannockburn ( the main battle ) , Myton ( 1319 ) , Dupplin Muir ( 1332 ) , Culblean ( 1335 ) , Halidon Hill ( 1333 ) , Neville ' s Cross ( 1346 ) and Otterburn ( 1388 ) . Unlike the circular schiltron , the rectilinear formation was capable of both defensive and offensive action . The offensive use of the schiltron is a tactical development credited to Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn . He had drilled his troops in the offensive use of the pike ( requiring great discipline ) and he was able to fight the English forces on flat , firm ground suitable for their large force of cavalry . Bruce ' s new tactic was a response to a crushing defeat for the Scots at Falkirk when the first recorded use of the schiltron by a Scottish army failed in the face of a combination of Welsh conscripted longbowmen , English archers and English cavalry . Detailed descriptions of the formation are rare but those given by English chroniclers of Bannockburn demonstrate the essential features : English examples . The term schiltron is also used by Barbour to describe English infantry at Bannockburn . It is also used by the author of the Lanercost Chronicle to describe the English spearmen at the Battle of Boroughbridge ( 1322 ) . In both cases , a rectilinear formation is being described , though that at Boroughbridge is curved , with its flanks bent back . European parallels . While doubtless a Scottish development , the schiltron fits into a Northern European context of infantry combat . Parallels with Scandinavian practice have already been drawn ( see Etymology above ) and the multiple - ranked tightly - packed infantry formations were standard across Europe during the Middle Ages . Schiltron - like formations were also used by the Welsh troops at the battles of Orewin Bridge ( 1282 ) and Maes Moydog ( 1295 ) , although this tactic was generally unsuccessful for the Welsh . Perhaps the closest parallel is with the armies of medieval Flanders . Here too can be seen the deep blocks of fighting men , with rows of spears braced in the earth to resist cavalry . The greatest of their battles was possibly Courtrai in 1302 , where the Flemings destroyed a French army of knights and foot - soldiers . The Flemings also made great use of a circular " crown - shaped " formation , similar to those used at Falkirk and Bannockburn . A similar square formation ( " formação em quadrado " ) of pike armed foot soldiers was used by the British assisted Portuguese troops against Castillian armies in the late 14th century , namely at Aljubarrota ( 1385 ) .