Clever tactics helped a small Scottish army led by William Wallace and Andrew Murray defeated a much larger English army in Stirling on 11 September, 1297.
Find out about the Battle of Stirling Bridge
NARRATOR:The Wars of Independence. The Battle of Stirling Bridge 1297.
William Wallace and Andrew Murray have been fighting the English Occupation of Scotland. They’re on one side of the River Forth ready to defend what they’ve gained.
Coming to crush this ‘rebellion of outlaws’ is a huge English Army. The only place they can cross the river Forth to beat the rebelling Scots is at Stirling Bridge.
The Earl of Surrey commands the English Army for King Edward. They have thousands of Knights. A much bigger army than Scotland. They fully expect to win.
With the sun up, and everyone awake, the English army crosses Stirling bridge, knowing that on the other side, battle awaits.You are one of Andrew Murray’s soldiers!
PIKEMAN:We’re all waiting. I look to Murray. Somebody said he was taken prisoner by the English once and escaped! I hope we won’t need to escape today. No. Murray’s got a plan.
Murray’s told us to wait here until there are as many English soldiers down there as we think we can beat. You know, even it out – make it fair.
ANDREW MURRAY:(Shouting!) Advance!
NARRATOR:The Scottish Army moves down towards the English who are unready.
PIKEMAN:The English lines are falling. Their horses won’t dare charge into our pikes. There‘s nae room for them to go anywhere. The river’s got them surrounded on three sides.
We have to win. It’s either them, or us. So we keep pushing.
NARRATOR:Any English soldiers still stuck on Stirling bridge are eventually pushed back to the English side.
But the English soldiers caught on the Scottish side of the bridge aren’t so lucky and they’re all killed. Murray and Wallace take no prisoners.
It’s an extraordinary victory for the Scots. But it’s not all good news.
PIKEMAN:Murray’s been wounded! He looks pale. Everyone thinks the same thing. He’ll get the fever.
NARRATOR:In the past, even the smallest wound could lead to death, because of infection, and blood poisoning.
With Andrew Murray gone, William Wallace is the sole Guardian of Scotland. He’ll now have to face King Edward alone, and King Edward will be furious and eager for revenge!
How did William Wallace beat the English army?
The English army was far larger than the Scottish forces, so Wallace and the other Scottish leader, Andrew Murray, had to be cleverer.
The two armies were on opposite sides of the River Forth. The English could only reach the Scots by crossing a very narrow wooden bridge. On the other side of the bridge the Scots were waiting.
How Wallace and Murray used the land
- They let some of the English army cross the bridge and then attacked
- They trapped the English soldiers against the bend of the river
- The rest of the English army couldn't get over the bridge to help
- The bridge was too crowded for the English soldiers to escape over
Battle of Stirling Bridge: Key moments
Image caption, The River Forth
The English and Scottish forces were on either side of the River Forth. To reach the Scottish army, the English knights had to cross a narrow wooden bridge.
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What happened after the battle?
The battle was a great victory but it came at a cost.
Andrew Murray, Wallace's co-commander, was badly injured in the battle and died soon after.
King Edward I was furious at losing. He took personal control of an English army and marched north to find and beat Wallace.
The next year, Wallace and Edward would meet at the Battle of Falkirk.
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