r/UKmonarchs • u/t0mless Henry II / David I / Hywel Dda • Jun 23 '25
On this day On this day in 1314, the Battle of Bannockburn began. Over two days, King Robert’s Scottish army defeated the numerically superior English one led by Edward II. The Scots' victory cemented Robert's control over Scotland and became a defining moment in the Wars of Independence
Robert the Bruce had spent years reclaiming castles and territory lost to the English, steadily consolidating his power after a long period of exile and defeat. By now, he had begun demanding the allegiance of former supporters of King John Balliol, threatening confiscation of lands for those who refused.
The last major stronghold still in English hands was Stirling Castle, held under siege by Robert’s younger brother, Edward Bruce. An agreement had been made: if the English did not relieve the garrison by Midsummer’s Day, the castle would surrender. Determined not to lose this key fortress, Edward II marched north with a massive army (estimated at between 20,000 and 25,000 men)to confront King Robert and his Scottish forces, who numbered closer to 6,000. Though outnumbered, Bruce’s army was battle-hardened and disciplined, largely composed of spearmen trained in tightly packed schiltron formations.
Despite the long trek from the south, Edward pressed his troops onward, forcing them to march seventy miles in one week. The result was exhaustion with horses, horsemen, and infantry alike were worn down by toil, hunger, and poor planning. Bruce, by contrast, was well-positioned and prepared. His key commanders included:
- Edward Bruce, his brother and commander of the siege at Stirling.
- Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray and the Bruces' nephew.
- Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, who held joint authority with the young Walter the Steward. Walter was a rising figure in the war, who would later marry Bruce’s daughter, Marjorie, and father Robert II, the first Stewart king.
During the battle, Robert the Bruce famously killed Sir Henry de Bohun in single combat, cleaving his skull with an axe after sidestepping the English knight’s charge. Though the skirmish was small in scale, it provided a symbolic and morale-boosting moment for the Scottish army. That night, Sir Alexander Seton, a Scottish noble serving in Edward II’s army, defected and warned Bruce that the English camp was disorganized and demoralized. Seton urged the king to seize the opportunity for a decisive victory.
Bruce acted boldly. On June 24, he launched a full-scale assault, deploying his schiltrons not as static defensive circles but as mobile, offensive units; a tactic he had rigorously trained them for. The terrain favored the Scots: Bruce drew the English army into marshy ground hemmed in by the Bannock Burn and Pelstream Burn, where their cavalry and archers were rendered ineffective. The Scots advanced steadily, their tightly packed formations withstanding and repelling repeated English charges. As panic spread, the English lines collapsed. Realizing the battle was lost, Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, led Edward II from the field to ensure the king’s survival despite Edward’s protests.
Several high-ranking English nobles were killed or captured. Among the dead were Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Gloucester and Edward II's cousin, and Robert Clifford, a senior commander. Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford and Edward’s brother-in-law, was taken prisoner and later exchanged for Bruce’s wife, sisters, and daughter, who had been held in English captivity for years.
As the English army broke and fled, Sir James Douglas led a mounted pursuit. Edward II escaped to Dunbar Castle, from which he took ship to Berwick. The remnants of his army attempted to retreat south across the border (over 140 km away) but were harried by Scottish forces and hostile locals. Many were killed; few made it home. Historian Peter Reese wrote that "only one sizeable group of men—all foot soldiers—made good their escape to England."
The Battle of Bannockburn did not end the war, but it secured Bruce’s control of the Scottish kingdom and crippled English morale. It became one of the most iconic victories in Scottish history. A defining moment of national pride, resilience, and defiance.
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u/Haunting_Charity_287 Jun 23 '25
Apocryphal or otherwise, the story about The Bruce soloing Henry de Bohun, whilst under armoured and unprepared, is one of the most badass moments in Scottish history.
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u/transemacabre Edward II Jun 23 '25
Gilbert de Clare was Edward II's nephew, not his cousin, and his death arguably kicked off Edward II's downfall, as the massive Clare inheritance was eventually contested between the husbands of Gilbert's sisters. That led to the Despenser Wars, which led to the Despenser's tyranny and ultimately the Isabella-Mortimer invasion.
Bannockburn is also where Roger Damory first came to Edward II's attention for his valor.
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u/t0mless Henry II / David I / Hywel Dda Jun 23 '25
Gilbert de Clare was Edward II's nephew, not his cousin
I realized my error after posting! That's my mistake.
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u/KaiserKCat Edward I Jun 23 '25
The English failed to utilized their longbowmen successfully and the Scottish cavalry eventually drove them off the field. Longbowmen proved highly effective against Scottish schiltrons at Falkirk, without them the English cavalry could not break through the tightly packed Scottish lines.
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u/Tracypop Henry IV Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
was there a problem in the english command Structure?
Edward II having a weak control over his army( not being able to control his nobles )?
I think I read somewhere that Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Gloucester and Humphrey de bohun was fighting with each other.
They refused to work together. Gilbert was the commander, but Humphrey saw himself as above him. Beacuse he wss the constable of England.
And this made the chain of command confusing.