The Battle of Bannockburn was fought on June 24th, 1314. It was never in Robert the Bruce's plans to face the English on the battlefield in full force. Guerrilla tactics - ambush, burning crops and driving off livestock so the enemy could not take them, and taking fortresses by surprise and later razing them - had proven highly successful. However, thanks to his impatient brother, Edward Bruce, things fell out a little differently. One year before, Edward had laid siege to Stirling Castle, but being the restless sort, he quickly struck a deal - that if the castle was not relieved one year from then, it would be handed over to the Scots. Of course, Edward II of England was not going to let it go so easily. He marched north, thinking he only need show up and the castle would be his without question.
As we all know, that was not the case. In the weeks to come, I'll be sharing more about Robert the Bruce's struggle for Scottish independence. For now, here's an inspirational video featuring Steve McDonald as he reads Robert Burns' famous poem, Scots, Wha Hae Wi' Wallace Bled:
Bannockburn
Until later,
Gemi
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