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To understand the context of the Battle of Bannockburn in a much larger scale you must first look back at Edward I and his rule. Edward Longshanks was looking to expand England similar to that of Henry II, but he needed the allegiance of Scotland to do so. He did not want a foreign power like France to become involved and create a conflict in England's surrounding territories in the British isles. This is where his obsession with the obediance of Scotland comes from.[1]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. This was countered, however, 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.
After the death of Edward I, his son Edward II of England came to the throne in 1307 but was incapable of providing the determined leadership his father had shown, and the English position soon became more difficult.
In 1313, Bruce demanded the allegiance of all remaining Balliol supporters, under threat of losing their lands, as well as the surrender of the English garrison at Stirling Castle. The castle was one of the most important castles held by the English, as it commanded the route north into the Scottish Highlands. It was besieged in 1314 by Robert the Bruce's younger brother, Edward Bruce, and an agreement was made that if the castle was not relieved by mid-summer it would be surrendered to the Scots.
The English could not ignore this challenge and prepared and equipped a substantial campaign. It is known that Edward II requested 2,000 heavily armoured cavalry and 25,000 infantry, many of whom were likely armed with longbows, from England, Wales and Ireland; it is estimated no more than half the infantry actually arrived, but the English army was still by far the largest ever to invade Scotland. The Scottish army probably numbered around 6,000 men, including no more than 500 mounted forces. Unlike the English, the Scottish cavalry was probably unequipped for charging enemy lines and suitable only for skirmishing and reconnaissance. The Scottish infantry was likely armed with axes, swords and pikes, and included only a few bowmen.
The precise numerical advantage of the English forces relative to the Scottish forces is unknown, but modern researchers estimate that the Scottish faced English forces one-and-a-half to two or three times their size.
On the morning of June 23rd, it was still not certain if a battle were to take place. The armies were still eight miles apart. This gave Sir Robert the Bruce enough time to make a decision as to where he wanted to go. He had enough time to move northwards beyond the fourth or westwards up the river into a district of mosses and hills.[2] Robert knew that the latter decision would influence Edward and his lord's plans. Given the declared objective and the advancing march the previous week it was obvious that the English would continue their advance on Stirling.[2] In an effort to "rescue" Stirling Edward continued to hurry his troops which resulted in the troops marching seventy miles in one week. Many historians critique Edward II for this move as he was not acting like a leader of a well-trained army but was instead acting like a pilgrim. This poor decision making by Edward II led to horses, horseman, and infantry becoming extremely worn out with toil and hunger.[2] Now Edward was within reach of Stirling. Edward II and his advisors began to make plans for the upcoming battle. Whatever battle planning expertise Edward II had did not matter as he surely made up for it with his advisors. Edward II and his advisors were aware of the places the Scots were likely to challenge them and sent orders for their troops to prepare for an enemy established in boggy ground near the River Forth, near Stirling. The English appear to have advanced in four divisions. The Scots assembled defensive formations known as 'schiltrons', which were strong defensive squares of men with pikes.This was unique as the Scots first began using these large groups of spearman under William Wallace. It is stated in an article by David Caldwell stating that "not a great nobleman but William Wallace, the younger son of a minor landholder. To him must go the credit for creating large units of spearman"[3] The Scots had become one of the first innovators against the heavy cavalry of the day and had actually revolutionized medieval combat. The Scots had shown that heavy cavalry was not enough to rule the medieval battlefield. Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, commanded the Scottish vanguard, which was stationed about a mile 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. The fourth division was 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 than or inferior to English longbows, there were fewer Scottish archers, possibly only 500. These archers played little part in the battle. There is first-hand evidence in a poem, written just after the battle by the captured Carmelite friar Robert Baston, that one or both sides employed slingers and crossbowmen.
Understanding the Importance of this battle and its place in English- Scottish relations is incredibly important to understand. This battle was an attempt for Sir Robert the Bruce to legitimise his kingship through combat. This is stated in article by Medieval Warfare where it states "Robert Bruce, King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329 aged around 55, was no stranger to the battlefield. He waged war to wear down his Scottish opponents and the English regime in Scotland, culminating in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. To legitimise his kingship and free his kingdom.[4] From this quotation you can see the larger importance of the Battle of Bannockburn. It was a battle to theoretically plant Robert The Bruce in the throne of Scotland and to have Edward II recognize him as a formal ruler. Continuing with this there were also internal struggles for the crown of Scotland. There was a succession crisis as stated here " a succession crisis involved the Balliols, Bruces, and the Scottish political nation in a decades-long contest for the crown".[5]The military importance of the Battle of Bannockburn was arguably more important than the battle itself. As stated by W.M Mackenzie "The victory at Bannockburn is of more than national interest and had other results than those immediately affecting Scotland. With Falkirk and Courtrai (1302), where the flemish footman shattered the chivalry of France --and more than either of these it initiates the change which was to come over mediaeval art of war, in demonstrating the superiority of infantry properly handled to the mounted men-at-arms upon whom the entire stress of fighting had hitherto been laid. The defeated were quick to learn their lesson and apply it in their own way.[6] This sows the sheer importance of the Scottish spearman on the world stage as many countries began to adapt to this infantry dominated medieval battleground. They were moving away from cavalry and more towards the domination of the foot soldier. Another great detail to add is that this battle was for the rights to stirling castle essentially. Robert the Bruce did not want to give the castle up to the English as it was a major staging point. This is supported by Herbert Maxwell who stated that " Bruce's position was taken up to bar KIng Edwards access to Stirling."[7]
The exact site of the Battle of Bannockburn has been debated for many years, but most modern historians agree that the traditional site, where a visitor centre and statue have been erected, is not correct.
A large number of alternative locations have been considered but modern researchers believe only two merit serious consideration:
An area of peaty ground outside the village of Balquhiderock known as the Dryfield, about .75 miles (1.21 km) east of the traditional site.
Bruce Defeating Bohun in individual combatThe Carse of Balquhiderock, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of the traditional site. This location is accepted by the National Trust as the most likely site.
Most medieval battles were short-lived, lasting only a few hours, so the Battle of Bannockburn is unusual in that it lasted two days. Shortly before the battle Sir Robert the Bruce picked a flat field flanked by woodland known as New Park to set up camp for the upcoming battle. This was because the woodland gave Bruce and his foot soldiers an advantage since the English were very adept at cavalry. [8]The Scots split their army into four divisions and the Bruce commanded the four divisions to form a diamond formation. Bruce covered the rear to the south, Douglas to the east, Randolph to the north (the direction of Stirling), with 500 horsemen under Keith to the west, in reserve.[9] On 23 June 1314 two English cavalry formations advanced. The first was commanded by the Earl of Gloucester and by the Earl of Hereford. The force marched north on the Falking-Stirling road. They followed behind a smaller detachment of roughly 300 soldiers led by Sir Robert Clifford and Sir Henry de Beaumont who marched closer to the River Forth.[9] Both of these detachments marched in front of the main fighting force. These two detachments were tasked with lifting the siege on Stirling.[9] The Hereford-Gloucester force was the first to cross over the Bannockburn and marched toward the woodlands that hid the Scots and stood in the way of the Scots on their way to Stirling. Little did the English know that The Bruce had ventured ahead away from his natural protection. Sir Robert the Bruce was currently not armed for combat, but was instead armed for reconnaissance with only a small horse, light armor, and an axe to defend himself.[9] What happened next was the making of the Bruce legend. Hereford's nephew Henry de Bohun spotted the king so poorly equipped and took advantage. Henry de Bohun charged forward in full combat gear with his lance
Bruce and Henry de Bohun, nephew of the Earl of Hereford, faced off in what became a celebrated instance of single combat. Bohun charged at Bruce and, when the two passed side by side, Bruce split Bohun's head with his axe. The Scots then rushed the English forces under Gloucester's and Hereford's command, who retreated, struggling back over the Bannockburn.
This story is important because it was a reflection of Sir Robert The Bruce's leadership. It is stated in an article by Sidney Dean that " While controversial among his peers, Bruce earned the respect of his soldiers by leading from the front and displaying physical courage"[10] This shows that Sir Robert The Bruce was well respected among his troops for his lead by example type of leadership and this shows in this story about Sir Robert The Bruce. While he was controversial among his fellow nobles this does not take away from how great of a leader The Bruce was and it does not taint his legacy.
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 the 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.
An interpretation of the battle of Bannockburn—second day.
During the night the English forces crossed the stream known as the Bannockburn, 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 that English morale was low and encouraged him to attack.
In the morning the Scots advanced from New Park. Not long after daybreak, Edward was surprised to see the Scottish pikemen emerge from the cover of the woods and advance towards his position. As Bruce's army drew nearer, they paused and knelt in prayer. Edward reportedly 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 Earl of Gloucester had argued with the Earl of Hereford over who should lead the vanguard into battle. He had also tried to persuade the king that the battle should be postponed. This led the king to accuse him of cowardice. Goaded by the accusation, the Earl of Gloucester advanced to meet the Scots. Few accompanied Gloucester and, when he reached the Scottish lines, he was quickly surrounded and killed.
The English were gradually pushed back and ground down by the Scots' schiltrons. The English longbowmen attempted to support the advance of the knights but were ordered to stop shooting, as they were causing casualties among their own. The English then attempted to deploy their English and Welsh longbowmen to flank the advancing Scots, but they were dispersed by 500 Scottish cavalry under the Marischal Sir Robert Keith. (Although the Scottish cavalry is sometimes described as light cavalry, this appears to be a misinterpretation of Barbour's statement that these were men-at-arms on lighter horses than those of their English counterparts.)
The English cavalry was hemmed in against the Bannockburn, making it difficult for them to manoeuvre. Unable to hold their formations, they broke rank. It soon became clear to Aymer de Valence and Giles d'Argentan (reputedly the third-best knight in Europe) that the English had lost the battle and Edward II needed at all costs to be led to safety. Seizing the reins of the king's horse, they dragged him away, closely followed by 500 knights of the royal bodyguard.
Once they were clear of the battle d'Argentan turned to the king and 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." He turned his horse to charge back into the ranks of Scottish, where he was overborne and slain.
