Issue 8 – Robert’s War against England 1310-1323
Topic concerned with
-Robert’s military strategies 1310-1314
-Edward II’s campaign in Scotland, 1314
-The military and political significance of the Battle of Bannockburn
-Bruce’s military tactics after Bannockburn, 114-1322
-The making of Truces
Key words
-Ultimatum — a final demand or statement of terms
Questions to answer
Why did Edward II fail to help his Scottish allies?
-Edward II had no worthy of comparing drive and ability as a military leader than his father
had
- He also faced factionalism within his nobility, much like his grandfather Henry III – Edward
found it difficult to get support from his barons for the Scottish campaigns
-Edward II further angered his nobility by promoting and rewarding a personal favourite
noble Piers Gaveston– possibly Edward II homosexual lover – whom he placed in the notable
position of commander of armies in 1310-11
-The barons instead supported the kings cousin Thomas of Lancaster which restricted
Edwards power.
-This eventually resulted in open revolt, and the murder of Gaveston- this made it impossible
to pursue a united military campaign between 1307 and 1313.
• Why did Edward II mount an invasion in 1314?
-In October 1313 Bruce assembled a parliament in Dundee, and issued an ultimatum to his
Scottish enemies who had taken refuge in England and raise lords in Lothian. Who still
adhered to Edward II
-He gave these nobles one year to submit to him or face the permanent loss of their lands and
titles in Scotland
-This threat was the occasion of petition sent by Earl of Dunbar and Adam Gordon on behalf
of the lords of Lothian to Edward II, describing the desperate position they were in and
asking for aid against Bruce.
-Edward II was also threatened with the collapse of what support he had left in Scotland; only
a few castles were left in English control
-In late November 1313 Edward issued orders for his army to go to war at Bannockburn in
June 1314
-It was on May 27 1314 Shute he was on his way. Roth that Edward II learned that he was
committed to the relief of Stirling Castle by June 24
, -John Barbours claim that Edward Bruce found the siege of Stirling castle so tedious that he
brokered a deal with the castles keeper in March 1313 however this is wrong, as Archie
Duncan has shown that a yes a deal was made, but probably in May 1314.
-The siege of Stirling began after the fall of Edinburgh and Roxburgh
-The Lanercost Chronicle got the sequence right, not Barbour
-Cornell sees Bruce’s determination to capture and destroy Edinburgh, Roxburgh and Stirling
Castles as part of his preparations ahead of the impending invasion.
-Such castles provided essential support for his armies on campaign and acted as heavily
defended forward bases, and were a vital source of intelligence. This was a blow for Edward.
-According To the The Life of Edward II the news of the loss of Roxburgh and Edinburgh
disturbed him so much that ‘he could scarcely restrain his tears.’ Michael Penman agrees
with him.
-“It painted a brutalised picture of southern Scotland…Scotland was on the verge of being
lost.” Cornell, Bannockburn: The triumph of Robert the Bruce, 2009, pg106
-“Robert and his war captains are now deliberately intensified their efforts to destroy key
garrison castles within the window of time remaining to them, so as to stretch the English
supply line.” (Penman, Robert the Bruce, King of Scot’s, pg137)
• Why was King Robert able to defeat Edward II at Bannockburn?
-Arguably it was Robert’s guerrilla warfare, After multiple cavalry charges failed to
break the Scottish defences, Robert began to move his infantry forward. As
the English backed up, the ditches hindered them after multiple horsemen
fell in and could not escape. The battle transformed into an all-out rout,
with many of the English being slaughtered.
-Scottish morale was high following the day’s victory, and Robert sought to
increase it with an encouraging speech.
• What was the military and political significance of Bannockburn?
(Changed status of Bruce, wiped out Comyns, gave bruce more support, put Scotland’s
finances back on track
Lanercost Chronicle noted ‘After the victory of Robert Bruce was commonly called king of
Scot’s by all men, because he has acquired Scotland by force of arms.
-In 1306 Bruce was a usurper king with minority support but after Bannockburn his political
control was more secure.
-The main casualties of the battle were the Comyns,; the son of the murdered Comyn was
killed in the battle together with Edmund Comyn, the lord of Kilbride.
-This subsequently meant Comyn hopes of regaining power in scorkans were shattered.
-Bruce carried out his threat and dishintehrited this e lords who died at Bannockburn or had
refused his one year ultimatum to come into his allegiance.
-some Scots transferred allefinscne without waiting for the statue of Dishinheritance;
including Philip Mowbray, the warden of Stirling castle, Walter Gilbertson, the warden of
Bothwell castle, the Earl of Dunbar and Adam Gordon.
-however, some opponents still remained such as the Earl of Marr and Angus.
Topic concerned with
-Robert’s military strategies 1310-1314
-Edward II’s campaign in Scotland, 1314
-The military and political significance of the Battle of Bannockburn
-Bruce’s military tactics after Bannockburn, 114-1322
-The making of Truces
Key words
-Ultimatum — a final demand or statement of terms
Questions to answer
Why did Edward II fail to help his Scottish allies?
-Edward II had no worthy of comparing drive and ability as a military leader than his father
had
- He also faced factionalism within his nobility, much like his grandfather Henry III – Edward
found it difficult to get support from his barons for the Scottish campaigns
-Edward II further angered his nobility by promoting and rewarding a personal favourite
noble Piers Gaveston– possibly Edward II homosexual lover – whom he placed in the notable
position of commander of armies in 1310-11
-The barons instead supported the kings cousin Thomas of Lancaster which restricted
Edwards power.
-This eventually resulted in open revolt, and the murder of Gaveston- this made it impossible
to pursue a united military campaign between 1307 and 1313.
• Why did Edward II mount an invasion in 1314?
-In October 1313 Bruce assembled a parliament in Dundee, and issued an ultimatum to his
Scottish enemies who had taken refuge in England and raise lords in Lothian. Who still
adhered to Edward II
-He gave these nobles one year to submit to him or face the permanent loss of their lands and
titles in Scotland
-This threat was the occasion of petition sent by Earl of Dunbar and Adam Gordon on behalf
of the lords of Lothian to Edward II, describing the desperate position they were in and
asking for aid against Bruce.
-Edward II was also threatened with the collapse of what support he had left in Scotland; only
a few castles were left in English control
-In late November 1313 Edward issued orders for his army to go to war at Bannockburn in
June 1314
-It was on May 27 1314 Shute he was on his way. Roth that Edward II learned that he was
committed to the relief of Stirling Castle by June 24
, -John Barbours claim that Edward Bruce found the siege of Stirling castle so tedious that he
brokered a deal with the castles keeper in March 1313 however this is wrong, as Archie
Duncan has shown that a yes a deal was made, but probably in May 1314.
-The siege of Stirling began after the fall of Edinburgh and Roxburgh
-The Lanercost Chronicle got the sequence right, not Barbour
-Cornell sees Bruce’s determination to capture and destroy Edinburgh, Roxburgh and Stirling
Castles as part of his preparations ahead of the impending invasion.
-Such castles provided essential support for his armies on campaign and acted as heavily
defended forward bases, and were a vital source of intelligence. This was a blow for Edward.
-According To the The Life of Edward II the news of the loss of Roxburgh and Edinburgh
disturbed him so much that ‘he could scarcely restrain his tears.’ Michael Penman agrees
with him.
-“It painted a brutalised picture of southern Scotland…Scotland was on the verge of being
lost.” Cornell, Bannockburn: The triumph of Robert the Bruce, 2009, pg106
-“Robert and his war captains are now deliberately intensified their efforts to destroy key
garrison castles within the window of time remaining to them, so as to stretch the English
supply line.” (Penman, Robert the Bruce, King of Scot’s, pg137)
• Why was King Robert able to defeat Edward II at Bannockburn?
-Arguably it was Robert’s guerrilla warfare, After multiple cavalry charges failed to
break the Scottish defences, Robert began to move his infantry forward. As
the English backed up, the ditches hindered them after multiple horsemen
fell in and could not escape. The battle transformed into an all-out rout,
with many of the English being slaughtered.
-Scottish morale was high following the day’s victory, and Robert sought to
increase it with an encouraging speech.
• What was the military and political significance of Bannockburn?
(Changed status of Bruce, wiped out Comyns, gave bruce more support, put Scotland’s
finances back on track
Lanercost Chronicle noted ‘After the victory of Robert Bruce was commonly called king of
Scot’s by all men, because he has acquired Scotland by force of arms.
-In 1306 Bruce was a usurper king with minority support but after Bannockburn his political
control was more secure.
-The main casualties of the battle were the Comyns,; the son of the murdered Comyn was
killed in the battle together with Edmund Comyn, the lord of Kilbride.
-This subsequently meant Comyn hopes of regaining power in scorkans were shattered.
-Bruce carried out his threat and dishintehrited this e lords who died at Bannockburn or had
refused his one year ultimatum to come into his allegiance.
-some Scots transferred allefinscne without waiting for the statue of Dishinheritance;
including Philip Mowbray, the warden of Stirling castle, Walter Gilbertson, the warden of
Bothwell castle, the Earl of Dunbar and Adam Gordon.
-however, some opponents still remained such as the Earl of Marr and Angus.
