WALLACE, BRUCE AND THE WARS OF INDEPENDENCE

1
We will be exploring the. BATTLE OF FALKIRK,
22nd JULY 1299
2
WHY DID THE BATTLE TAKE PLACE?

• Edward was annoyed that the Scots had rebelled
  against his Overlordship.
• Edward was furious that the Scots had defeated
  the English in battle (Stirling).
• Edward was annoyed that the Scots had declared
  Wallace (who he saw as a terrorist) as Guardian.

3
WHAT DID EDWARD DO?

• Edward moved his headquarters to York so he was
  closer to Scotland.
• He organised an army of 2000 knights and 12,000
  infantry to attack Scotland
• The Scots burned the countryside in front of the
  English troops to prevent them from getting any
  food or shelter.
• Didnt stop the English the two armies faced
  each other on the 22nd July 1299.

4
ACTIVITY

• Using your templates you will create a visual
  revision guide of the EVENTS of the Battle of
  Falkirk.
• Success Criteria
• Included all necessary pictures
• Included description of each event.

5
The positioning of the armies
3500 men in schiltrons (men hold 12 feet spears
in a circle to ressemble a porcupine
Rough woodland behind the Scots
KNIGHTS
S
S
S
S
B
B
B
1000 cavalry
LOCH
Barrier of wooden stakes
500 bowmen
MARSH
2000 knights 12,000 infantry Heavily armed
Heavily armoured Professional and trained
Wallace positioned his army between the loch
the woods
EDWARDS ARMY
6
1
KNIGHTS
The English knights divided in half and went
round either side of the loch.
S
S
S
S
B
B
B
LOCH
MARSH
EDWARDS ARMY
7
2
Wallace positioned the Scots into schiltrons
KNIGHTS
S
S
S
S
B
B
B
EDWARDS ARMY
EDWARDS ARMY
English knights attacked Scottish schiltrons
and bowmen from behind
LOCH
MARSH
8
3
EDWARDS ARMY
KNIGHTS
EDWARDS ARMY
S
S
S
S
B
B
B
The Scottish cavalry (knights) fled when Edward
advanced
LOCH
MARSH
9
4
EDWARDS ARMY
EDWARDS ARMY
Edwards men massacred the Scottish archers
x
x
x
S
S
S
S
B
B
B
LOCH
MARSH
10
5
EDWARDS ARMY
EDWARDS ARMY
S
S
S
S
English knights charged the schiltrons, but
could Not initially break through
LOCH
MARSH
11
6
EDWARDS ARMY
EDWARDS ARMY
English archers fired into the Scottish
schiltrons and killed many men
S
S
S
S
LOCH
MARSH
12
7
EDWARDS ARMY
EDWARDS ARMY
S
S
S
S
Edwards men then killed the survivors in the
Scottish schiltrons
LOCH
MARSH
13
8
The Scots were heavily defeated
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Explain the reasons why the English won at the
Battle of Falkirk?

• Pitched battle on open ground, a mistake by
  Wallace (English close to mutiny)
• English advantages as regards size of army - 2000
  knights, 12,000 infantry
• English better equipped - Longbow men who were
  experienced in battle
• Leadership of Edward I - experienced and ruthless
  general
• Disloyalty/panic of Scots nobles who fled leaving
  Scots archers unprotected

15
Source A was written by the English chronicler,
Walter of Guisborough in 1299.

• On one side of a little hill close to Falkirk,
  the
• Scots placed their soldiers in four round circles
  
• with their pikes held outwards at an angle.
• Between these circles, which are called
  schiltrons,
• were the archers and behind them was the
• cavalry. When our men attacked, the Scots
  horsemen fled without striking a swords blow.

Assess the usefulness of Source A as evidence
about what happened at Falkirk?
(5)
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Why did things get worse for Scotland?
Title The Scottish Collapse
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1. Robert Bruce made his peace with Edward

• Bruce had changed sides many times
• Defended Carlisle for King Edward during reign of
  King John
• Joined the Scots to help William Wallace
• Became joint Guardian with Comyn after Wallace
  resigned
• Resigned as Guardian after a year probably
  because he disliked Comyn
• Perhaps he now supported Edward because there was
  talk of bringing back King John

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2. King of France made peace with Edward

• French army was defeated
• May 1303 French and English signed a peace treaty
  from which the Scots were excluded
• Scots lost an important ally
• Edward could now concentrate his full military
  strength on Scotland

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3. Pope reduced his support for the Scots

• King of France had upset him
• He took this out on the Scots

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4. Edward returned to Scotland

• Aimed to recapture the north of Scotland
• Stayed at Dunfermline for the winter of 1303-4
• Recaptured Stirling Castle
• Spring-Summer 1304 important Scots surrendered

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5. Edward reorganised the government of
Scotland

• By 1305, Edward
• Made important Scots promise to capture
• Wallace in return for.
• Getting back their lands and possessions.
• Being involved in government discussions.

22
Sources A B describe the aftermath of the
Battle of Falkirk.

• After Falkirk, the cause of independence
  diminished. Not
• only had the Pope reduced his support, but the
  French had
• made peace with England. This meant that Edward
  could
• concentrate all his efforts on Scotland. With
  castles now
• under Edwards control, the Scots had little
  chance of
• success.

After the disaster of 1299 Scotland was in a
terrible way. England was no longer at war with
France and her army was focused on breaking the
Scots. Edward had now captured prominent
Scottish castles, such as Stirling and forced
many nobles to surrender. He was determined to
capture Wallace.
Compare the views in Sources A B about the
Scottish collapse (4)
23
Describe, in detail, the Scottish Collapse.
(5)