Falkirk - 1298

First Battle of Falkirk
22 July 1298

Following the defeat of the English at Stirling Bridge, William Wallace led a punitive raid into Northumberland in March 1298. Later that year, Edward I assembled an army of some 15,000 men, veterans of the French campaigns as well as Irish and Welsh troops. Wallace was so heavily out-numbered that he was forced to use hit-and-run tactics, in order to avoid open battle against the superior English numbers. Wallace also cleared the territories before the advancing English of all resources to weaken its ability to maintain itself. Edward mustered his army at Roxburgh and organized a supply line by sea, to support his army as they pressed on to Edinburgh. It was Wallace's plan to attack Edward's forces in a nighttime raid, near Kirkliston, northwest of Edinburgh. Two Scottish nobles that were resentful of Wallace's rise to power betrayed his plans to Edward's forces. This left Wallace no choice, but to face Edward's army at Falkirk, before they reached the strategically located Stirling Castle.

Wallace's forces were greatly out-numbered and his four schiltrons came under heavy attack by the English archers. Once the schiltrons were opened up, the English calvary then overrode then, bringing defeat to Wallace's army.

This was a battle of great significance, which saw the Scottish army destroyed, leaving Edward I in control of southeast Scotland, which he held with only a few garrisons. For the balance of Edward I's reign, there was not a Scottish army raised that was capable of challenging the English forces.