On a formation of glaciated quartz, in the province of Stirling, Scotland towers Stirling Castle. It is around 25 miles north of Glasgow. It dominates the area -- specifically the furthest downstream crossing of the River Forth at Stirling Bridge.
It has a history. Several Scottish Kings and Queens were crowned there including Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543.
But in 1297, it was occupied by an English garrison by order of King Edward I (or Edward the Longshanks).
Stirling had been the center of Scottish royal administration until the death of Alexander III in 1286. His death triggered a succession crisis, and King Edward was invited to arbitrate the competing claimants to the throne.
Edward came north in 1291 demanding that Sterling, as well as other royal castles be placed under English control during arbitration.
Edward decided upon John Balliol, assuming that he would be a puppet ruler. Balliol declined to be a puppet and allied himself with France, so Edward invaded Scotland and had Balliol arrested.
William Wallace raised the Scots in revolt and thus began the First War of Scottish Independence.
In 1297 an English army under the command of the Earl of Surrey and Hugh de Cressingham moved north and defeated a relatively disorganized Scottish Army. English confidence was high, and Surrey was expecting a short, successful campaign.
His last obstacle was a Scottish force on the north side of the River Forth commanded by Wallace and Andrew de Moray. They occupied the flat ground to the north of Sterling Bridge.
As Surrey approached the area, he sent heralds to see Wallace to try to convince him to disband his army.
Wallace's reply was distinctly negative.
Surrey was now approached by a former Scottish Knight Sir Richard Lundie who told him of a local ford crossing that would allow sixty horsemen to cross at once. This would allow the English cavalry to outflank the Scottish position.
But Cressingham, wanted this idea to be rejected. He was also the King's treasurer and wished to avoid the expense of a protracted campaign. Surrey was prevailed upon to attack directly across the bridge.
On September 11, 1297 Surrey's English and Welsh archers began to cross the bridge, but were recalled as the earl had overslept. Later in the day, his infantry and cavalry began to march across the narrow bridge.
As it turned out, this was exactly what Wallace wanted him to do. Stirling Bridge is very narrow, and only two men could walk abreast across it.
Wallace and Moray watched the crossing and restrained their men until a sizable, but defeatable force crossed the bridge.
Once around 5,400 English troops had crossed the river, the Scots attacked.
The English were swiftly encircled and cut off from their escape route at the bridge.
Unable to be reinforced by the main force on the south end of the narrow bridge, the English were annihilated including Cressingham who was butchered by the Scottish troops.
Surrey was forced to watch the vanguard of his army destroyed by Wallace and Moray's men. One English Knight managed to make it back over the river. Others tried shedding their armor to try to swim across.
Surrey still had a sizable force, but his confidence was shattered and he ordered the bridge destroyed while he retreated south.
Surrey's supply train was then attacked by Scottish forces who were supporting the English, but upon seeing Wallace's victory now decided to join the Scots.
Surrey hastily retreated all the way back to Berwick.
Sterling Castle, now unsupported, eventually surrendered to Wallace and his men.
Wallace then led a destructive raid into Northern England, but this accomplished little except perhaps for Scottish morale.
Wallace's glory was short-lived as King Edward himself came north with an army that defeated Wallace at the battle of Falkirk in 1298.
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Contributor's Note
For the movie "Braveheart", Mel Gibson elected not to depict the bridge at all choosing to make the battle more compelling cinematically within budget constraints.
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