Bannockburn, 1314

'Lay on, Lay on-they fail'-the Bruce's victory at Stirling

The Battle of Bannockburn holds a significant place in the history of Scotland and the Scottish people. Fought in 1314, when Edward II reigned in England, it was by no means the first clash of arms to decide the sovereignty of Scotland, nor was it the last-that was the battle of Culloden Moor in 1745. Bannockburn remains iconic because it was the most significant Scottish victory in the First War of Scottish Independence and because it involved a Scottish army under the command of the heroic figure of Robert the Bruce. The English, led by their king, marched north to relieve Stirling Castle which was under attack by Scots commanded by Edward Bruce the Scottish king's younger brother. The battle need not have been fought because Bruce had agreed a definition of 'relief' with Mowbray, the British commander holding the castle, based on the proximity of the English Army. However, the 'die was cast' and battle duly joined. This was a poor decision by the English monarch who had substantially lost command of his battle host. The outcome of the battle was a crushing defeat for the English and Edward, with his bodyguard, fled for his life. This special Leonaur edition contains two contrasting accounts of the battle together with significant biographical information about the principal protagonists.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.