1314 Battle of Bannockburn

Submitted by Owen McCafferty on Thu, 2010-01-14

By 1314, only Stirling Castle was held by the English, and was not long till the Scots took it back. In a last attempt to stay in control of Scotland, Edward II and a large army marched north to relieve the castle. But was met by the Scots led by Robert the Bruce just outside of Stirling at Bannockburn. Although the Scots were heavily outnumbered at least three to one, the Scots won the Battle of Bannockburn (1314), and many of the English were slaughtered or captured. This was a major step towards Scotland’s independence.

Battles continued and although the Scots had the best of it, notably by defeating the English deep into England at the Battle of Byland, Edward II would not recognise Scotland’s independence nor would the pope. A declaration sealed by most of the nobles of Scotland, was drawn up at Arbroath Abbey, which urged the pope to recognise Scotland as a free independent country, and to put pressure on the English to do the same.