Battle of Falkirk 1298

1. Battle of Falkirk 1298 In the spring of 1298 Edward... • Arrived back in England from France (March) • Moved his headquarters to York • Summoned a massive army to assemble at Roxburgh on 25 June Roxburgh York

2. Edward’s Army • Consisted of • 2000 cavalry • 12,000 infantry (10,000 of which were Irish or Welsh) • Edward joined his army in early July Scorched Earth Policy • As the English marched north the Scots burnt and destroyed the countryside Why? • To stop them finding any food or shelter

3. Problems for Edward.... • English army was running out of supplies and near starvation • He issued them with wine to boost morale • Welsh troops got drunk, fought with English soldiers and several were killed • The Welsh threatened to join the Scots • Then the supply ships arrived and the Welsh rejoined the army

4. The Night before the Battle • The Scots were only 13 miles away at Falkirk • The English slept in full armour • Edward slept on the ground like his men • During the night his horse trod on him breaking a rib, but this would not stop him leading his troops into battle

5. Wallace’s Plan • Wallace knew the force of the English cavalry • His plan was to deliberately avoid making contact with the enemy • His plan involved • drawing the English on • stretching out their supply lines to cause hunger and internal strife • He very nearly succeeded

6. The Scots army • 6000 footsoldiers equipped with long spears • Small body of archers • 500 to 600 knights provided by the nobles • Many in the Scottish army demanded that they stand and fight • Wallace, whose authority rested on the support of the army had • to give way

7. The Scots Position Scots Army Callander Wood Scots knights Slamman hill Archers 4 Schiltrons with 1000-2000 men in each Wooden stakes tied with rope Marshland Knights Longbows and crossbows Edward’s Army

8. Wallace turned to his men… I have brought you to the ring, hop if you can As soon as Edward’s army sighted the Scots the English cavalry plunged into the attack

9. English knights divided into 2 halves and went round either side of the marshland to attack the Scots from the sides Scots Army Edward’s Army

10. Most of the Scot archers were killed. Scots Army Edward’s Army

11. The Scots knights saw this and fled Scots Army Edward’s Army

12. English knights charged at the schiltrons but could not break through, many horses were killed

13. Edward brought in his Welsh longbowmen and foreign crossbowmen to fire at the schiltrons

14. Scottish soldiers fell in their hundreds.

15. Edward then ordered his knights to attack the schiltrons again. This time the schiltrons broke and the Scots scattered

16. Hundreds of Scots were killed • Wallace fled the battle with a core of followers into the surrounding woodland