Events of the Battle of Bannockburn

Question 1

What date was the Battle of Bannockburn? (3)

Answer 1

23rd and 24th June 1314

Question 2

What were Edward I’s reign dates? (1)

Answer 2

1272 -1307

Question 3

What is Bannockburn named after? (2)

Answer 3

It is named after the “Bannock burn”
A “burn” is a small stream.

Question 4

What were Edward II’s reign dates? (1)

Answer 4

1307-1327

Question 5

What was the ‘deal’ struck between the English and Scottish in June 1313? (4)

Answer 5

Edward Bruce (Robert’s brother) (1) said to Sir Philip Mowbray (English commander at Stirling Castle) (1) that if a relief force did not arrive before 24th June 1314 (1) then the castle would be handed over to the Scots. (1)

Question 6

On what date did the English arrive near Stirling? (2)

Answer 6

23rd June 1314

Question 7

What was the date of the ‘main’ battle? (2)

Answer 7

24th June 1314

Question 8

What is unusual about the length of the Battle of Bannockburn? (2)

Answer 8

Most medieval battles lasted a few hours whereas this battle was ‘staged’ over two days.

Question 9

What were the approximate numbers of the Scottish army? (2)

Answer 9

5,000- 10,000

Question 10

What were the approximate numbers of the English army? (2)

Answer 10

14,000-25,000

Question 11

Who were the commanders on the Scottish side? (4)

Answer 11

Robert Bruce
Edward Bruce
Sir James Keith (cavalry)
James Douglas

Question 12

Who were the commanders on the English side? (3)

Answer 12

Edward II
Earl of Hereford
Earl of Gloucester

Question 13

What had Robert Bruce been preparing for a year before the battle (2)

Answer 13

The battleground

His troops

Question 14

What happened on the afternoon of the 23rd that boosted the Scottish morale? (4)

Answer 14

The English knight, Sir Henry de Bohun, tried to unhorse Robert Bruce with a charge

But Robert Bruce veered away from him and brought de Bohun crashing down with a blow from his axe.

If Bruce had been killed that would have been the end of Scottish hopes

But the incident had the opposite effect in giving the first day to the Scots and leaving the English vanguard vulnerable.

Question 15

What was the ‘carse’? (2)

Answer 15

The marshy area near the Bannockburn (1) which the English were forced to camp on during the night of the 23rd to 24th. (1)

Question 16

What were the first movements of the battle? (3)

Answer 16

Edward lost control of his men as his commanders argued over strategy.
A disorganised cavalry charge then followed
This did nothing to the Scottish schiltrons which held their ground.

Question 17

How did the Scots neutralise the heavy cavalry threat? (1)

Answer 17

By using schiltrons (hedgehogs of pike men)

Question 18

How were the Welsh longbowmen used? (3)

Answer 18

The longbow men were not used effectively. (1)
Edward moved them to the right flank too late in the battle (1) by which time they were exposed and ridden down by the Scottish cavalry. (1)

Question 19

What problem did the English face in front of the schiltrons? (4)

Answer 19

The dead and wounded men and horses (1) caused an obstacle for other English divisions (1)
It was difficult to do fresh cavalry charges (1)
The dead and wounded created a barrier for the Scottish (1)

Question 20

What was the name of the nobleman who defected to the Scottish side on the night of 23rd June? (1)

Answer 20

Sir Alexander Seton

Question 21

How did Robert Bruce press home his advantage? (2)

Answer 21

He ordered the schiltrons to move forward (1) and start pushing the English infantry back towards the Bannockburn. (1)

Question 22

What happened in the late stages of the battle? (5)

Answer 22

The English spotted a large number of people moving to join the Scottish line

These were mostly camp followers, the young, the sick and the women

Believing these to be reinforcements, many of Edward’s army fled

They were cut down by chasing Scots

Edward narrowly escaped.

Question 23

What were the approximate Scottish casualties? (1)

Answer 23

400-4,000

Question 24

What were the approximate English casualties (2)

Answer 24

700 cavalry

11,000 infantry

Question 25

What were the three main reasons for the English defeat? (3)

Answer 25

Poor leadership
Poor strategy
Lack of organisation

Question 26

How did one eye witness describe the sight of the crush of retreating English at the Bannock burn? (2)

Answer 26

‘’Bodies lay so thick a man could cross the burn dry-shod’’.
In other words there were so many dead that you would not get your feet wet crossing the stream.

Question 27

What happened to Edward II after the battle? (2)

Answer 27

He managed to get to Stirling castle but was refused entry
He carried onto Dunbar Castle where a ship carried him back to England.
He was now at the mercy of his barons

Question 28

What were the main results of the battle for the Scottish? (2)

Answer 28

Robert the Bruce cemented his place on the Scottish throne
Scotland gained its independence.

Question 29

Which treaty led to England recognising full Scottish independence? (2)

Answer 29

The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton signed in 1328

Question 30

What year did Robert the Bruce die? (1)

Answer 30

1329

Question 31

Why did Robert Bruce win the Battle?

Answer 31

English arrogance - they underestimated the strength and organisation of the Scottish army

Sir Alexander Seton - Betraying the English due to being disgusted by the lack of the English

Defensive Position - Made the schiltrons push the English back so they could not flank him & took high ground

Conditions of field - Bruce chose the battleground as he knew the English would arrive with heavy armour and the battlefield was not suited for that

Tactics during battle - made two key choices during the battle

Preparation (1 year) - Using schiltrons and digging holes

Question 32

Why did Edward lose the Battle?

Answer 32

Inability to control his nobles - Two nobles didn’t participate in the battle and the first movement of the battle

Arrogance - Having more numbers

Tactical error - Where to sleep - marshy and uncomfortable

Tactical error - Henry de Bohun

Arrogance - They underestimated the strength and organisation of the Scottish army

Tactical error - Edward used his longbowmen too late and using them would have given hm a huge advantage.