For God, Family and Republic

"In the year of our Lord Thirteen-Hundred and Fourteen, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, charged the fields of Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their freedom."
—Braveheart movie narrator

The Battle of Bannockburn
Click here for audio history from Electric Scotland, which requires Real Audio.

BANNOCKBURN was a most pivotal and decisive battle in Scotland's wars of independence in the early fourteenth century. The Scottish forces, although much smaller, outnumbered and not as well-armed, were better led and better positioned tactically at the behest of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. As Edward hoped to relieve the English-held castle at Stirling, they met on the field on June 23-24, 1314. King Edward II's armies were superior in numbers, troop strength, and calvary. The English led over 2,000 knights and 15,000 infantry, including about 5,000 archers. Bruce had only 500 light cavalry and little over 6,000 light foot soldiers, mostly spearman. The Scots positioned themselves with the backs to the forest so that any English Calvary charge would leave the English canvasing through the open swampy moors, and vulnerable to Scottish archers in the open field and with their back to the water of the River Forth, and without a line of retreat. As both English infantry and calvary took to the field, it worked to their advantage. Ultimately, the Scots charged the field and overwhelmed the English in spite of their numbers. Some tried fleeing across the River Forth, and others tried running back across the open fields only to get cut down. At the end of the day, Edward barely escaped capture as his armies fled.

It has been over six-hundred and ninety-two years since this pivotal battle. It didn't mark the end of the Scottish war for independence, which went on for eighteen more years. The Scottish ultimately secured their victory in the middle ages, and put an end to English pretensions that the whole of sceptered isle would belong to them.

The Significance of Bannockburn
To be certain, the battle victory secured on the fields of Bannockburn became the foundation of Scottish independence. There at Bannockburn the Scots seized the last castle stronghold at Stirling which is in a central position in lower Scotland, and of great strategic value. This battle carries significance also, because the armies of Robert the Bruce was outnumbered three to one, by a better-equipped English army. However, Robert carried the advantage because of superior tactics, and he took the best positions on the field at the onset of the engagement on June 23. Providence was on his side no less.

'It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.'
—Declaration of Arbroath, Extract, 1320.

History versus Hollywood
Hollywood incidentally does Robert the Bruce no justice, as the film Braveheart portrayed him as a conniving, duplicitious opportunist who merely held his finger in the wind, to see where the wind was blowing in order to ascertain his political considerations. Never on any occasion did Bruce betray Wallace. This was a portrayal totally out of touch with historical reality. In reality, Robert the Bruce was much more calculating, strategic-minded, and even diplomatic when necessary, and apt to press his advantage only when the presumed risk was worth the reward. While it took William Wallace's patriotism and daring to inspire the Scots to fight against formidable odds, it was ultimately Robert the Bruce calculating mind who lead the Scots to victory after Wallace's tragic death. Bruce had qualities of patience and shrewdness, which kept the Scottish armies alive in a well-coordinated war of attrition or guerilla warfare against a much better-equipped, better-trained, and superior English army. Wallace's boldness perhaps cost him his life prematurely. I hope in my conveying this sentiment, I do no perceived injustice to Wallace's historical legacy, for his accomplishments are celebrated because they were great too.

Seeking forgiveness for his sins, and all of the incessant warfare that ensued during his reign, Robert the Bruce's famous last words were perhaps addressed to his family heirs as well as his people, the Scots:

Now, God be with you, my dear children. I have ate with you and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ.

Related Web Sites:
Battle of Bannockburn - Answers.com
Battle of Bannockburn - Electric Scotland
Bannockburn Battle Site Map
Bannockburn Day
Bruce & Bannockburn
Robert the Bruce - Answers.com
Robert the Bruce - Britannia


Further Reading:
The Battle of Bannockburn