Bannockburn - day 1:
The War of Independence lasted from 1296 to 1328. After the death of Wallace in 1305, Scottish resistance to English rule was led by Robert the Bruce, who was crowned King in 1306. By 1314 only Stirling Castle was still held by the English garrison and the Scots were laying siege. Edward II attempted to relieve the castle but Bruce's army met him at Bannockburn. Archaeologist Tony Pollard – from BBC2's 'Two Men in a Trench' – takes us to the site of the battle and tells us how the Battle of Bannockburn evolved on the first day - the Scottish tactics, the killing of De Bohun by Bruce - cleaving his head with an axe - and the retreat of the English to the flat ground near Bannockburn. By nightfall Scots morale was high.
The War of Independence lasted from 1296 to 1328. After the death of Wallace in 1305, Scottish resistance to English rule was led by Robert the Bruce, who was crowned King in 1306. By 1314 only Stirling Castle was still held by the English garrison and the Scots were laying siege. Edward II attempted to relieve the castle but Bruce's army met him at Bannockburn. Archaeologist Tony Pollard – from BBC2's 'Two Men in a Trench' – takes us to the site of the battle and tells us how the Battle of Bannockburn evolved on the first day - the Scottish tactics, the killing of De Bohun by Bruce - cleaving his head with an axe - and the retreat of the English to the flat ground near Bannockburn. By nightfall Scots morale was high.
