In 1314, Edward II felt bold enough to attempt to fulfil his father Edward I’s dream of conquering Scotland for the English crown. With the support (now that Piers Gaveston was gone) of his barons, Edward took a vast army north to confront Robert I of Scotland, whose army was very much smaller, but whose generalship was far superior.

In readiness for battle, Robert the Bruce selected home ground at Bannockburn near Stirling. To left and right natural barriers protected his flanks, and before him he dug camouflaged trenches carpeted with bitter wooden stakes. On June 23rd, 1314, the first skirmishes broke out, and with his trusty battle-axe Robert slew an English knight in hand-to-hand combat.

The following day, the 24th, the battle began in earnest. The Bruce’s preparations proved masterly: one by one English knights fell into pits lined with those piercing stakes, and a clever illusion of Scottish reinforcements soon afterwards convinced the English to turn and run. Edward took refuge in Dunbar before scampering back to London, and Scotland was free.

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