The Battle of Falkirk Learning Objectives: To understand the main events of the Battle of Falkirk. To understand how Edward gained control of Scotland.

Getting Started… The English had lost at Stirling Bridge. What options does Edward I now have? Work in pairs. Come up with as many options as you can. Then decide what you think Edward should do next and why you think this.

Edward Takes Control When the English lost at Stirling Bridge, Edward was away fighting against the French. He returned to England in 1298 and prepared to invade Scotland himself. He moved his government to York. He then demanded that the Scottish nobles come to York to show their loyalty to him. None of them came so Edward declared that they were all traitors.

Edward Prepares Edward put together an army of 2,000 cavalry, 12,000 infantry and thousands of other volunteers. He recruited many Welshmen to fight in his army. Edward also bought land and established the town of Kingston-upon-Hull. This was on the coast. It would be a supply base for his army – boats could sail up to Scotland from Hull’s harbour.

Wallace’s Strategy Wallace knew his army was too weak to defeat Edward head-to-head. He therefore decided to retreat. As he did this, his army destroyed supplies and crops (‘scorched earth’ tactics). This left Edward’s army with little food when they moved into Scotland. Wallace hoped the English would become hungry and weak and be forced to retreat.

The English Hit Trouble Wallace’s tactics began to work. The morale of Edward’s soldiers began to fall. A group of Welsh soldiers became drunk and started a riot with English soldiers. 80 Welshmen died. Edward began to consider returning to England. However, he then got word that Wallace’s army was nearby at Falkirk…

The Battle of Falkirk Your Task: You have two maps showing the battle. Stick each of these into your book, leaving space around them to add annotations about the battle’s events.

The Battle of Falkirk The Scottish army formed four giant schiltrons. Hundreds of men formed circles or rectangles. Protected by pikes – like a hedgehog. The ground between the armies was boggy which made it hard for the English cavalry to charge. However when the English cavalry attacked, the Scottish cavalry panicked and rode away from the battlefield.

The Battle of Falkirk The English knights were then able to cut down the unprotected Scottish archers. However, the schiltrons were a big problem. The cavalry couldn’t break through and were losing men. So, Edward ordered a retreat.

The Battle of Falkirk Edward then ordered his longbow men to fire at the schiltrons. Crossbows were also used. The Scottish soldiers had no protection from arrows (no shields as carrying a pike needs two hands) and had nowhere to hide.

The Battle of Falkirk While the schiltrons were being weakened the English infantry advanced and the cavalry charged. The schiltrons broke up and the Scots scattered. Many were cut down by the English. Wallace and some other men escaped, but his army had been totally destroyed.

Consequences After the battle, William Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland. The fighting continued on a smaller scale. However the Scots avoided battles and preferred hit-and-run tactics. However, the Scots began to lose support. The Pope gave his backing to Edward and blamed the Scots for the fighting. In 1303 Edward invaded Scotland again and in 1304 the Scots finally asked for a peace deal.

What Happened to William Wallace? Edward would not allow Wallace to surrender. After Falkirk, Wallace kept working for Scottish independence. However in 1305 he was betrayed by some Scottish nobles. He was taken to London and founded guilty of treason. He was then dragged naked through the streets and hung, drawn and quartered. His head was put on a spike on London Bridge. Other body parts were displayed in Newcastle, Berwick, Stirling and Perth.