Unit 5 - King Robert and the war against England, 1310–23 - Irish campaign essay

Question 1

Introduction - context

Answer 1

• became king of Scotland in 1306 after no king since Balliol abdication 1296 and remained their until their death in 1329
• ambitious in taming and pressuring his powerful neighbours of England, Bannockburn 1314 significant point of change
• Bannockburn saw Scotland outsmart in attacking on marshy lands, made cavalry ineffective and led to heavy Scottish win

Question 2

Introduction - evaluation and argument

Answer 2

• tactics, securing internal, Ireland, truces
• Brown emphasises strength of raids, Ireland widely agreed to be useless

Question 3

Irish campaign - knowledge and analysis

Answer 3

• Edward opened military front in Ireland in May 1315 with over 6,000 men, nominally ‘Irish King’
• Moving south from Carrickfergus successfully, Dundalk, Kells
• slowed down 1316, 1317 due to famine
• threatened English use of Ireland for resources, Feb 1317, English envoy in Dublin John de Hotham asked Edward for £500
• ended October 1318 when Battle of Faughart killed Edward

Question 4

Irish campaign - evaluation and historiography

Answer 4

• Penman - bogged down in Gaelic-Irish infighting, never challenged colonial capital at Dublin
• Brown - this campaign highlights the ascendancy of the Bruces in the aftermath of Bannockburn
• Combined practical weakening and strong message makes most important, more so than truces which made Robert have to cease attack on England

Question 5

Truces - knowledge and analysis

Answer 5

• agreements to maintain peace for a specific amount of time, bought by English in the North to prevent Scottish raids
• Truce 1316-17 Edward could use protection and safety of peace of truce along with Robert being in Ireland to strategize on how best to respond
• usually short term, lasting maximum 2 years, some such as Bishopthorpe (May 1323) extended longer
• this was success because Edward forced into long treaty against his preference, allowed Scotland to gain upper hand. Forced England to dismantle castle at Harbottle
• long term tactical advantages, Bishothorpe, provisions which prevented building fortifications on the border, special lisences to cross border and protections for shipping

Question 6

Truces - evaluation and historiography

Answer 6

• Penman - 1323 truce Robert forced into agreeing long and uneasy truce (13 years) as Edward refused to give up Scotland
• Less important than raids as they put more pressure on England than agreeing not to attack, which stops flow of pressure on England and gives them respite

Question 7

Bruce’s tactics - knowledge and analysis

Answer 7

• avoiding pitched battles, initiating smaller surprise attacks onto English areas - run of victories 1311 summer Lothian, Feb 1313 Dumfries, Sep 1313 Linlithgow
• Bannockburn
• evolved in magnitude and by 1320s, take character of invasions - deprived England of resources
• October 1322 harried Northumberland then Yorkshire, decisive victory as he captured Edward (though he would soon escape)
• lightly armed soldiers on horseback, allowing mobility and speed, destroyed land raided, trample wet crops and burn dry crops - 1322 Scots withdrew north of Forth and burned Lothian
• only affected Northern magnates and didn’t threaten heart of English power

Question 8

Bruce’s tactics - evaluation and historiography

Answer 8

• Brown - run of victories 1311-1313 was both evidence of greater confidence of Robert and disarray of enemies
• Brown - from late 1314, Scottish invasions of England displayed new impetus, range and ambition
• McNamee - huge benefits to Bannockburn, castles of Stirling and Bothwell and huge booty and armour
• reliant on Ireland because England couldn’t respond to these raids effectively due to lack of troops which was created by Scotland putting pressure on Ireland

Question 9

Securing internal relations - knowledge and analysis

Answer 9

• success of Bannockburn, statute of disinheritance (Cambuskenneth), lands of all Scots who fought on English side to be forfeited if they did not come to peace
• John Comyn son died at Bannockburn, enemies of Ingeram Umfraville, Earl Patrick, William Soules captured or submitted
• siege of Berwick April 1318, Scotland seize from English army - ensured last English stronghold in Scotland, he kept castle (didn’t raze it) so had military advantage
• Dec of Arbroath 1320 from barons but also noble and clergy. Displayed unified support for Robert
• Soules conspiracy 1320 lord of Brechin executed despite minor involvement - represents strong authority

Question 10

Securing internal relations - evaluation and historiography

Answer 10

• Grant - Brechin’s harsh execution proof of Robert’s insecurity as a king causing him to overreact
• Penman - long truce of 1323 giving Robert valuable time to stabilize internal affairs
• undermined by truces which brought the necessary breathing space to create this improvement