Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn approximately 20,000 men Battle Summary: In the spring of 1314, Edward Bruce, brother of King Robert the Bruce, laid siege to English-held Stirling Castle . Unable to make any significant progress, he struck a deal with the castle's commander, Sir Philip Moubray, that if the castle was not relieved by Midsummer Day (June 24) it would be surrendered to the Scots. By the terms of the deal a large English force was required to arrive within three miles of the castle by the specified date. This arrangement displeased both King Robert, who wished to avoid pitched battles, and King Edward II who viewed the potential loss of the castle as a blow to his prestige. Seeing an opportunity to regain the Scottish lands lost since his father's death in 1307, Edward prepared to march north that summer. Assembling a force numbering around 20,000 men, the army included seasoned veterans of the Scottish campaigns such as the Earl of Pembroke, Henry de Beaumont, and Robert Clifford.

Departing Berwick-upon-Tweed on June 17, it moved north through Edinburgh and arrived south of Stirling on the 23rd. Long aware of Edward's intentions, Bruce was able to assemble 6,000-7,000 skilled troops as well as 500 cavalry, under Sir Robert Keith, and approximately 2,000 "small folk." With the advantage of time, Bruce was able train his soldiers and better prepare them for the coming battle. The basic Scottish unit, the schiltron (shield-troop) consisted of around 500 spearmen fighting as a cohesive unit. As the immobility of schiltron had been fatal at the Battle of Falkirk , Bruce instructed his soldiers in fighting on the move. As the English marched north, Bruce shifted his army to the New Park, a wooded area overlooking the Falkirk-Stirling road, a low-lying plain known as the Carse, as well as a small stream, the Bannock Burn, and its nearby marshes.

As the road offered some of the only firm ground on which the English heavy cavalry could operate, it was Bruce's goal to force Edward to move right, over the Carse, in order to reach Stirling. To accomplish this, camouflaged pits, three feet deep and containing caltrops, were dug on both sides of the road. Once Edward's army was on the Carse, it would be constricted by the Bannock Burn and its wetlands and forced to fight on a narrow front, thus negating its superior numbers. Despite this commanding position, Bruce debated giving battle until the last minute but was swayed by reports that English morale was low. On June 23, Moubray arrived in Edward's camp and told the king that battle was not necessary as the terms of the bargain had been met. This advice was ignored, as part of the English army, led by the Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, moved to attack Bruce's division at the south end of the New Park. As the English approached, Sir Henry de Bohun, nephew of the Earl of Hereford, spotted Bruce riding in front of his troops and charged.

The Scottish king, unarmored and armed with only a battle axe, turned and met Bohun's charge. Evading the knight 's lance, Bruce cleaved Bohun's head in two with his axe. Chastised by his commanders for taking such a risk, Bruce simply complained that he had broken his axe. The incident helped inspire the Scots and they, with aid of the pits, drove off Gloucester and Hereford's attack. To the north, a small English force led by Henry de Beaumont and Robert Clifford was also beaten off by the Scottish division of the Earl of Moray. In both cases, the English cavalry was defeated by the solid wall of Scottish spears. Unable to move up the road, Edward's army moved to the right, crossing the Bannock Burn, and camped for the night on the Carse. At dawn on the 24th, with Edward's army surrounded on three sides by the Bannock Burn, Bruce turned to the offensive. Advancing in four divisions, led by Edward Bruce, James Douglas, the Earl of Moray, and the king, the Scottish army moved towards the English. As they drew near, they paused and knelt in prayer.

Seeing this, Edward reportedly exclaimed, "Ha! they kneel for mercy!" To which an aid replied, "Yea sire, they kneel for mercy, but not from you. These men will conqueror or die." As the Scots resumed their advance, the English rushed to form up, which proved difficult in confined space between the waters. Almost immediately, the Earl of Gloucester charged forward with his men. Colliding with the spears of Edward Bruce's division, Gloucester was killed and his charge broken. The Scottish army then reached the English, engaging them along the entire front. Trapped and pressed between the Scots and the waters, the English were unable to assume their battle formations and soon their army became a disorganized mass. Pushing forward, the Scots soon began to gain ground, with the English dead and wounded being trampled. Driving home their assault with cries of "Press on! Press on! the Scots' attack forced many in the English rear to flee back across the Bannock Burn. Finally, the English were able to deploy their archers to attack the Scottish left. Seeing this new threat, Bruce ordered Sir Robert Keith to attack them with his light cavalry.

Riding forward, Keith's men struck the archers, driving them from the field. As the English lines began to waver, the call went up "On them, on them! They fail!" Surging with renewed strength, the Scots pressed home the attack. They were aided by the arrival of the "small folk" (those lacking training or weapons) who had been held in reserve. Their arrival, coupled with Edward fleeing the field, led to the English army's collapse and a rout ensued. Aftermath: The Battle of Bannockburn became the greatest victory in the history of Scotland. While full recognition of Scottish independence was still several years off, Bruce had driven the English from Scotland and secured his position as king. While exact numbers of Scottish casualties are not known, they are believed to have been light. English losses are not known with precision but may have ranged from 4,000-11,000 men. Following the battle, Edward raced south and finally found safety at Dunbar Castle. He never again returned to Scotland.

Battle of Bannockburn ⋆ History Channel Podcasts Battle of Bannockburn On this day in 1314, in what became known as the Battle of Bannockburn, Scottish troops under the command of Robert the Bruce defeated English troops under the command of Edward II. This battle, in which the Scots were outnumbered four to one, was decisive in securing Scotland’s independence from England 13 years later. At the heart of the battle was Stirling Castle. In spring of 1314 the Scotts under Edward Bruce laid siege to Stirling Castle, under the control of Sir Philip of Mowbray. Unable to capture the castle, Bruce made a pact with Mowbray that if no relief came to him by midsummer 1314, the castle would be surrendered to Bruce. The pact allowed the English under Edward II ample time to assemble a large army. Stirling was critical and its loss would be an embarrassment to the English. Credit: Timewatch Images / Alamy Edward mobilized a massive army—summoning some 2,000 horses and 25,000 infantry, by far the largest English army ever to invade Scotland.

By contrast, the Scots army numbered around 6,000. Though they were small, the Scots army was battle-hardened after years of guerrilla warfare. In June 1314 Edward approached Stirling only to find the road to the castle blocked by the Scots army, led by Robert the Bruce. He had positioned himself strategically so that natural obstacles of the landscape lay to the east and west of the Scots army, with Stirling Castle behind. The battle opened with one of the most celebrated contests in Scottish history. As the English vanguard charged and clashed with the Scots, Sir Henry de Bohun, and English knight, spotted Robert the Bruce and aimed to capture or kill the Scots king. He lowered his lance and charged. Bruce met the charge, dodged the lance, and brought his battle-axe down on de Bohun, striking him dead. Elated, the Scots forced the English to withdraw. The Scots won the first day and their morale was high. At this critical moment, Sir Alexander Seton, a Scots noble in the English army, defected to the Scots, bringing them vital information. He relayed the English army’s confined position and its low morale.

Enlightened, Robert the Bruce decided to face the English in an open battle. The next morning, after a series of religious rites intended to bring good fortune, the Scots army met the English. After an archery duel, several Scots phalanxes advanced and hemmed in the English. Meanwhile, others were engaged in hand-to-hand combat and the English began to give ground. From here, the battle quickened: Edward was escorted away, panic set in, and the Scots began to hack their way into the disintegrating English army. In the rout that followed, hundreds of men and horses were drowned in the bog trying to escape. With thousands of English infantry now dead, the battle was over. Robert the Bruce gained total military control of Scotland, won Scotland’s de facto independence, and consolidated his kingship. The Scots decisive victory paved the way for Scottish independence from England some 13 years later. As such, the Battle of Bannockburn is considered the greatest victory in the history of Scotland.

This Day in History Robert the Bruce Battle of Bannockburn letter discovered - BBC News BBC News Robert the Bruce Battle of Bannockburn letter discovered 1 June 2013 Close share panel Media captionThe document was written by Robert the Bruce of Scotland to Edward II of England A copy of an unknown Robert the Bruce letter from the build-up to the Battle of Bannockburn has been discovered. The letter, sent in 1310, asks English King Edward II to stop persecuting the Scots. It shows Robert asserting his God-given authority as king of the Scots and addressing Edward as his equal. The script, thought to have been transcribed from the original, was discovered by chance by a professor of Scottish history at Glasgow University. Bruce's Scottish troops defeated the English army at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The new letter was found in a document which dates from about the turn of the 16th Century and has presented historians with fresh information about a pivotal time in the wars of Scottish independence. Bottom line The missive reveals how Robert made an appeal for peace when faced with an English army marching into the heart of Scotland but on the understanding that Edward would recognise Scottish independence.

King Edward was growing increasingly unpopular with the nobles in his own court, according to historians, while Robert was slowly reclaiming power north of the border by winning the hearts and minds of the Scottish people. The writing of this letter should be seen as a bold move by Bruce who had perhaps recognised that the tables were turning Prof Dauvit Broun Prof Dauvit Broun, who made the discovery at the British Library, said: "The letter reveals a couple of things. Firstly, Bruce's tone is extremely conciliatory. He seems to be offering to do anything possible to establish peace. However, he is nonetheless plainly addressing Edward as one king to another.

"There is no doubt that the bottom line here is that Edward should recognise Robert as king of the Scots, and the Scots as separate from the English." He added: "The writing of this letter should be seen as a bold move by Bruce who had perhaps recognised that the tables were turning and he could stand his ground in the face of an advancing English army and open negotiations with the king." The letter, translated from its original Latin, states: "To the most serene prince the lord Edward by God's grace illustrious king of England, (from) Robert by the same grace king of Scots." It adds: "Our humbleness has led us, now and at other times, to beseech your highness more devoutly so that, having God and public decency in sight, you would take pains to cease from our persecution and the disturbance of the people of our kingdom in order that devastation and the spilling of a neighbour's blood may henceforth stop." Battle anniversary By the time of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Bruce had taken all the strongholds except Stirling and those near the English border.

In the end, Bruce's move in 1310 paid off as King Edward took his army south again to Berwick where he remained until July the next year. The next time he returned north, three years later, Edward was beaten at Bannockburn. Preparations are under way in Scotland to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the decisive Battle of Bannockburn next year. The Battle of Bannockburn BANNOCKBURN JUNE 24, 1314 English King Edward II, along with approximately 20,000 troops, advanced through the Lowlands of Scotland with relative ease. Arriving at Edinburgh on June 17, 1314, the army progressed to Leith, where they stopped for five days to collect supplies. The next step for the invading army was a 22-mile forced march to Falkirk. On Saturday June 23rd they progressed along the old Roman road from Falkirk, advancing on Stirling Castle, which they meant to relieve. Scottish King Robert the Bruce strategically blocked Edward's path, planting his men in the dense wood of the New Park and set his standard in the Borestone there.

This meant that he had an impassable scrub on his right, the stream-riddled and boggy Carse on his left, Stirling Castle behind him and the Bannock Burn, which Edward would have to cross, before him. Among Bruce's army is said to have been a contingent of men from the "youthful" Clan Cameron, perhaps being led by John de Cameron, the supposed VII Chief and Captain of Clan Cameron. It should be noted that this collection of West Highlanders would probably not have been referred to as "Clan Cameron" at this early period. As to the Cameron men's numbers, it is thought that they made up only a very slight portion of Bruce's 5,500 trained men. In addition to being outnumbered approximately four-to-one, the Scots brought just 500 light cavalry to the field, in comparison to Edward's 2,000 heavy cavalry. Edward also brought 17,000 archers and spear-wielding foot soldiers, in comparison to the "few" archers which the Scots army had recruited from the Ettrick Forest.

As the battle began that June 24th Edward II foolishly advanced his cavalry across the Bannock Burn, taking up a position on the Carse between the Pelstream Burn and the Bannock Burn, falling into Bruce's trap by confining his mobile force into an impossibly narrow area. Robert the Bruce's brother Edward, commanding the men of Galloway, Aberdeen and the south-east Highlands, met the English frontal assault. Edward Bruce's schiltrons repulsed the English cavalry, killing their commander. When the English archers opened their massive assault upon the Scottish army's left flank, Bruce immediately brought his cavalry into action, driving the celebrated bowmen from the field. Then, at this key moment of battle, Bruce brought in his reserve division so explosively that the rapidly retreating English army became unavoidable targets for their own back line of archers. Edward II decided at this point that he had seen enough, rushing to the relative safety of Stirling Castle. However, Sir Phillip Mowbray, governor of the castle, refused to admit him entry. Consequently, Edward II fled towards Dunbar. Knowing that their king had deserted them left the English army with little fighting spirit.

Suddenly, from behind Coxet Hill, there appeared the "small folk," kept in reserve for this purpose. To the battle-weary eyes of the English, this looked like a wild attack by fresh Scottish troops. The English right flank tried to follow their King from the field, their center headed for the waters of the Forth, and their left fell back like "human debris" into the Bannock Burn. Not only were the English totally defeated in pitched battle, but Bruce grabbed valuable hostages and Edward II's mighty train of equipment, all £200,000 of it, was left to the Scots. Although it would be an additional fourteen years until the war with England was officially over, there was no doubt that Robert the Bruce and his men had won its most decisive battle. Battle of Bannockburn - 必应 Sign in Battle of Bannockburn The Battle of Bannockburn (Blàr Allt nam Bànag, often mistakenly called Blàr Allt a' Bhonnaich in Scottish Gaelic) (24 June 1314) was a significant Scottish victory in the First War of Scottish Independence, and a landmark in Scottish history.

Stirling Castle, a Scots royal fortress, occupied by the English, was under siege by the Scottish army. The English king, Edward II, assembled a formidable force to relieve it. This attempt failed, and his army was defeated in a pitched battle by a smaller army commanded by the King of Scots, Robert the Bruce. Battle of Bannockburn Background The Wars of Scottish Independence between England and Scotland began in 1296 and initially the English were successful under the command of Edward I, having won victories at the Battle of Dunbar (1296) and at the Capture of Berwick (1296). The removal of John Balliol from the Scottish throne also contributed to the English success. The Scots had been victorious in defeating the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, however this was countered by Edward I's victory at the Battle of Falkirk (1298). By 1304 Scotland had been conquered, but in 1306 Robert the Bruce seized the Scottish throne and the war was reopened.

Edward II of England came to the throne in 1307 but was incapable of providing the determined leadership that had been shown by his father, Edward I, and the English position soon became more difficult. Stirling Castle was one of the most important castles that was held by the English as it commanded the route north into the Scottish Highlands. It was besieged in 1314 by Robert the Bruce's brother, Edward Bruce, and an agreement was made that if the castle was not relieved by mid-summer then it would be surrendered to the Scots. The English could not ignore this challenge and military preparations were made for a substantial campaign in which the English army probably numbered 2,000 cavalry and 15,000 infantry, many of whom would have been longbowmen. The Scottish army probably numbered between 7,000 and 10,000 men, of whom no more than 500 would have been mounted. Unlike the heavily armoured English cavalry, the Scottish cavalry would have been light horsemen who were good for skirmishing and reconnaissance but were not suitable for charging the enemy lines. The Scottish infantry would have had axes, swords and pikes, with few bowmen among them.

The precise size of the English force relative to the Scottish forces is unclear but estimates range from as much as at least two or three times the size of the army Bruce had been able to gather, to as little as only 50% larger. Battle of Bannockburn Prelude Edward II and his advisors were aware of the places that the Scots were likely to challenge them and sent out orders for their troops to prepare for an enemy established in boggy ground near to the River Forth, near Stirling. The English appear to have advanced in four divisions whereas the Scots were in three divisions, known as 'schiltrons' which were strong defensive circles of men bristling with pikes. Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, commanded the Scottish vanguard, which was stationed about a mile to the south of Stirling, near the church of St. Ninian, while the king commanded the rearguard at the entrance to the New Park. His brother Edward led the third division. According to Barbour, there was a fourth division nominally under the youthful Walter the Steward, but actually under the command of Sir James Douglas.

The Scottish archers used yew-stave longbows and though these were not weaker or inferior to English longbows, there were fewer Scottish archers than English archers, possibly numbering only 500. These archers played little part in the battle. There is firsthand evidence in a poem by the captured Carmelite friar Robert Baston, written just after the battle, that one or both sides employed slingers and crossbowmen. Location of the battlefield There is some confusion over the exact site of the Battle of Bannockburn, although most modern historians agree that the traditional site, where a visitor centre and statue have been erected, is not the correct one. Although a large number of possible alternatives have been proposed, most can be dismissed leaving two serious contenders: the area of peaty ground known as the Dryfield outside the village of Balquhiderock, about three-quarters of a mile to the east of the traditional site, and the Carse of Balquhiderock, about a mile and a half north-east of the traditional site, accepted by the National Trust as the most likely candidate.

First day of battle Most medieval battles were short-lived, lasting only a few hours, therefore the Battle of Bannockburn is unusual in that it lasted for two days. On 23 June 1314 two of the English cavalry formations advanced, the first commanded by the Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Hereford. They encountered a body of Scots, among them Robert the Bruce himself. A celebrated single combat then took place between Bruce and Henry de Bohun who was the nephew of the Earl of Hereford. Bohun charged at Bruce and when the two passed side by side, Bruce split Bohun's head with his axe. The Scots then rushed upon the English under Gloucester and Hereford who struggled back over the Bannockburn. The second English cavalry force was commanded by Robert Clifford and Henry de Beaumont and included Sir Thomas de Grey of Heaton, father of the chronicler Thomas Grey whose account of events follows; "Robert Lord de Clifford and Henry de Beaumont, with three hundred men-at-arms, made a circuit upon the other side of the wood towards the castle, keeping the open ground.

Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, Robert de Brus's nephew, who was leader of the Scottish advanced guard, hearing that his uncle had repulsed the advanced guard of the English on the other side of the wood, thought that he must have his share, and issuing from the wood with his division marched across the open ground towards the two afore-named lords. Sir Henry de Beaumont called to his men: "Let us wait a little; let them come on; give them room" "Sir," said Sir Thomas Gray, "I doubt that whatever you give them now, they will have all too soon" "Very well" exclaimed the said Henry, if you are afraid, be off" "Sir," answered the said Thomas, "it is not from fear that I shall fly this day.\ So saying he spurred in between Beaumont and Sir William Deyncourt, and charged into the thick of the enemy. William was killed, Thomas was taken prisoner, his horse being killed on the pikes, and he himself carried off with the Scots on foot when they marched off, having utterly routed the squadron of the said two lords.

Some of the English fled to the castle, others to the king's army, which having already left the road through the wood had debouched upon a plain near the water of Forth beyond Bannockburn, an evil, deep, wet marsh, where the said English army unharnessed and remained all night, having sadly lost confidence and being too much disaffected by the events of the day." Second day of battle Under nightfall the English forces crossed the stream that is known as the Bannock Burn, establishing their position on the plain beyond it. A Scottish knight, Alexander Seton, who was fighting in the service of Edward II of England, deserted the English camp and told Bruce of the low English morale, encouraging Bruce to attack them. In the morning the Scots then advanced from New Park. Not long after daybreak, the Scots spearmen began to move towards the English. Edward was surprised to see Robert's army emerge from the cover of the woods. As Bruce's army drew nearer, they paused and knelt in prayer. Edward is supposed to have said in surprise "They pray for mercy!" "For mercy, yes," one of his attendants replied, "But from God, not you.

These men will conquer or die." The English responded to the Scots advance with a charge of their own, led by the Earl of Gloucester. Gloucester had argued with the Earl of Hereford over who should lead the vanguard into battle, and argued with the king that the battle should be postponed. This led the king to accuse him of cowardice, which perhaps goaded Gloucester into the charge. Few accompanied Gloucester in his charge and when he reached the Scottish lines he was quickly surrounded and killed. Gradually the English were pushed back and ground down by the Scots' schiltrons. The English longbowmen attempted to support the advance of the knights but were ordered to cease fire as they were causing casualties among their own. An attempt to employ the English and Welsh longbowmen to shoot at the advancing Scots from their flank failed when they were dispersed by the Scottish 500-horse light cavalry under the Marischal Sir Robert Keith The English cavalry was hemmed in making it difficult for them to manoeuvre. As a result, the English were unable to hold their formations and broke ranks.

It soon became clear to Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke and Giles d'Argentan (reputedly the third best knight in Europe) that the English had lost and Edward II needed to be led to safety at all costs, so, seizing his horse's reins, dragged him away, and were closely followed by five hundred knights of the royal bodyguard. Once they were clear of the battle d'Argentan turned to the king, said "Sire, your protection was committed to me, but since you are safely on your way, I will bid you farewell for never yet have I fled from a battle, nor will I now." and turned his horse to charge back into the ranks of Scottish where he was overborn and slain. Bannockburn Visitor Centre In 1932 the Bannockburn Preservation Committee, under Edward Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, presented lands to the National Trust for Scotland. Further lands were purchased in 1960 and 1965 to facilitate visitor access. A modern monument stands in a field above the battle site, where the warring parties are believed to have camped on the night before the battle.

The monument consists of two hemicircular walls depicting the opposing parties. Nearby stands the 1960s statue of Bruce by Pilkington Jackson. The monument, and the associated visitor centre, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. The battlefield has been included in the Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland and protected by Historic Scotland under the Historic Environment (Amendment) Act 2011. Alley to the monument Statue of Robert the Bruce by Pilkington Jackson View of the circular walls and the flag pole Close Up of the statue The National Trust for Scotland operates the Bannockburn Visitor Centre (previously known as the Bannockburn Heritage Centre), which is open daily from March through October. On 31 October 2012 the building was closed for demolition and replacement by a new design, inspired by traditional Scottish buildings, by Reiach and Hall Architects. The project is a partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The battlefield's new visitor centre - now rebranded as the Bannockburn Visitor Centre - opened in March 2014.

One of the top attractions created by a £9m redevelopment of the centre and the nearby battlefield memorial is a computerised multiplayer game. Battle of Bannockburn References ^ Nusbacher, Aryeh (2000). The Battle of Bannockburn 1314. Stroud: Tempus. p.85. ISBN0-7524-1783-5. ^ Oman, Charles (1991) . A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages Vol. II. London: Greenhill Books. p.88. ISBN1-85367-105-3. ^ Armstrong, Pete (2002). Bannockburn. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing. p.43. ISBN1-85532-609-4. ^ Grant, R.G. (2008), Battle: A visual journey through 5,000 years of combat, DK Publishing,p.118. ^ Sadler, John, Scottish Battles, (Biddles Ltd., 1998), 52–54. ^ Grant, 118.

^ a b Mackenzie, p.88 referencing Walsingham, p.141 ^ Sadler, 52. ^ a b c d Reese, p.174 ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Black, Jeremy. (2005). The Seventy Great Battles of All Time. pp. 71–73. Thames & Hudson Ltd. ISBN 0-500-25125-8. ^ Watson, F., "In Our Time: The Battle of Bannockburn", BBC Radio, 3 February 2011 ^ Nicholson, Later Middle Ages pp.87–89 ^ Strickland, Matthew; Hardy,Robert (2005). The Great Warbow. Stroud: Sutton. p.162. ISBN0-7509-3167-1.

^ The Chronicle of Lanercost says that on the second day of the battle, "the English archers were thrown forward before the line, and the Scottish archers engaged them, a few being killed and wounded on either side; but the King of England's archers quickly put the others to flight." The Chronicle of Lanercost, 1272–1346: Translated, with notes by Sir Herbert Maxwell. p. 206 ^ Walter Bower, Scotichronicon,Book XII, p. 371 ^ Mackenzie, W. M. (1913). The Battle of Bannockburn: a Study in Mediaeval Warfare, Publisher: James MacLehose; Glasgow. ^ Barrow, Geoffrey W.S. (1998). Robert Bruce & The Community of The Realm of Scotland. ISBN 0-85224-604-8 ^ Barron, E.M., The Scottish War of Independence: a Critical Study, 1934 ^ Christison, Philip, Bannockburn: The Story of the Battle, 1960, Edinburgh: The National Trust for Scotland. ^ Hyland, Ann.

The Warhorse 1250–1600, UK: Sutton Publishing, 1998, p 38 ^ The Battle of Bannockburn britishbattles.com. Retrieved 14 June 2014. ^ Maxwell 1907 ^ a b c Scott 1982 ^ Scott 1982, p.159 Armstrong, Pete (illustrated by Graham Turner), Bannockburn 1314: Robert Bruce's Great Victory, Osprey Publishing, 2002 ISBN 1-85532-609-4 Barrow, G. W. S., Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, 1988,ISBN 0-85224-604-8 Brown, C.A., "Bannockburn 1314",History Press,Stroud, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7524-4600-4. Brown, C.A., Robert the Bruce. A life Chronicled. Brown, Michael (2008). Bannockburn.

The Scottish War and the British Isles 1307-1323. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Brown, M., Wars of Scotland Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bannockburn". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. Mackenzie, W. M., Bannockburn: A Study in Medieval Warfare, The Strong Oak Press, Stevenage 1989 (first published 1913), ISBN 1-871048-03-6 MacNamee, C., The Wars of the Bruces Nicholson, R., Scotland-the Later Middle Ages, 1974. Prestwich, M., The Three Edwards: War and State in England, 1272–1377, 1980 Ramsay, J. H., The Genesis of Lancaster, 1307–99, 1913.

Reese, P., Bannockburn, Canongate, Edinburgh, 2003, ISBN 1-84195-465-9 Robert the Bruce Biography -Biography Online About Robert the Bruce Biography Robert the Bruce (1274-1329). King of Scotland from 1306, until his death in 1329. Hero of the Scottish War of Independence Robert the Bruce was probably born in Turnberry Castle in Ayrshire, to Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale. His father could claim descent from David I, and some distant connection to the Scottish throne. In 1292, John Balliol, was selected by the Scottish auditors to be the King of Scotland. However, there was dispute amongst the Scottish Lords, and Edward I , the King of England, was asked to adjudicate. Edward I increasingly reduced power of John Balliol, making Scotland a vassal of England. Because John Balliol was Robert the Bruce’s rival to the throne, in 1296, Robert the Bruce and his father signed an oath of loyalty to Edward I at Berwick Upon Tweed.

In 1297, there was a growing Scottish rebellion against English rule, led by the charismatic William Wallace . As Edward I was away in France, he requested Robert the Bruce and other Scottish Lords to defeat the Scottish rebels. Initially, they had supported Edward I’s invasion of Scotland because they wanted to see John Balliol removed from power. However, whilst travelling north to Douglas, on the orders of Edward, Robert the Bruce had a change of heart and decided to join the Scottish rebels. He stated: “No man holds his flesh and blood in hatred, and I am no exception. I must join my own people and the nation in whom I was born.” Despite an initial victory at Stirling Bridge, internal disputes amongst the Scottish, led to Wallace’s defeated by the English in 1298. In defeat, Robert the Bruce again signed a treaty with the English, and he was able to keep his lands in return for pledging loyalty to Edward I. Along with John Comyn, Balliol’s nephew, he was made a ‘Guardian of Scotland’. However, Edward had made two bitter rivals (Comyn and Bruce) for the Scottish throne joint guardians.

In 1306, Robert the Bruce argued with Comyn, accusing Comyn of treachery which he disputed. Bruce stabbed and killed Comyn at a church in Dumfries. This led to his papal excommunication and Edward outlawed his rule. However, free of his rival, Robert the Bruce faced a choice of ex-communication as an outlaw or to lay claim to the Scottish throne. He decided to declare his kingship and with the backing of the Scottish church was declared king at Scone Abbey on 25 March 1306. However, shortly after, Edward I’s men attacked Scotland, defeating Robert the Bruce’s army, Robert the Bruce managed to escape to Northern Ireland, where he spent the winter. Returning to Scotland the following year, Robert the Bruce began a highly successful guerrilla war against the English. This culminated in the Battle of Bannockburn in June 1314, where Robert the Bruce defeated Edward II’s forces. This led to the re-establishment of an independent Scottish monarchy. Due to continued harassment by Edward II, in 1320, Scottish nobles and churchmen signed the Declaration of Arbroath, declaring Robert as the rightful king of Scotland.

The pope later agreed and recognised Robert as King. After Edward II was deposed as king in 1327, the English made peace with Scotland. In May 1328 King Edward III of England signed the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, which recognised Scotland as an independent kingdom. Robert died on 7 June 1329, at the Manor of Cardross, near Dumbarton. He requested his heart to be taken to the Holy lands, to make up for his sins of not going on a Crusade and the murder of Comyn in a church. His successor was his elder and only surviving son, David II. Citation : Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Robert the Bruce “, Oxford, 16 Jan. 2013 Robert the Bruce, King of Scots BBC - Scotland's History - The Battle of Bannockburn Scotland's History Articles The Battle of Bannockburn, 1314 The Battle of Bannockburn, 1314 The Adobe Flash player and Javascript are required in order to view a video which appears on this page. You may wish to download the Adobe Flash player . Bannockburn.

If there is a fact every Scot knows, it is who won the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314; although it did not bring outright victory in the war, which lay 14 years in the future and would only be won at the negotiating table. The victory was a combination of Bruce's demand of 1313: that all of the remaining Balliol supporters acknowledge his kingship or forfeit their estates, and the imminent surrender of the English garrison encircled in Stirling castle – which spurred Edward II to invade Scotland. He mobilised a massive military machine: summoning 2,000 horse and 25,000 infantry from England, Ireland and Wales. Although probably only half the infantry turned up, it was by far the largest English army ever to invade Scotland. The Scots common army numbered around 6000, with a small contingent on horseback. It was divided into three "divisions" or schiltroms (massive spear formations), led by King Robert Bruce, his brother, Edward, and his nephew, Sir Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray.

After eight years of successful guerrilla warfare and plundering the north of England for booty, the Scots had created an experienced battle-hardened army. In June 1314, Edward II crossed the border only to find the road to Stirling blocked by the Scots army. Bruce had carefully chosen his ground to the south of the castle, where the road ran through the New Park, a royal hunting park. To his east lay the natural obstacles of the Bannock and Pelstream burns, along with soft, boggy ground. It seems Bruce planned only to risk a defensive encounter, digging pots (small hidden pits designed to break up a cavalry charge) along the roadway, and keeping the Torwood behind him for easier withdrawal. The battle opened with one of the most celebrated individual contests in Scottish history. Sighting a group of Scots withdrawing into the wood, the English vanguard, made up of heavy cavalry, charged. As they clashed with the Scots, an English knight, Sir Henry de Bohun, spotted Robert Bruce. If de Bohun had killed or captured Bruce, he would have become a chivalric hero. So, spurring his warhorse to the charge, he lowered his lance and bared down on the king.

Bruce, an experienced warrior, didn't panic, but mounted "ane palfray, litil and joly" and met the charge. Dodging the lance, he brought his battle axe down on de Bohun's helmet, striking him dead. Elated, the Scots forced the English cavalry to withdraw. Two of Edward's experienced commanders, Sir Henry Beaumont and Sir Robert Clifford, attempted to outflank the Scots and cut off their escape route – very nearly surprising the Scots. At the last moment, however, Thomas Randolph's schiltrom dashed out of the wood and caught the English cavalry by surprise. A ferocious melee ensued. Without archers the cavalry found they were unable to get through the dense thicket of Scots spearmen, even resorting to throwing their swords and maces at them, until the Scots pushed them back and forced them into flight. The Scots had won the first day. Their morale was high and Bruce's new tactic of using the schiltroms offensively rather than statically, as Wallace had used them at Falkirk, appeared to be working. Yet Bruce must have been contemplating a strategic withdrawal before the set piece battle that would inevitably follow in the morning. For the English the setbacks of the first day were disappointing.

Fearing Bruce might mount a night attack, they encamped in the Carse of Balquhiderock. The following day they still hoped to draw Bruce into a full-scale, set-piece battle where their decisive Welsh longbowmen could be brought to bear rather than let Bruce return to guerrilla warfare. At this critical moment, Sir Alexander Seton, a Scots noble in the English army, defected to Bruce bringing him vital intelligence of Edward's army: its confined position and the low morale within the English camp. Bruce decided to risk all in the morning and face Edward in open battle. At dawn the Scots ate their breakfast and advanced out of the wood to face the enemy. Medieval battles were seen as the judgement of God; it was important to have the saints on your side, and so, in the midst of the Scots schiltroms, Abbot Bernard of Arbroath carried their ancient lucky talisman, the Breccbennach (or Monymusk Relquary), which held the relics of St Columba. Bruce himself made a speech invoking the power of St Andrew, John the Baptist and Thomas Beckett.

Then, according to the chronicler Walter Bower: "At these words, the hammered horns resounded, and the standards of war were spread out in the golden dawn." Abbot Maurice of Inchaffrey walked out in front of the army, led mass and blessed the Scots as they knelt in prayer. On seeing this, Edward II is reputed to have said: "Yon folk are kneeling to ask mercy." Sir Ingram de Umfraville, a Balliol supporter fighting for Edward, is said to have replied: "They ask for mercy, but not from you. They ask God for mercy for their sins. I'll tell you something for a fact, that yon men will win all or die. None will flee for fear of death." "So be it", retorted Edward. An archery duel followed, but the Scots schiltrom rapidly took the offensive in order to avoid its inevitable outcome. Edward Bruce's schiltrom advanced on the English vanguard, felling the Earl of Gloucester and Sir Robert Clifford, while Randolph's schiltrom closed up on their left.

The English knights now found themselves hemmed in between the Scots schiltroms and the mass of their own army and could bring few of their archers to bear. Some broke out on the Scots flank and rained arrows into the Scots ranks, but they were quickly dispersed by Sir Robert Keith's Scots cavalry; the rest were badly deployed, their arrows falling into the backs of their own army. In the centre of the field there was ferocious hand to hand combat between knights and spearmen as the battle hung in the balance. At this crucial point Bruce committed his own schiltrom, which included the Gaelic warriors of the Highlands and Islands. Under their fresh onslaught, the English began to give ground. The cry "On them! On them! They fail!", arose as the English were driven back into the burn. The Adobe Flash player and Javascript are required in order to view a video which appears on this page. You may wish to download the Adobe Flash player . The battle's momentum was obvious. A reluctant Edward II was escorted away. As his royal standard departed, panic set in. The Scots schiltroms hacked their way into the disintegrating English army. Those fleeing caused chaos in the massed infantry behind them.

In the rout that followed hundreds of men and horses were drowned in the burn desperately trying to escape. The battle was over. English casualties were heavy: thousands of infantry, a 100 knights and one earl lay dead on the field. Some escaped the confusion: the Earl of Pembroke and his Welsh infantry made it safely to Carlisle, but many more, including many knights and the Earl of Hereford, were captured as they fled through the south of Scotland. Edward II with 500 knights was pursued by Sir James "the Black" Douglas until they reached Dunbar and the safety of a ship home. The capture of Edward would have meant instant English recognition of the Scots demands. As it was, they could absorb such a defeat and continue the war. For the Scots it was a resounding victory. Bruce was left in total military control of Scotland, enabling him to transfer his campaign to the north of England. Politically he had won Scotland's defacto independence and consolidated his kingship – as former supporters of Balliol quickly changed sides. In exchange for Bruce's noble captives Edward was forced to release Bruce's wife, daughter and the formidable Bishop Wishart, who had been held in English captivity since 1306.

For the Scots soldiers there was the wealth of booty left in the English baggage train and the exhilaration of victory. More articles

Question: At the Battle of Bannockburn, an army led by Robert the Bruce defeated troops led by whom?
Answer: Edward II