Falkirk

Falkirk 30/11/18 AIM – Learn about the key events of the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. SUCCESS CRITERIA – Be able to describe the causes of the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. Be able to explain why the victorious side were able to achieve their success. Constuct a detailed diagram outlining the various steps of the battle of Falkirk. TASKS Copy today’s aim and heading into your jotter. Through class questioning, recap Wallace’s campaigns in the aftermath of his victory at Stirling Bridge. Go through today’s PPt (following this slide), taking notes of information given in bold. 4. Cut and paste today’s handouts into your jotter – following the guide on the PPt, construct a diagram in your battle showing how the battle of Falkirk unfolded. 5. Use what we’ve learned and apply it to today’s ‘big question’.

The 1298 campaign Edward returned to England in March 1298 and immediately began organising his second invasion of Scotland. The English army assembled at Berwick moved upstream along the River Tweed to Roxburgh by 25th June, where Edward arrived himself to take command. Haven’t we been ‘ere before, boss?: English soldiers survey the grim prospect of another march into the soggy north.

Scorched Earth Edward’s march northwards did not go well. Wallace had ordered a scorched earth policy, denying the invaders fresh supplies. The Scots steadily retreated, drawing the English ever deeper in hostile, barren territory. Edward’s supply fleet had been delayed by bad weather and by the time his army reached central Scotland, it was close to starvation. The capture of a series of Scottish held castles in East Lothian by the warlike Bishop of Durham, Anthony Bek, did little to raise English morale. Don’t play with matches, kids: Wallace burned everything the English could use for food or shelter in Edward’s path. It was a hot summer in Lothian that year.

Much of Edward’s army was composed of conscripted Welshmen Much of Edward’s army was composed of conscripted Welshmen. These troops in particular became very demoralised and were close to mutiny. In an effort to raise spirits, Edward ordered his supplies of wine to be distributed amongst the men. Unfortunately, the Welsh became very drunk and a brawl broke out with their English comrades, killing several priests. In return they were attacked by the English knights, who killed 80 of them and drove the rest back to the edge of the army’s camp. “Give us all your wine or we’ll shank you!”

Just as Edward was considering falling back to Edinburgh with his army falling apart around him, his scouts reported that Wallace had taken up position with his army in the wood of Callendar, near Falkirk. The Scots were only 13 miles away, with Wallace poised to chase the English on their expected retreat. Wallace had made his move too early. Edward jumped at the chance to meet Wallace in battle and marched his army straight for the Scots. Wallace had made his greatest mistake. On 22nd July 1298, Edward’s army finally caught sight of their elusive enemy. FIGHT! “As God lives… they need not pursue me, for I will go and meet them this day.”

The Battle of Falkirk 1. The Scots army was mostly made up of four great armoured schiltroms of spearmen on foot. Archers armed with shortbows were deployed in the gaps between them whilst a small force of light cavalry waited at the rear. 2. The ground chosen for the battlefield was considerably inferior to Stirling Bridge. Wallace set his army on a low ridge overlooking a small, impassable bog at the confluence of two streams. This was to avoid a frontal charge by Edward’s heavily armoured knights. Each of the men in Wallace’s schiltroms were armed with a four metre spear which collectively provided an impenetrable barrier to a cavalry attack.  Further protection was achieved by a placing a palisade of sharpened stakes around the formations. Wallace placed his archers between each schiltrom and put his small cavalry contingent to the rear. Collect your blank copies of the map and paste them into your jotter with annotations as the battle unfolds.

3. The English vanguard was commanded by the Earls of Norfolk, Hereford and Lincoln. They led their cavalry towards the Scots – the steam across the battlefield proved to be insignificant, but the marsh was impassable to horsemen. This skewed their advance off to their right. The Scots archers shot at the knights’ exposed flank but their bows lacked the power to do any damage.

4. Bishop Bek tried to hold back his own men to give the King time to get into position but his impatient knights were eager to join their comrades in an immediate attack. 5. Bek was wary of attacking the Scots in their dominant position on the hill with just cavalry. His caution was ignored by his deputy, Ralph Bassett, who led the unruly knights off in a headlong charge to the left. Notice the charge by Norfolk on the English right flank left the Welsh bowmen behind.

6. The ground thundered under the hooves of the English charge. It was too much for the Scots’ cavalry, who fled the battlefield. 7. The Scots’ bowmen, commanded by Sir John Stewart of Bute, showed more courage and stood their ground – they were quickly wiped out. Bute would lose 600 men during the battle. 8. Sir John Stewart was the younger brother of James, the High Steward. The illustration is from the 14th century Luttrell Psalter in the British Library. Having now lost their momentum, the knights couldn’t break through the forest of spears surrounding the schiltroms. Many horses were killed under their riders.

9. Edward arrived from the rear to order his knights back and restore discipline. 10. Edward then brought up his massed archers. The closely-packed, static Scottish formations made the perfect target. With nowhere to hide and little protection, heavy casualties were inflicted. Edward’s massed archers were made up of Crossbowmen from Gascony and Longbowmen from Wales and the Marches. He used the tactic of massed bowfire against a static formation of spearmen to defeat the Welsh during their rebellion at the battle of Maes Moydog in 1295.

11. The English cavalry waited until the Scots’ ranks thinned enough for them to charge again and finish the job. 12. With the schiltroms’ ranks now thinned out and ineffective, Edward’s knights charged. The Scots were routed, the few survivors leaving many dead on the field behind them, including MacDuff, the Earl of Fife.

Consequences Wallace escaped the battle, but his credibility and prestige were destroyed. Whilst the battle was far bloodier than Dunbar, it was much less decisive. Edward’s starved and weakened army was in no condition to continue his campaign. Edward withdrew back across the border to Carlisle, leaving a garrison once again in Stirling Castle. This was starved into surrender by the end of 1299. On the road back south, Edward attacked Bruce’s base at Ayr and captured his castle at Lochmaben. This along with Stirling were the only English prizes in an expensive and fruitless campaign. Welsh bowman: Knackered, hungry, skint and thoroughly peeved after Edward’s campaign of 1298.

Today’s ‘Big Question’ Take note of the question in your jotter and write an answer drawing upon the notes you have taken today: To what extent can Wallace be blamed for the Scottish defeat at Falkirk? Wallace: It wisnae me!