Battle Of Falkirk (1298) Flashcards
(22 cards)
What were Scots sick of in 1297?
English control of Scotland, started Scottish uprising
What did William Wallace use at Stirling Bridge?
Pikes and schiltrons to defeat English
What did Royal Writs do?
Summoned troops to Scotland using feudal service and assize of arms, raising a 21k army for Earl Of Surrey. Still ways to get large numbers in declining system
Why were only 10k men from 21k army left by March?
Men went home due to the winter campaigning season not being popular
What did the 10k remaining troops do?
Recaptured castles at Berwick
Why did Edward only have 1500 troops by time of battle?
He delayed campaign till he returned from campaign in France
What did Edward and Wallace do as Edward marched North?
Wallace destroyed crops useful to Edward in Scotland and Edward retaliated by burning houses to punish locals
What problems did Edward encounter on his march North?
Baggage train ran out of supplies and bad weather stopped supply ships that Edward hugged the east coast for
How did the battle begin?
Both armies accidentally spotted each other
How did Wallace prepare for attack?
Set up on side of a hill with marsh in front and woods protecting rear. Archers on flanks and infantry formed 4 schiltrons
How was the English army composed?
2k cavalry (half feudal half assize)
12k infantry
5k longbowers and 500 crossbowmen
How was Scottish army composed?
500 cavalry and 9.5k infantry
Why was it significant that Wallace wasn’t in nobility?
Scottish nobles didn’t take orders from him and were quick to desert
How did an uncoordinated cavalry attack begin?
Edward ordered not to engage till king’s cavalry arrived but some feudal knights too undisciplined to listen
What did Scottish cavalry do?
Abandoned Wallace (little loyalty)
What was good about wallace’s schiltrons?
Well-disciplined and held back cavalry
How did Edward win?
Deployed 5k longbows and killed hundreds of infantry, creating gaps in schiltron for cavalry to charge. Wallace’s troops scattered
What did Edward do after winning?
Captured castles to get firmer grip on Scotland
What did Wallace do well?
Use of schiltrons almost worked
Good aspects of positioning
What did Wallace do badly?
Failed to protect his flanks
His cavalry and archers were not useful and his fault for using wrong troops
What did Edward do that was risky?
Advanced planning for supplies almost starved campaign
Undisciplined cavalry could’ve ruined the attack
What did Edward do well?
Took the bold decision to attack fast when Wallace had no defended flanks, showing outmanoeuvring enemy was a key skill
Made most of hus superior troops
