1. Bannockburn Day 2 – 24 June 1314
Early hours Scots approached English in Schiltron formations led by
Edward Bruce (leading division),
Thomas Randolph
Sir James Douglas
King’s division remained with Scots cavalry in reserve on slopes of the hill
Robert Bruce

2. ‘Ha! They kneel for mercy’
When Scots came to within some hundred yards of English they knelt down to pray
Edward II wrongly cried
Earl of Gloucester (commanded the van leading the main body of English army) ordered the charge
‘Ha! They kneel for mercy’

3. Edward Bruce’s men formed a schiltron
Gloucester’s men could not break the schiltron and he was killed along with many of his men cut down by the spears
English vanguard fled in confusion

4. Engaging whole of English front English couldn’t manoeuvre
Douglas and Randolph then launched an attack on remaining 9 English divisions
Engaging whole of English front
English couldn’t manoeuvre
Narrow frontage
River obstacles – ditches & pools in ground
Scots spearmen kept their ranks and pressed slowly forward

5. Edward II then decided to use his archers
Difficult to make way through crush of English army
From the rear the arrows were hitting their own troops in the back
Eventually found place to fire into side of Scots schiltrons of Douglas and Randolph

6. Bruce sent Sir Robert Keith with 500 knights to attack archers
Keith attacked with success driving them from the field
Archers played no further part in the battle

7. Bruce next brought in his own strong reserve division

9. Bruce next brought in his own strong reserve division
Scots schiltrons continued to push back English lines to Bannockburn
Area so crowed that many could not reach the fighting and were crushed or drowned

10. Edward II sensing he had lost fled the battlefield
Led by bodyguard 500 knights he headed for Stirling Castle
English saw royal standard leaving the field
many began to flee
‘Small folk’ abandoned their reserve position and came running down to join the battle
English thought it was a second army
Robert Bruce

11. English panicked and fled in every direction
Many drowned in river
Many were crushed
Many captured

12. Edward II reached Stirling Castle
Sir Philip Mowbray refused King entry to castle as this would certainly lead to his capture
Bruce sent Douglas with 60 knights in pursuit of Edward II
Edward II escaped to Dunbar and secured rowing boat to take him to Berwick

13. Bruce seized the English baggage train (20 miles long)
Worth £200,000 (£50m today)
Bruce spread the wealth amongst the kingdom
Scotland became rich over night
Bruce exchanged prisoners for his wife and 11 other family friends (including Bishop Wishart)

14. Significance of Bruce’s Victory
Bruce proved himself at Bannockburn to be….
Skilled general
Superb leader
Resourceful
Courageous
Ambitious
Broke power of Scots nobles who opposed him
Greatest victory won by Scots