Battle of Stirling Bridge September 1297 Flashcards
What did William Wallace and Moray see themselves as?
“Commanders of the Army of Scotland”
Why was Stirling Castle important?
In the heart of Scotland, Stirling and its castle held essential strategic importance. Those who controlled Stirling were able to in turn control movement between the north and south of the kingdom.
Which two men act as go-betweens between the two sides?
James the Steward and Earl of Lennox.
Who do the English/Warenne send across the bridge to offer peace talks?
Two dominican friars
What does William Wallace say to the two dominican friars?
“we are ready to fight to avenge ourselves and free our country”
What advice does Richard Lundie, a Scottish knight who had defected to the English, give?
He warned the English leaders of the dangers of attempting to cross such a narrow bridge. He advised Cressingham that not too far away was a ford where 60 men could cross side by side.
How did Cressingham respond to Richard Lundie’s advice?
Cressingham is impatient and ignores his advice.
When does Cressingham give orders to cross the bridge?
11th September
How many times were the English given orders to retreat?
twice
Why were the English troops told to retreat twice?
The first time was because Warenne had overslept.
The second time was because the English thought the Scots were willing to negotiate terms but this wasn’t the case.
What happened when the third crossing began?
The Scots waited until as many English had crossed as they could successfully attack. Scots spearmen block the end of the bridge so that no more Englishmen could cross of retreat. The english found themselves surrounded in a tight space, on soft ground where cavalry was useless.
How many people did Walter and Guisborough estimate dead?
100 knights and 5,000 infantry.
How were the troops killed?
Either by spearmen or by drowning in the Forth.
Who hacks their way back through forces, across the bridge and escapes?
A Yorkshire knight names Sir Marmaduke de Tweng.
What happened to the Treasurer Cressingham?
He was killed and his body was flayed. (skin taken off body)
What did Warenne do?
Seeing the battle was lost, he ordered the bridge to be broken and he fled south with what was left of the English army.
What did James the Steward and Lennox do?
They showed their true colours and emerged to harry the English stragglers and their baggage train.
Why was the Battle of Stirling Bridge memorable (give two reasons)
- firstly an English army had been defeated by the Scots, which had not happened on that scale since the 11th century.
- Secondly, a well equipped and experienced army with touted knights had been defeated by a largely infantry force, many of them untrained.
Why did the English loose at the Battle of Stirling Bridge?
The confined space of the battle site and the soft ground was unsuitable for mounted knights, and the spearmen wreaked havoc on the knights horses.
What happened after the Battle?
The Early of Surrey entrusts Stirling Castle to Sir Marmaduke de Tweng, not provisioned for siege to surrenders.
English garrisons in Dundee and Dumbarton castles surrender.
How many castles were still in the hands of the English after the Battle of Stirling Bridge?
Three: Edinburgh, Roxburgh and Berwick.
