Battle of Bannockburn: How Scotland Defeated England in 1314
- Davit Grigoryan
- 19 hours ago
- 6 min read
The Battle of Bannockburn (1314) was a key fight for Scotland’s independence, where Robert the Bruce defeated the much larger English army. The article covers the reasons for the conflict, each side’s tactics, details of the two-day battle, and how it changed the history of both nations. Learn how the Scots used the land and their unity to crush Edward II’s army—and why Bannockburn became a symbol of freedom and national pride.
Background of the Battle: The Road to the Final Clash
The Battle of Bannockburn, which took place on June 23–24, 1314, was the peak of a long struggle between Scotland and England for independence. The roots of the conflict go back to the late 13th century, when the death of King Alexander III in 1286 led to a crisis over who should rule Scotland. Taking advantage of the chaos, the English king Edward I stepped in and declared himself the "overlord" of Scottish lands. His harsh rule, including the execution of resistance leader William Wallace in 1305, only made the Scottish people more determined to fight back.
The key figure in the new wave of resistance was Robert the Bruce. In 1306, he crowned himself King of Scotland, openly challenging England. But the first years of his rule were filled with defeats and internal struggles. Only by 1313, using guerrilla tactics and gaining the support of the clans, Bruce managed to take control of much of the country. English garrisons, trapped in castles, were slowly losing ground.
The turning point came with the siege of Stirling Castle—a key fortress that connected northern and southern Scotland. The castle's commander, Sir Philip Mowbray, made a deal with Bruce: if no English army arrived by June 24, 1314, the castle would surrender. For Edward II, the son of Edward I, this was a challenge he couldn’t ignore. Losing Stirling would mean the collapse of English control, so the young king, despite problems within his court, began preparing a major invasion.
By 1314, Robert the Bruce had strengthened his army and made peace with former rival clans, preparing for open battle. He knew that defeating the English would not only free Stirling but also become a symbol of national unity. For Edward II, on the other hand, the campaign was a chance to prove his power as king. And so, two monarchs—each with his ambitions and fears—marched toward the fields of Bannockburn, where the fate of Scotland would be decided.
Positions and Forces: Strength vs. Strategy
By the time the two armies met at Bannockburn, the English and Scottish forces were very different in structure, weapons, and tactics. Edward II gathered a large army of about 15,000–20,000 men, including up to 2,500 heavily armed knights, Welsh archers, and experienced foot soldiers. But this size also became a weakness: the army was mixed and poorly coordinated. Many barons who brought their troops competed for power, which weakened the chain of command.
The Scots, on the other hand, had a smaller army—no more than 5,000 to 7,000 men—but they were united by a shared goal of independence. Most of their force was infantry armed with long spears, formed into tight groups called schiltrons—round or rectangular formations strong enough to stop cavalry. Robert the Bruce had only about 500 horsemen, mainly used for scouting and quick attacks on the flanks. Flexible tactics and knowledge of the land were key: the Scots took position on a hilly plain, protected by the Bannockburn stream and nearby marshes, which made it hard for the English to move freely.
Key Commanders:
England: Edward II led the campaign himself, but real control often went to experienced leaders like the Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Hereford.
Scotland: Robert the Bruce commanded the center, his brother Edward led the front lines, and Thomas Randolph was in charge of the flanks.
The English, confident in their strength, underestimated the difficulty of the land. Edward II’s camp was set up on a narrow strip between the River Forth and the marshes, making it hard to arrange their troops. The Scots used these natural barriers as part of their defense. Also, morale was very important: many English soldiers were fighting far from home, while the Scots were fighting for their own homes and freedom.
The Course of the Battle: Two Days That Changed History
The Battle of Bannockburn unfolded in two stages, each testing both sides. Even though the English had more soldiers, the Scots used smart tactics and their knowledge of the land to turn their weaknesses into strengths.
Day One (June 23): The Prelude to Disaster
The fight began with a surprise move. The English front line, led by Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, and Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, tried to break through to Stirling Castle, ignoring the strong Scottish positions. But Robert the Bruce had expected this and was ready.
On the morning of June 23, a small English cavalry group, including the knight Henry de Bohun (nephew of the Earl of Hereford), spotted Bruce inspecting the Scottish lines. Seeking easy glory, de Bohun charged at him. But the Scottish king, breaking knightly tradition, met him on foot. In the fight, Bruce struck de Bohun’s helmet with a battle axe, killing him instantly. This event, later turned into a legend, lifted Scottish spirits and caused doubt among the English.
Next came clashes on the sides. The English cavalry attacked Thomas Randolph’s schiltrons, but the tight rows of spears stopped the knights. Poor maneuvers in the marshy land caused losses for the English, and their attempt to break the Scots’ left flank ended in chaos. By evening, Edward II pulled back his troops, planning a final battle the next morning.
Under the cover of darkness, the Scots increased their pressure. Highland troops sneaked into the English camp, causing panic. Legend says that some of Edward II’s soldiers, hearing Scottish prayers and songs in the dark, took it as a sign that defeat was near. The English morale, already shaken by the day’s failures, started to crumble.
Day Two (June 24): Defeat and Retreat
At dawn, Edward II ordered a full attack. But the narrow land between the River Forth and the marshes stopped the English from spreading out their forces. Cavalry, archers, and foot soldiers got mixed up, losing their chance to work together well.
The Scots took a defensive position on the hills, forming four schiltrons. When the English knights charged, they hit a wall of spears. Horses, wounded or scared, threw their riders off, and those who survived were struck by Scottish foot soldiers. The English archers, who usually decided battles, were useless here—their arrows either hit their men or couldn’t penetrate the tight schiltron formations.
The turning point came when a “small group” of Scots appeared, whom the English mistook for fresh reinforcements. In reality, these were supply servants and reserves coming out of the forest carrying makeshift flags. Seeing them, the English faltered. Panic spread quickly: soldiers dropped their weapons, knights fled toward the river, and many drowned in the marshes.
Edward II barely escaped capture, fleeing the battlefield with the help of 500 knights. His army, left without leadership, turned into a crowd of fleeing soldiers. The Scots chased the retreating English for several miles, finishing the defeat.
England lost up to 10,000 men killed or captured, including noble barons. The Scots lost between 2,000 and 4,000 fighters, according to different estimates. But the main result of those two days was the collapse of the myth of the English army’s invincibility.
The Significance of the Battle of Bannockburn: The Birth of a Nation
Scotland’s victory at the Battle of Bannockburn was a turning point not just in the war for independence but also in building national identity. Although the war officially lasted another 14 years, this battle broke England’s strategic power. In 1320, Scottish nobles and clergy signed the Declaration of Arbroath, a letter to the Pope claiming the right of the people to govern themselves and be free from “English tyranny.” Inspired by the spirit of Bannockburn, this document is seen as one of the first declarations of sovereignty in European history.
Political Consequences:
For Scotland, Robert the Bruce strengthened his rule. In 1328, England officially recognized Scotland’s independence through the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton.
For England, the defeat worsened internal conflicts. Discontent with Edward II led to his overthrow in 1327.
Bannockburn proved that disciplined infantry could stand up to heavy cavalry—a lesson that changed European military tactics. Schiltrons became a symbol of the “people’s army,” and the smart use of the land became a classic example of military strategy.
The battle became a cornerstone of Scottish identity. In the 20th century, its image was used by movements for autonomy, and in 2014, on the 700th anniversary, a memorial complex was opened at the battlefield. Ironically, even the Scottish independence referendum that same year used slogans referring back to the era of Robert the Bruce.
Historians debate the scale of the victory: some see it as a turning point, while others view it as just one episode in a series of conflicts. But for the Scots, Bannockburn remains a symbol of fighting against greater forces. As the poet Robert Burns wrote, “We’ll fight for freedom, like our ancestors at Bannockburn.”
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