William Wallace & Robert the Bruce — Knowledge Organiser (Scotland)

Key figures

1. 1 William Wallace (c.1270–1305) Scottish knight who led resistance to English occupation under Edward I. Guardian of Scotland. Won the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297). Captured and executed by the English in London in 1305.
2. 2 Edward I of England (1239–1307) 'The Hammer of the Scots'. Invaded Scotland, removed the Stone of Destiny to London, and tried to absorb Scotland into England. His campaigns drove Scottish resistance.
3. 3 Robert the Bruce (1274–1329) King of Scots from 1306. After a difficult start (he initially collaborated with the English), became Scotland's greatest king. Won independence at Bannockburn.
4. 4 Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) Wallace's greatest victory. The English army was trapped crossing the narrow bridge — roughly half was destroyed. First major Scottish victory of the wars.
5. 5 Battle of Bannockburn (1314) Robert the Bruce's decisive victory over Edward II's English army. Scotland's independence was effectively secured, though formally recognised in the Declaration of Arbroath (1320) and the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton (1328).

• ▶ 1296: Edward I invades Scotland, removes the Stone of Destiny to Westminster, installs English rule
• ▶ 1297: Battle of Stirling Bridge — Wallace and Andrew Murray defeat the English; Wallace becomes Guardian of Scotland
• ▶ 1298: Battle of Falkirk — Edward I defeats Wallace; Wallace goes into hiding
• ▶ 1305: Wallace is captured, tried, and executed in London — hanged, drawn, and quartered
• ▶ 1306: Robert the Bruce is crowned King of Scots at Scone
• ▶ 1314: Battle of Bannockburn — Bruce destroys the English army sent by Edward II
• ▶ 1320: Declaration of Arbroath — Scottish nobles write to the Pope asserting Scotland's independence
• ▶ 1328: Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton — England formally recognises Scottish independence