Scottish Wars of Independence - reasons for scottish victory at bannockburn

1. Scottish Wars of Independence
Why did the
Scots win at
Bannockburn?

2. In today’s class, I am learning to:
• Explain why the Scots won the Battle
of Bannockburn
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

3. In 1314, King Robert the Bruce led the Scots to their
most famous victory when at Bannockburn they beat
English King Edward II’s army.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

4. There were many reasons
for Scotland’s victory at
Bannockburn. These
include factors such as:
• Scottish leadership
• The battlefield
• English leadership
• English tactics
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

5. Robert the Bruce was a
great leader, and he was
able to inspire his men to
victory.
Bruce’s killing of English
knight Henry de Bohun on
the first day raised the
spirits of Scottish soldiers,
who had been worried by
the size of England’s army.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

6. Bruce’s planning for the
battle was very important.
Bruce chose the battlefield,
which allowed the Scots
time to train on the land,
meaning they knew every
aspect of it.
It also gave the Scots time
to dig traps and pits.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

7. Bruce’s use of a reserve
army (the sma’ folk) also
helped the Scots win.
He brought them into
battle to stop England’s
archers killing the main
Scottish army. It also led
English soldiers to believe
there was even more
Scottish soldiers.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

8. The battlefield made it
harder for England to fight.
Much of the land was
boggy and marshy, and
this prevented their knights
from charging.
In addition the Scots dug
traps and pits to force the
English to go certain ways.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

9. England were poorly
organised.
Due to his much larger
army, King Edward II had
not actually expected the
Scots to fight.
This meant he did not have
a battle plan to deal with
Scottish attacks.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

10. England’s army suffered
from a confusing
leadership structure.
King Edward II joined the
battle but not as leader.
However he still gave
orders, and this led to
problems for English
soldiers trying to work out
what they should do.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

11. England also lost due to
low morale.
Edward II’s decision to
move the English camp
overnight after Day One of
fighting meant that the
soldiers were very tired.
This left them unable to
properly fight the next day.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

12. England’s army was poorly
positioned, making it
harder for them to fight.
Moving the camp meant
that their archers could not
be used without killing
other English soldiers,
limiting one of the English
army’s most powerful
weapons.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?

13. Having a large army in
some ways hurt England.
This meant they found it
harder to manoeuvre or
get space to fight.
When the Scots eventually
charged, there was also
nowhere for the English to
retreat, leaving many to
drown in the Bannockburn.
Why did the Scots win at Bannockburn?