Synopses & Reviews
Osprey's study of William Wallace's rebellion in the First War of the Wars of Scottish Independence (1296-1357). The death of the last of the Scottish royal house of Canmore in 1290 triggered a succession crisis. Attempts to undermine Scottish independence by King Edward I of England sparked open rebellion culminating in an English defeat at the hands of William Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297. Edward gathered an army, marched north and at Falkirk on 22 July 1298 he brought Wallace’s army to battle. Amid accusations of treachery, Wallace’s spearmen were slaughtered by Edward’s longbowmen, then charged by the English cavalry and almost annihilated. In 1305 Wallace was captured and executed, but the flame of rebellion he had ignited could not be extinguished.
Synopsis
The death of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1290, leaving no legitimate heir, paved the way for Edward I of England's invasion of Scotland. This well-illustrated guide outlines the events of the rebellion that ensued, the defeat of the Englidh by William Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297, followed a year later by the overwhelming defeat of the Scots at Falkirk. With lots of maps, reconstruction drawings, photos and illustrations, Pete Armstrong examines the events of the battles themselves, the wider campaigns of the English and Scots, the nature of the armies and their commanders, the aftermath of the battles and how the battlefields appear to the modern visitor.
Synopsis
Contents Origins of the Campaign
- Chronology
- Opposing Commanders
- Opposing Armies
- The Campaign of 1297
- The Battle of Stirling Bridge
- The Aftermath of Stirling Bridge
- The Campaign of 1298
- The Battle of Falkirk
- The Aftermath of Falkirk
- Bibliography
- Index
Synopsis
The death of the last of the Scottish royal house of Canmore in 1290 triggered a succession crisis. Attempts to undermine Scottish independence by King Edward I of England sparked open rebellion culminating in an English defeat at the hands of William Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297. Edward gathered an army, marched north and at Falkirk on 22 July 1298 he brought Wallace’ s army to battle. Amid accusations of treachery, Wallace’ s spearmen were slaughtered by Edward’ s longbowmen, then charged by the English cavalry and almost annihilated. In 1305 Wallace was captured and executed, but the flame of rebellion he had ignited could not be extinguished.
About the Author
PETER ARMSTRONG went to Keswick School after which he travelled widely before taking a degree in Fine Art at Maidstone College of Art. He was an art teacher for several years but escaped and is now among other things the sculptor behind Border Miniatures, specialising in producing military miniatures from the medieval period. In the course of his model making, Petes previous publications include Campaign 102 Bannockburn 1314 - Robert Bruces great victory.