Alex & Aidan
The military and political significance of the Battle of Bannockburn
Background
-After Bruce’s civil war, Robert had almost taken every castle in Scotland and
controlled every region. Except from Berwick.
-Robert had a reliable revenue from this control, as well as the blackmail fees from
the raids on England
-He had held several Parliament’s and had renewed diplomatic and trading links in
Europe
-He was supported by an army of well trained troops who were accustomed to success
-The army was also led by new breed of generals used to his guerrilla tactics, who
were rewarded with land grants from the forfeited Balliol/Comyn adherents for their
loyalty
-Edward could chose either to negotiate or try a test over strength at Stirling
Battle of Bannockburn 1314
Background
-Edward I must have thought he raised a force he thought his army could destroy,
whereas the Scottish army was confident
-Robert Bruce must have decided he was strong enough to risk battle, contrary to the
tactics he employed of evading war in 1310 and 1311
-An English cavalry force of 2,000-2,500 knights and 15,000-17,000 foot represents a
major military force
-Giving Bruce a force of 6,000-9,000 of which the vast were foot soldiers
-This meant that the Scot’s could only risk battle if the terrain suited infantry rather
than cavalry
Strategy
-Possible that Bruce prepared for the possibility of retreat
-His army position infront of woodland, with its rear facing the English advancing
from Falkirk
1
, Alex & Aidan
Tactics
-Bruces decision to fight was based on how he perceived the field of the battle and the
disposition of troops
-Scottish and English chronicles suggest that the English army was forced into a
narrow area between Bannockburn on their left, and marshland cut by streams to their
right
-The victory of Moray’s spearmen against Clifford’s 300 isolated cavalry was
repeated on a grander scale on the 24th June as the Scottish schiltrons of Bruce, by his
brother Edward, James Douglas and Thomas Randolph first held Gloucester’s cavalry,
then routed them.
-This meant the English archers were restricted by the use of Scots cavalry under
Keith.
-The vast body of English infantry were left in a strategically impossible situation
with no room to manoeuvre on firm ground, and were consequently driven back by
the Scottish advance and their own fleeing cavalry.
Results of Bannockburn
-Scots beaten the compressively major English army which gave them complete control over
Scotland and military superiority for a number of years.
-The value of the captured ransom and booty for English knights was enormous for the
exchequer of a small kingdom like Scotland, important hostage exchanges were made such as
the Earl of Hereford for Bruce’s wife and the ageing Bishop Wishart.
-Major opponents of Bruce now made their peace, such as the earl Patrick of Dunbar who
was a long term ally of the English, Walter Gilbertson with Bothwell castle and Philip
Mowbray and Stirling Castle.
-John Comyn, son of Bruce’s victim of 1306, and Edmund Comyn of Kilbride fell at
Bannockburn, and with them the Comyn cause.
After Bannockburn Bruce used Ireland as an alliance leaving his brother Edward
Bruce in charge of it from 1315
Bruce also continued to try and reconnect his trading routes within Europe
and reconnect with European politics
Ireland:
Bruce had a good relationship with Ireland and would protect them from the English
and open trade routes through Ireland. This included Bruce invading the Isle of Man in
1313 to protect a Irish shipping route as Ireland was a large source of food and
weapons. The English were also low on Irish backup due to Robert’s relations
with Ireland
Europe:
2
The military and political significance of the Battle of Bannockburn
Background
-After Bruce’s civil war, Robert had almost taken every castle in Scotland and
controlled every region. Except from Berwick.
-Robert had a reliable revenue from this control, as well as the blackmail fees from
the raids on England
-He had held several Parliament’s and had renewed diplomatic and trading links in
Europe
-He was supported by an army of well trained troops who were accustomed to success
-The army was also led by new breed of generals used to his guerrilla tactics, who
were rewarded with land grants from the forfeited Balliol/Comyn adherents for their
loyalty
-Edward could chose either to negotiate or try a test over strength at Stirling
Battle of Bannockburn 1314
Background
-Edward I must have thought he raised a force he thought his army could destroy,
whereas the Scottish army was confident
-Robert Bruce must have decided he was strong enough to risk battle, contrary to the
tactics he employed of evading war in 1310 and 1311
-An English cavalry force of 2,000-2,500 knights and 15,000-17,000 foot represents a
major military force
-Giving Bruce a force of 6,000-9,000 of which the vast were foot soldiers
-This meant that the Scot’s could only risk battle if the terrain suited infantry rather
than cavalry
Strategy
-Possible that Bruce prepared for the possibility of retreat
-His army position infront of woodland, with its rear facing the English advancing
from Falkirk
1
, Alex & Aidan
Tactics
-Bruces decision to fight was based on how he perceived the field of the battle and the
disposition of troops
-Scottish and English chronicles suggest that the English army was forced into a
narrow area between Bannockburn on their left, and marshland cut by streams to their
right
-The victory of Moray’s spearmen against Clifford’s 300 isolated cavalry was
repeated on a grander scale on the 24th June as the Scottish schiltrons of Bruce, by his
brother Edward, James Douglas and Thomas Randolph first held Gloucester’s cavalry,
then routed them.
-This meant the English archers were restricted by the use of Scots cavalry under
Keith.
-The vast body of English infantry were left in a strategically impossible situation
with no room to manoeuvre on firm ground, and were consequently driven back by
the Scottish advance and their own fleeing cavalry.
Results of Bannockburn
-Scots beaten the compressively major English army which gave them complete control over
Scotland and military superiority for a number of years.
-The value of the captured ransom and booty for English knights was enormous for the
exchequer of a small kingdom like Scotland, important hostage exchanges were made such as
the Earl of Hereford for Bruce’s wife and the ageing Bishop Wishart.
-Major opponents of Bruce now made their peace, such as the earl Patrick of Dunbar who
was a long term ally of the English, Walter Gilbertson with Bothwell castle and Philip
Mowbray and Stirling Castle.
-John Comyn, son of Bruce’s victim of 1306, and Edmund Comyn of Kilbride fell at
Bannockburn, and with them the Comyn cause.
After Bannockburn Bruce used Ireland as an alliance leaving his brother Edward
Bruce in charge of it from 1315
Bruce also continued to try and reconnect his trading routes within Europe
and reconnect with European politics
Ireland:
Bruce had a good relationship with Ireland and would protect them from the English
and open trade routes through Ireland. This included Bruce invading the Isle of Man in
1313 to protect a Irish shipping route as Ireland was a large source of food and
weapons. The English were also low on Irish backup due to Robert’s relations
with Ireland
Europe:
2
