The Battle of Falkirk, 1298: Wallace’s Defeat

Background

Stung by Stirling Bridge, Edward I invaded in person in 1298 with a great army including Welsh and English longbowmen. Wallace, now Guardian, tried to starve the English by scorched earth, but Edward caught him near Falkirk.

The battle

Wallace drew his spearmen into four great schiltrons on a slope, archers in the gaps, a small cavalry force behind. The schiltrons held against the English cavalry — until the Scottish horse left the field and Edward brought up his longbowmen, who stood off and poured arrows into the packed, static formations. Gaps opened, the cavalry charged in, and the schiltrons disintegrated. It is often called one of the first great demonstrations of the massed longbow.

Outcome & significance

A serious defeat that broke Wallace’s military reputation; he resigned the Guardianship soon after. But Edward could not complete his conquest, and Bruce would later absorb the lesson — keep the schiltrons mobile, neutralise the archers — to opposite effect at Bannockburn.

The battlefield today

Because the exact ground is disputed there is no single visitor centre; a First Battle of Falkirk memorial was raised around 2000, and Falkirk Old Parish Church is traditionally linked to the graves of the fallen Scottish leaders. It is on the Inventory of Historic Battlefields.

The clans & people involved

• Clan Stewart — Sir John Stewart of Bonkill was killed here.
• Clan Cumming — the Comyn cavalry, whose withdrawal is the subject of the “betrayal” tradition.
• William Wallace — who resigned the Guardianship after the defeat.

Sources

• Battle of Falkirk — Wikipedia; Britannica; the Stewart Society.