123 Battle Of Stirling Facts Everything You Need To Know

The Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought during the First War of Independence of Scotland. Andrew Moray and William Wallace overcame the united English armies of Hugh de Cressingham and John de Warenne, the sixth Earl of Surrey, near Stirling on the River Forth on September 11, 1297.A tiny Scottish force, led by William Wallace and Andrew Moray, destroyed a much larger English army in Stirling, and all the credit went to their clever tactics.Intrigued to learn more about historical battles? Why not also check out our articles on the Battle of Culloden and Battle of Camden?The Battle Of Stirling Bridge FactsSome of the most interesting Battle of Stirling Bridge facts are listed below.The construction of the Stirling Bridge was a crucial step toward achieving Scottish independence.Wallace and Moray chose the River Forth crossing at Stirling as their location. Despite the fact that there were other spots upstream where men and horses could cross, Stirling Bridge was the only way for the English to transport their supply wagons across the river for several miles. The Scots were in a win-win situation when they faced the English. Either the English would be compelled to fight at the crossing, which was Wallace and Moray’s favorite battleground, or they would be forced to withdraw, leaving northern Scotland safe.The English and Scottish armies were stationed on opposite sides of the River Forth. The English soldiers had to cross a tiny wooden bridge to reach the Scottish troops. The bridge was so narrow that only a limited number of knights could cross it at any given time. The majority of the English force had to wait to cross the river as a result.Wallace and Moray ordered the Scottish forces to attack before the remaining English army could cross the bridge after some of the English soldiers had crossed the river.The English forces found themselves stuck at a river’s bend. The Scottish army blocked them from moving further, and they were unable to cross the bridge again. On the bridge, more English knights were also stranded. This prevented English forces on the other side of the river from assisting.One important factor in the victory of Wallace was maneuverability. The army of Wallace and Moray had one significant strategic advantage: it was more maneuverable. They campaigned on their own terms, compelling the English army to face them in a location of their choosing, despite the fact that they lacked the vast supply train that the invading army required. Their background as hit-and-run guerrillas prepared them properly for such a mission.Historical Facts About Stirling BridgeIn the Battle of Dunbar in 1296, John de Warenne, the sixth Earl of Surrey, defeated John Comyn, the Earl of Buchan. On July 10, King John Balliol surrendered to King Edward I of England in Brechin and the Scottish landowners were forced to recognize Edward’s dominance.A great Scottish revolt against English rule took place in 1297, led by Sir William Wallace and Sir Andrew Moray. This occurred during the English-French conflict, and the Scottish forces, as is usual, chose this time to confront their adversary, when they were more vulnerable due to fighting on two fronts. Except for Dundee, Moray and Wallace controlled practically all of Scotland north of the Forth by August 1297. The English governor, the Earl of Surrey, marched north from Berwick with an army to relieve Dundee while Edward I was fighting on the continent. The Scottish army chose to confront the challenge at the Forth crossing in Stirling, which became known as the Battle of Stirling.The Earl of Surrey, Edward I’s Scottish lieutenant, and Scotland’s Treasurer, Hugh de Cressingham, headed the English army. Wallace and Moray were not seen as threats by either of these men, and they hoped to subdue the rebel Scots. De Cressingham was a thorn in the side of the Scots, and his presence antagonized Wallace and Moray’s soldiers.The attitude of the Earl of Surrey may have also contributed to the English defeat. Before the fight began, he had already sent some of his troops home to evade paying their wages, and he thought that the English soldiers would quickly defeat Wallace and Moray. Not only that, but on the morning of the battle, he slept late and couldn’t figure out how to transport his troops across the river, wasting too much time in the process.The Scots arrived and set up camp on Abbey Craig, which towered over the soft flat land north of the river. The English, who included knights, bowmen, and foot soldiers from England, Wales, and Scotland, were camped south of the river. Sir Richard Lundie, a Scots knight who joined the English after the Capitulation of Irvine, advocated flanking the enemy by leading a cavalry force two mi (3.2 km) upstream across a ford that could accommodate 60 horses at once.The small bridge was just big enough for two horses to pass at a time, but it was the safest river crossing because the Forth ran east and the Flanders Moss wetlands ran west. On the morning of September 11, the Scots waited as the English knights and men began their march across the bridge. The entire English force would have taken many hours to cross. The Scots spearmen rushed down from the high ground, fending off an English strong horse charge and counterattacking the English infantry. The Scots attacked the unguarded English. They took possession of the bridge’s east side, preventing English reinforcements from crossing. Most of the outnumbered English on the east side were likely slain because they were trapped on low terrain in the river’s loop with no hope of relief or retreat. A few hundred people may have made it to the south bank of the river by swimming. With the help of some of his troops, Marmaduke Thweng was able to fight his way back across the bridge.The Earl of Surrey had stayed south of the river with a small troop of archers and was still in a strong position. The majority of his force was still intact, and he might have held the Forth line, denying the Scots a southern path, but his confidence disappeared. Surrey demolished the bridge and fled to Berwick, isolating the soldiers at Stirling Castle and giving up the Lowlands to the rebels. James Stewart, the High Steward of Scotland, and Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, whose warriors had been part of Surrey’s army, retreated after seeing the destruction to the north of the bridge. James Stewart and the other Scottish lords then attacked the English supply train near the Pows, a wooded, swampy area, killing many of the fleeing troops.It is also interesting to note that some accounts state that the English forces demolished the bridge to prevent the Scottish pursuit of the retreating English soldiers. Some historians say that the bridge was simply overloaded, which caused the collapse. In any event, the bridge appeared to have been greatly overloaded and did collapse mid-battle.Facts About The Battle Of Stirling Bridge’s SignificanceStirling Castle was strategically important since it was located in the heart of Scotland.Whoever had possession of Stirling and its castle could regulate movement between the Kingdom’s north and south. It was the pinnacle of William Wallace and Andrew Moray’s campaign on behalf of exiled John Balliol, and it resulted in Wallace’s appointment as Guardian of the Realm of Scotland. It also had a significant cultural impact, both in terms of Wallace’s relationship and a greater heritage of Scottish independence. Finally, the English were stunned by the severity of their defeat, and Edward I returned back to Scotland the following year in another attempt to smash the Scots’ resistance.Hugh de Cressingham, one of the English commanders, was killed, along with many of his troops. Wallace’s position was bolstered by the win, especially as Moray eventually died of wounds incurred in the battle, and the English withdrew temporarily. However, Edward’s army returned the next year and defeated Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk.Facts About The Damage Caused By The Battle Of StirlingAt the Battle of Stirling Bridge in Scotland, the English suffered a humiliating defeat.Although Scottish casualties in the Battle of Stirling Bridge were not documented, they are thought to have been minor.Andrew de Moray, who was injured and died as a result of his wounds, was the sole known victim of the combat. Approximately 6,000 English soldiers were killed or injured. Walter of Guisborough, a contemporaneous English chronicler, estimated that 100 cavalrymen and 5000 infantry were killed in the conflict.The victory at Stirling Bridge propelled Scottish leader William Wallace to prominence, and in March of the following year, he was named Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland. His authority was short-lived since he was destroyed at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 by King Edward I and a stronger English army.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our Battle of Stirling facts, then why not take a look at our Battle of Hastings facts or Battle of Bosworth facts?