Bannockburn battle to rage again

Scotland's greatest win over England is to be re-enacted and watched by up to 15,000 people on Saturday.
The National Trust for Scotland is staging a reconstruction of the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn in Stirling.

The Scots, under Robert the Bruce, routed the English led by Edward II in a victory which has been celebrated and marked down the centuries.

Trust spokeswoman Carly Lamberty joked that despite being outnumbered, Scotland was "guaranteed" a win.


Five hundred mounted men, 2,500 spearmen and 5,000 foot-soldiers defeated the English and their army of about 30,000.

The trust held a similar event last year which attracted 12,000 people and organisers are confident of eclipsing that figure this year.

Ms Lamberty said there would be weapon demonstrations, horseback displays, archery, falconry, children's entertainment, an authentic ale tent, a pipe band and the famous battle.

Pressed on whether there was any chance of an upset on Saturday, she said: "No way, this is a guaranteed victory for Scotland."

The National Trust for Scotland is the conservation charity which protects and promotes the country's natural and cultural heritage.

It raises funds through donations, legacies, grants and membership subscriptions.

Tickets are available from the Bannockburn Heritage Centre or by telephone on 0871 221 9100.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3661944.stm

Not really a mystery, but the ancient world, and with quite a few Scots online, some of you might want to check it out.

I'll be pulling for the scots, as I am of scottish desent.

Without denying it was a great battle over superior numbers - the defenders were well placed, well organised and held their surprise reserves back until their foes were tired - it must be remembered that Edward's army was made up of English, Irish and Welsh soldiers (the latter were the long bow archers), there were also many Scots, including the McNabs, the MacDougals and others. There were mercenaries there too from France, Germany and Holland.

To say it was England versus Scotland in today's terms is not accurate. Scotland was mainly the Highland tribes and even they were constantly at battle with each other. The lowland "Scots" who lived south of Edinburgh (Edin's town; Edin had been King of Northumbria) were not supportive of the Highlanders for much of the time. Hundreds of years later, when Culloden was fought as the culmination of the Jacobite uprising, the English army comprised many lowland Scots and mercenaries from abroad.

Those day's are gone now and in the past they must remain, but we can still rise now and be a nation again, that stood against him , who? proud Edwards army, and sent him homewards to think again! Oh floor'o'Scotland when will we see your likes again that fought and died for your wee bit hill and glen and stood against him(who) , proud Edwards army, and sent him homewards to think again.! The hills are bare now and autunm leaves lie thick and still for land that is lost now but though so dearly held........ and so on and on! Talon I've scottish blood in me and Geordie as well, what a combination! What about Glen coe? Money talks????
Been to Culloden, seen all the clans stones and where they fell in battle..a great sin!

I've always wondered why Scotland willingly gave up its hard won independence.

Redneck we never it was foistered upon the scottish people by corrupt "nobles".

wacker the scottish army was still comprosed of about 90% scots.

Dunderhead its flower lol floor is something you stand on.

Also william wallace was a "lowlander" born in ayrshire and raised in stirling.

To say that most lowland scots were allied to the english is just not true.

I never said it wasn't, merely pointed out that the opposing army also contained "Scots" from Highland and lowland tribes (clans). That to posit medieval battles such as this in twenty first century terms could be misleading.

It was a remarkable battle well won.

There is still a underlying nationalism in some people's minds about these battles centuries later. We have to let history go (this is especially true in N Ireland). The people of the British Isles are all genetically mixed - there are probably more Scots named people living in Enlgand for example than in Scotland. There are four pages of Macs in my local phone book alone! The UK government at the moment is predominantly Scottish too. Who cares? What is important is that we all get on and live in peace to the benefit of all.