Great video. Such a good telling the story of the battle 🙌🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. R.I.P Robert de Bruce 😇

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Alex, I could go on for hours…

It's impossible to say what the actual numbers were. What we do know is that it was possible to raise very large armies from a relatively small population, provided the campaign was a short one - say a maximum 4-5 weeks. For a sustained campaign the numbers that could be supported dropped drastically. For example the maximum number of English troops in France during the Hundred Years War was probably ~25,000 during the siege of Calais, but the two armies at Towton numbered about 80,000 raised from a much smaller population than in 1346-7, thanks to the Black Death.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

4 күн бұрын

An appreciated and poignant reply. Towton is fascinating. Bruce had a year to prepare, and he was known as a very charismatic leader. The lowest thought population figure for Scotland in 1314 is 400,000 (Prof Barrow), which would approximate 100,000 fighting age. If Bruce could only field 6000, where were the rest when the countries survival from an invader was at stake? Sone historians give population of 1 million in Scotland. If that were so how were only 6000 from 250,000 Scot’s? One important thing from reading every source available, is that apart from Barbour, none of them mention any difference in numbers, quite the opposite, that the Scots had a great army in dense battle array, as if a dense forest, impenetrable. Fascinating! The Scots had to close off between the two waters, Pelstream and Bannockburn an area just short of 1000 yards, and withstand cavalry charge after cavalry charge with each knight and horse weighing approx 1 ton. That would take many more men to absorb that impact, as sources say there was a great jamming, and no movement for a while.

Another awesome video👍 great information to.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

Thanks very much. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Scotsman to Englishman;" You beat us many times and never wrote a song. We beat you twice and have never stopped singing about it since." The way a Scotsman tells a story like this stirs even the blood of an Englishman. Thank God we are not still at each others throats.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

Great comment, thank you!

@sonsoffalstaff2600

Ай бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 Excellent video. Thank you.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

@@sonsoffalstaff2600 I still have a long list of projects to do.

@sonsoffalstaff2600

Ай бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 I will subscribe. Good luck.

@StuartAnderson-xl4bo

7 күн бұрын

Flowers of Scotland was written by two English men Scotland the Brave was written by an Irish man so sssshhhh

As the Pub Landlord observed "it's the final that counts, not the heats".

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

That’s the truth of it! Bruce lost his early fights and learned hard from them since Methven 1306, and Dalry afterwards. Thanks for your feedback!

@Warhead-haggis

6 күн бұрын

Not done yet then.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

4 күн бұрын

@@Warhead-haggis not done yet then, not over until it’s truly over!

I’m a descendant of James Douglas my mum & Gran both a Douglas my great granddad Douglas fought in WW2 & came home .

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

8 күн бұрын

Awesome story and lineage. He’s been one of my personal heroes as a boy and will feature in future films on my channel. I often wonder how he felt leading the right wing into battle at Bannockburn.

Loved it! definetely one of the best bannockburn videos ive seen with great explanations of battle positions and manoeuvres. Bruce was Scotlands true hero, any chance of doing Loudon Hill or Byland? (If you havnt already!)

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

2 күн бұрын

Thank you and I’m glad you r hours it. I will definitely be doing both Loudon Hill and Byland as future projects.

Norman warlords sensibly using local indigenous people to fight so they could have their own cosy little kingdoms.

I have to add that I'm not entirely convinced about some of the geographical positioning of what is put forward for this battle, for example in the TV episode of Battlefield Detectives, they posited the rout of the English horse across the burn at a particular site based on a couple of items of recovered horse harness, it was all very much evidence light in IMHO.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

3 күн бұрын

Yes, considering the battlefield was over 6 square miles, findings deposited wherever, on their own, do not predict the Battlesite. I used to believe the Dryfield, but on my own study and research of every relevant source, the Dryfield is such a natural fortress, impenetrable by cavalry and foot. Bruce let the fortress do its job and in day1 had 3 points of entry to block, the medieval road at Milton Ford, between the bogs west of the borestone, and Moray had to defend the way up from the carse toward the castle. For day 2, I think it was impossible for English to penetrate the Dryfield, none of the sources say they got out their camp. But that they were taken by surprise and mounted in great co fusion…from their camp in the carse. Not a bog but hard ground enclosed by both Pelstream and Bannockburn with undulations in the ground that held water when wet, as they still do. This, sources mention the battle among the pools. I would love to hear your own thoughts… Fascinating stuff, Author William Scott created a justified map of the area, took him years, based on general Roy’s in 1750, fascinating stuff!!!

@stephenhargreaves9324

2 күн бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 I have looked at this battle on a number of occasions. But for me it runs into the same problem that accounts of the Battle of Adrianople 378 do. We know who won, who was there, more or less what happened and that it happened a relatively short distance from a town or castle, but it's not clear exactly where it happened. And without some greater degree of physical evidence, I doubt it will be conclusively determined by future theories or models.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

2 күн бұрын

@@stephenhargreaves9324 I am recommending a book for you. The author I know who spent over 30 years on the battle. Genius of Bannockburn William Scott His evidence and proofs are remarkable!

Is this area able to be metal detected on or is it the actual official site and protected? I know hardly if any material has been found from the battle.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

18 күн бұрын

The entire battlefield over 2 days is 6 square miles, more condensed on the plains of the carse on day 2 between the pelstream and the Bannockburn. To my knowledge bits and pieces have been found but I am not familiar with the laws on metal detecting although I know some official stuff has been done.

@andrewmorton9327

6 күн бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 There's a guy I follow on twitter who found pieces of a crossbow in the bank of the Bannockburn. Robert Baston, an English Carmelite friar who was an eyewitness to the battle, specifically states that crossbows were used on the English side.

John Barbour rearranged facts and invented much, but to do him justice he wasn't a mere poet and entertainer but a senior courtier and man of the cloth- archdeacon of Aberdeen- as well as a respected man of letters who asserted, by the standards of the time, that he would write 'nocht bot suthfast thing.' Now to watch this over again with a map.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

4 күн бұрын

You are absolutely right, he was much more than that. And his Bruce is epic in every way, much of what we do know about Bruce and his times would not be the same without him. Many writers, poets, of the day wrote in a medieval style which painted often angelic pictures of the heroes. He was well looked after by Robert II, and was a boy when Bruce passed away. His works and compilations go beyond entertainment as he also recorded much that is very valuable. It’s only when there are other sources to compare with one can draw conclusions…

@japhfo

4 күн бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 Yes indeed. There is always the danger of 'printing the legend.'

@Action4Dogs

4 күн бұрын

@@japhfo Your comments are greatly appreciated and contribute to the topics and questions we have surrounding these remarkable events. Thank you for doing so. This is my passion!

@japhfo

4 күн бұрын

@@Action4Dogs My pleasure.

Bruce had a secret mediaeval nuke. The Templars.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

4 күн бұрын

I’ll be doing a film on their abode at Temple, Balantradoch, in Midlothian in the near future.

@johnstuart7244

4 күн бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 I live round the corner and have cycled up to Temple a few times, plus their ruined church nearby. Spooky place, well worth a visit.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

4 күн бұрын

@@johnstuart7244 you are not very far from me then…

Correctly pointed out….the English knew the ground well. Bruce’s genius was to exploit the English arrogance…..I live less than an hour from the field, and visit it regularly….sharing your excitement (and joy!) each and every time. ….a fine tale, well spake.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

25 күн бұрын

Thank you very much. We have likely passed each other, I visit mostly every month and like to study the ground in all seasons, all 6 square miles over both days. I hope you are enjoying my channel and thank you for your input.

@user-ui5tq6mc9p

25 күн бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 Thank YOU for taking the time to reply…the two day review sounds interesting…

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

25 күн бұрын

@@user-ui5tq6mc9p many thanks for your comments, interest, and passion!

There was more water, horses, a camp, and the public . It would be a stampeed some arrows some guys on horses some fire started I can see that Scots may have been telling the truth. three divisions may look bigger than they were and this would have been the key for success. The only way is to know is to reenact the battle with taking in the landscape change and other possibilities.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

8 күн бұрын

Yes, the English army definitely caught unawares. Never expected a Scots attack, no one attacked heavy cavalry, who were all at the forefront mounting in great alarm, but the main key…trapped by the 2 bounding waters, the Pelstream and the Bannockburn.

I enjoyed your presentation but am confused. There have been a few variations of late on the "what's and where's" of the Battle of Bannockburn. I was borne in 1940 and brought up in the area of what we were taught was the battle field, near Whins of Milton Stirling where the battle staff stood since, I believe the 1800's, indicating the historical location of the battle, now it has shifted to the Carse. As a kid I had to sit history exams based on a load of bull sh*t, it seems nothing has changed in all those years. Cheers.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

Hello Thank you for your points. Referring to the sources, the English camped in the Carse of Balquhiderock. The Scots has successfully defended the Dryfield on day 1 of the battle. the sources say the battle took place among the pools, the pools which form in the undulations of the Carse provide essential water for the horses. Therefore, 'the encounter among he pools...' The sources mention how the Scots marched boldly out of the wood in the morning of day 2, and reached a position close to the cavalry lines. None of the sources, Vita, Lanercost, Trokelowe, Baker, Baston, Barbour mention the English making it out of their camp, what they do say is that they mounted in great alarm when the Scots lines of pikes got very close to them. The objective of denying them room to move and get up momentum for a cavalry charge. Once the charge took place, and successive charges in disarray, there was a jamming and no movement for a while, as the Scots closed off the Carse before, and English foot soldiers tried to press forward behind the cavalry. The battles on day 1 were at Milton Ford, entry to the new park, beyond St Ninians where Moray's schiltroms repulsed Clifford's retinue, and Edward Bruce who guarded the space between Milton and Halbert's bog Below the modern day heritage centre, likely saw outflanking action. I am going to refer 2 books for you that challenges and compares every available source of relevance: Bannockburn Revealed by William Scott Genius of Bannockburn by William Scott The author has spent 30 years walking the ground and researching the battle, studying the sources, and using topography, cartography, physics and math, in his quest to establish proofs and clarity on ALL sources available. The insight is truly amazing and it changed all of my views. My own research over many years has changed with clarity of the evidence provided by the all of sources. Your comments are most appreciated.

@gala1ish

Ай бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 Thank you for your comprehensive reply to my comment. cheers.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

@@gala1ish you are most welcome. I always believed the other stuff I was taught growing up, battle in Dryfield etc, until after a lot of research, studying the ground, and successive meetings with author William Scott on his work, that through careful study of every source, some previously not even translated, and collaborating all the accounts and studying the 6 square miles of both days, it really opened my eyes to Bruce’s plan for the battle. If you get a chance, do read Genius of Bannockburn by Scott, it is the best book on the topic.

@gala1ish

Ай бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 Again, thank you for your information and ref. Just a we note, when I was a kid growing up (less than a kilometer from the flagstaff/battleaxe field) 1950's a Family member worked at the Murrays Hall quarry situated not far away. (google maps) I remember a pine tree growing on the top ring of the quarry called the Bunnety tree (as in bonnet) where the victors of the battle supposedly threw their bunnets up into the branches to celebrate their victory. At that time the company wanted to expand the quarry but the tree stood in the way and there was quite a bit of opposition due to the historical value of said tree, sorry I don't remember the outcome. Cheers.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

@@gala1ish that’s a great piece of information. I wonder if it was near the bloody Fauld, beneath where the current statue is, where Edward Bruce defended areas between Halberts and Milton Bogs on the first day? I always love to hear these experiences from the locals. Thank you!

Loved the passion and description of the confusion-but I disagree with your analysis, the Scottish light horse was only released when the English army were on the verge of defeat. We also have the Knights Templar charge near the close of the battle, arrayed in white with red crosses on their surcoats, they really spooked the English soldiers. How many? Possibly 40-75. They were recruited in 1313 on the invitation of Bruce after their repression by the French monarchy and loss of their estates but for obvious reasons this part of the story is not so well known.

@tomhirons7475

Ай бұрын

i dont agree buddy you are going on one source not the general sources.

@tomhirons7475

Ай бұрын

and templars you make me laugh LOL.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

Hello Gordon Thanks for your comment and the points you have raised. The earliest mention of light cavalry, or horse of any kind on the Scots side is 63 years after the battle in John Barbour's account. None of the other sources (Vita, Lanercost, Trokelowe, Baker, Baston, Bernard etc Scalacronica some written within a year of the battle, mention Scots cavalry, but all independently agree that the Scots all fought on foot in 3 great divisions of infantry. There was if he had used light cavalry no where to move them between the Pelstream and the Bannockburn, the entire objective was to attack them in their camp in the Carse (an area of hard ground with pools of water in the undulations, not a marsh) and surprise them. The English mounted in great alarm the sources say when they saw how close the Scot’s likes of pikes had got to them. After the cavalry charges they could not move, the Scots pressed forward, English footsoldiers pressed against the cavalry, until the lines broke and the rout took place where many headed to the Forth where they were killed and drowned, and other scattered east towards the muddy banks of the Bannockburn where they perished. Every source, except Barbour, mentions a dense battle array of Scottish schiltroms.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

Ай бұрын

Thank you for your point on the Templars also, i value everyone's opinion. There is no mention in the sources of Templars, and although it is likely Bruce did give refuge to Templars, they would have fought as individuals in his army and not as Templars. Once the English were penned in between the Pelstream and the Bannockburn, Bruce's masterstroke, there was a great jamming and pressing together of the cavalry and English foot (approx 17000), they were unable to move, outflank, or deploy in any way until the lines broke, they scattered, and the rout took place. The Templar order disbanded in 1312. The reasons Bruce won the battle is that he was a brilliant military strategist (he learned the hard way), had a year to prepare, knew the ground, and also knew the English well and that they were overconfident (Gloucester was his cousin), he was a charismatic leader who drew men to him. Thank you for watching and for your feedback. It is hugely appreciated. I also have a small future project to film involving the Templars in an area local to me.

@gordonbryce

Ай бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 Thanks for your detailed reply-I seem to remember the English knights captured then released on payment of ransom, later called the Bannockburn battle, the Battle of the Pools. Again, this suggests a difficult deployment and manoeuvre if you and your horse are over weighted in defensive armour!

27000 soldier's, knights, archers vs 7000 Scots yes outnumbered 😂

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

4 күн бұрын

Interesting…

@paulyoung4422

4 күн бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 Why do you say Interesting, it's against all you know, almost equally matched, yet a great victory.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

4 күн бұрын

@@paulyoung4422 interesting because many historians generally bunk Barbour’s odds giving the English army at 100,000, and Scot’s at 30,000. The only time such odds in numbers are mentioned is 63 years after the battle. So what they’ve done is narrow down the numbers but retain the odds of 3/4-1. No mention of any disparity in all of the other sources written much closer, some eyewitness and others within a year of the battle. I find that interesting… The Scots did indeed achieve a phenomenal victory, because Bruce was a genius and his plan worked perfectly.

The English are still a bit like that!

In that case why didn't the Scottish vote for independence

@HappyHedgehog1

5 күн бұрын

This was in the 1300s . The union wasn't formed until the 1700s and that's 300 years of unity you think we're going to just give up, for what reason exactly?

The Scottish had a large number of French Knights Templar in their Number, Warrior Monks by any other name, who had left France just before October 1307 - when the French King Philip (on Friday 13th), rounded up the Templars - after Falkirk and Bannockburn most did not survive and no further 'Scottish victories' - Culloden and then Fort George ended any further uprisings.

@gordonbryce

Ай бұрын

There is some circumstantial evidence that the Templar tradition survived in Scotland. The society may have gone incognito or 'underground'. These phenomena happened in other cultures and traditions, for example, after the Southern Shaolin Temple was burned down by govt, forces, six surviving Shaolin monks went on to create the southern combat styles in China-often hidden from view and until recent historic times "closed door schools" to strangers. I studied in one open to western students in the 1980's in London.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

8 күн бұрын

That’s an awesome experience. Thanks for sharing that!

@japhfo

5 күн бұрын

There is no historical evidence of such an intervention. By the time of their dissolution the Templars were mostly middle-aged bankers. By 1314, no Templar would have seen action for twenty five years. According to Dr Steve Tibble there is a record of two Templars in Scotland (Both English). See Dr. Steve Tibble, 'Templars: The Knights Who Made Britain.'

@philiprufus4427

5 күн бұрын

Aye,and Regiment, upon Regiment, of Cumberlands Redcoats were Lallanders, (Lowland Scots), there were even some Heilanders,The Argyle Militia for example (The Argyle and Sutherlands,later).

@marcg1314

2 күн бұрын

This is just a modern myth, it's true that some of the templars might of escaped to Scotland due to the Bruce being excommunicated at the time but there is not one account of them being present at this battle unless maybe they were dismounted and in amongst the schiltroms.

Edward II didn't speak English, he spoke French as did his aristocratic followers, both elites who controlled both sides weren't interested in nationalism, which didn't really exist at the time, they were interested their personal rights in the context of feudalism. Not sorry if this rains on anyone's fantasy.

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

3 күн бұрын

Indeed, nationalism, or the concept of it was at its very earliest roots. Bruce would be known as King of Scot’s rather than King of Scotland, whereas Edward and his predecessors were Kings of England. It was absolutely a feudal system… Thank you very much for your comment Stephen!

@stephenhargreaves9324

3 күн бұрын

@@robertthebruce-geniusofban647 It is always a pleasure to discuss history as history :)

@robertthebruce-geniusofban647

3 күн бұрын

@@stephenhargreaves9324 indeed it is, my passion!