Wars of Independence: Video playlist

In 1296, Edward I’s army invaded Scotland and forced the abdication of King John Balliol. Scottish resistance was crushed by Edward’s army, except for William Wallace in the southwest and Andrew Moray in the northeast. In September 1297, the two rebel leaders gathered their forces at Stirling. Control of Stirling was seen as key to controlling movement around Scotland, and 10,000 English soldiers led by John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, arrived ready to fight. Meanwhile, Wallace, Moray, and around 2,500 farmers and peasants waited on high ground nearby. Despite concerns about the strength of the Scottish forces, Surrey was ordered to attack across Stirling Bridge. It was only wide enough for two horsemen at a time, and his army would take hours to cross. The Scots allowed as many English troops as they could deal with to cross and then attacked. Armed with spears, they took control of the bridge, trapping and killing English soldiers on one side while preventing reinforcements from crossing from the other. Thousands of English soldiers were killed. Wallace and Moray gained control of the bridge, and Surrey was forced to retreat to Berwick, abandoning the Lowlands to the Scottish rebels. Wallace’s tactical skill and determination turned him into a symbol of Scottish resistance. He was given the title of Guardian of Scotland and inspired many more rebels to join the cause.