Battle of Falkirk (1298)

Battle of Falkirk
Part of the First War of Scottish Independence
A British illustration of Antony Bek's charge
Date 22 July 1298 Location Falkirk, Scotland Result English victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland	Edward I of England
Strength
6,000 men 1,000 cavalry 5,000 infantry	15,000 men 2,500 cavalry 12,500 infantry
Casualties and losses
Around 2,000 killed	2,000 killed

Coordinates: 55°59′15″N 3°45′41″W / 55.98755°N 3.761476°W / 55.98755; -3.761476

6,000 men

15,000 men

The Battle of Falkirk (Blàr na h-Eaglaise Brice in Gaelic), which took place on 22 July 1298, was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence. Led by King Edward I of England, the English army defeated the Scots, led by William Wallace. Shortly after the battle Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland.

King Edward learned of the defeat of his northern army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. After concluding a truce with Philip the Fair in October 1297, he returned to England on 14 March 1298 to continue the ongoing organising of an army for his second invasion of Scotland which had been in preparation since late 1297. As a preliminary step he moved the centre of government to York, where it was to remain for the next six years. A council-of-war was held in the city in April to finalise the details of the invasion. The Scottish magnates were all summoned to attend, and when none appeared they were all declared to be traitors. Edward then ordered his army to assemble at Roxburgh on 25 June. The force counted ca 2,000 men-at-arms (armoured cavalry) and about 12,000 infantry receiving wages, though, after the manner of medieval armies there would have been many more serving without pay either as a statement of personal independence, forgiveness of debts to the crown, criminal pardons or just for adventure, including 10,900 Welshmen armed with the longbow.

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