The Battle of Bannockburn
Edward II hoped to outshine his famous father by bringing Scotland under the English crown, but Robert the Bruce was ready for him.
1314
King Edward II 1307-1327
Edward II hoped to outshine his famous father by bringing Scotland under the English crown, but Robert the Bruce was ready for him.
1314
King Edward II 1307-1327
In June 1306, Robert I of Scotland was driven from his throne by Edward I of England. Edward’s persistence earned him the name ‘Hammer of the Scots’, but it was Robert’s persistence that told in the end. Tradition says he had learnt it from watching a gutsy spider; but Edward’s death on July 7th, 1307, must have played a part, for Edward II was nothing that his father had been.
abridged
Robert Bruce, the Scottish hero, had made good use of his time between the years 1307 and 1312. He had gained great power in Scotland, and found two good and trusty friends in his own brother Edward, and Sir James Douglas, whose family afterwards became very famous in Scotland. Edward II now determined to make war upon Bruce; and as, after the death of Gaveston,* he found the barons willing to follow him once more, he contrived to bring together an army of 100,000 men, and considered himself certain of success.
The greatest force Bruce could muster did not amount to a third of the number of Edward’s men; but his followers were hardy Scotsmen, whereas many of Edward’s followers were savage fellows from Ireland and Wales; and Bruce was a skilful soldier, whereas Edward was as unfit to lead an army as he was to govern a kingdom.
* Edward’s long-time friend Piers Gaveston had been executed by the barons in 1312. The barons had found the spell he seemed to cast over the King more than a little disturbing. See Fatal Distraction.