The Battle of Stirling Bridge

Question 1

The Battle of Stirling Bridge - Background

Answer 1

• Moray drove the English out of castles in the North Whilst Wallace had gathered an army in the South
• Their forces met in late August 1297, they both had a shared loyalty to John Balliol and wanted Scottish independence
• Men who had supported them in Selkirk forest and ordinary men were called up to fight
• Warenne ordered the English army to meet the rebels at Stirling

Question 2

The Scottish Army

Answer 2

• Led by Moray and Wallace, both had proven themselves in battle
• The majority of the army was armed with pikes made from tools attached to long poles in Schiltron formation
• A small number of skilled archers armed with bows, including Wallace himself
• Stationed at Abbey Craig facing Stirling castle, giving them the high ground and a view of the English

Question 3

The English Army

Answer 3

• Reluctantly led by Warenne who assumed he would win easily and Cressingham who had little military experience
• Up to 10,000 foot soldiers & 300 cavalry according to a letter sent to Cressingham to Edward
• Cressingham sent reinforcements home early to avoid paying wages
• Supported by the Earl of Lennox and James the Steward who claimed they could broker peace with the Scots

Question 4

The main Battle - The Stirling Bridge

Answer 4

• The armies were separated by the river Forth, Cressingham overruled Sir Richard Lundie (Knight) idea to cross somewhere else
• Instead he decided to use Stirling Bridge to cross, a wooden structure allowing 2 people to cross at a time

Question 5

The main Battle- 1st, 2nd, 3rd crossing

Answer 5

• The first crossing came when Cressingham ordered troops across Stirling Bridge, They were recalled by Warenne’s aids as he had slept in
• When Warenne arrived Cressingham ordered the troops across for the 2nd time, he sighted Lennox & Stewart returning from their negotiations Warenne recalled the army
• Cressingham ordered his troops to cross the bridge for the 3rd time after 2 DOMINICAN FRIARS were sent to try and make peace with Wallace and Moray
• Moray and Wallace stating they wanted a battle, Lundie was anxoius to end the conflict ASAP to stop paying wages to his troops

Question 6

The main Battle - Initial battle

Answer 6

• 11:00 11 Sep 1297 Sir Marmaduke de Thweng led the Vanguard of English cavalry across Stirling bridge
• From Abbey Craig Wallace and Moray saw the pattern they advanced their Schiltrons at the English Cavalry
• The English Vanguard were driven into the bend in the river, Sir Marmaduke led his cavalry to safety over the river
• Cressingham was pulled from his horse, flayed alive his skin was used for leather souvenirs

Question 7

Why did the Scots win

Answer 7

• The scots were aware aware of English plans and could prepare
• The Scots had taken a good position at Abbey Craig
• Warenne and Cressingham underestimated the Scots

Question 8

Battle of Stirling bridge - Aftermath

Answer 8

• Sir Marmaduke was left in charge of Stirling Castle, he capitulated several weeks later after waiting for reinforcements
• Although the Scots won the battle Moray was mortally wounded and died a few months later
• Moray and Wallace were made joint Guardians of Scotland

Question 9

The significance of Stirling Bridge

Answer 9

• Defeating the English in the North gave the Scots a huge moral booster
• The battle caused the English to retreat meaning that lots of high-end equipment was left behind, better arming the soldiers
• The battle gave the Scots the confidence to cross the border into Northern England and raiding 715 villages