Bruce’s early Reign We will be exploring: The importance of Edward I’s death The defeat of the English in Scotland

Why did Edward I’s death encourage the Scots? 1.Ed I had been a strong King determined to control Scotland. 2.Ed II was weak, no military experience and no interest in Scotland. 3.Ed II had gone to Scotland but had turned back at Cumnock – leaving Bruce free to fight his personal enemies 4.English garrisons left without any leadership 5.Rumours swept through Scotland of a prophecy of Merlin. “Once the ‘greedy King’ had died, Scotland and Wales will win their independence”.

Defeat of the English in Scotland Why did Bruce destroy castles? Bruce did not have enough men to defend castles against English attack. Scottish rivals could easily have gone against Bruce if they had castles to hide in. Castles were centres of military power. Invaders would have nowhere to shelter. Castles could be re-occupied by English and would need re-capturing.

Activity Create a comic strip with 5 boxes. Leave space for both a description & a drawing in each box

Perth, Linlithgow, Roxburgh, Edinburgh & Stirling Perth (8th January 1313) Perth was the only town in Scotland with a stone wall surrounding it. One wall ran beside the River Tay. It was not well guarded because, in the middle of winter, nobody expected an attack from that direction. Bruce and his men waded, neck ‑ deep in freezing water with ladders on their shoulders, to climb the riverside wall of the town. Once inside they opened a gate to let in the rest of their soldiers. Once the town was captured, Bruce ordered the castle and town be burned to the ground.

Linlithgow (September 1313) The Scots hid some armed men in a hay cart. They drove it to the castle's entrance and stopped the cart where it prevented the garrison from closing the gate or dropping the portcullis. More Scots were able to rush into the castle and capture it. Perth, Linlithgow, Roxburgh, Edinburgh & Stirling

Roxburgh (February 1314) James Douglas and 60 men disguised themselves in dark clothes. They mingled with a herd of cows and were able to creep up to the walls of the castle. They used rope ladders to climb over the walls and catch the garrison by surprise. Perth, Linlithgow, Roxburgh, Edinburgh & Stirling

Edinburgh Castle (March 1314) Thomas Randolph arranged for the Scots to attack one side of the castle, while he and some others climbed the rock and slipped over the wall. Then they captured a gateway and let in more attackers. The castle was later destroyed. Not every attack was a success. One night in 1313, the Scots were creeping towards Berwick when a dog began to bark at them and raised the alarm. The attack had to be abandoned. Berwick was not captured until Perth, Linlithgow, Roxburgh, Edinburgh & Stirling

Stirling Stirling Castle was besieged by King Robert's brother, Edward Bruce. The English Governor of the castle, Sir Philip Mowbray offered to surrender it if an English army did not reach the castle by Midsummer's Day, Edward Bruce accepted the offer, and had unthinkingly committed Bruce to the open conflict he had so long avoided. Perth, Linlithgow, Roxburgh, Edinburgh & Stirling

This ‘open conflict’ was to be the Battle of Bannockburn…

Explain why Bruce destroyed castles? (5)