5+-+Scottish+Wars+of+Independence

**Scottish Wars of Independence** toc =**__Introduction__**=
 * GROUP TOPIC 5: Scottish Wars of Independence GROUP CLOSED!!! **
 * __﻿ [[image:26warsofindependence.jpg width="520" height="370" caption="http://lochness1.hypermart.net/scottish-history-heritage/history-images/26warsofindependence.jpg"]] __**

Almost every country goes through wars of independence at some point in time. Scotland is not an exception. From the Battle of Stirling Bridge with Sir William Wallace and Sir Andrew Moray, Guardians of Scotland ("Andrew Moray"), to 'Black Agnes', who kept the English from capturing her castle (Adams), to the drafting of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 ("BBC"), the Scottish have rebelled against the rule of the English. The Scotts today are proud to be free, and know it is because of their ancestors that they are.

=Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland - Sean S.=

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In the 1270s William Wallace was given birth to in Elderslie ("BBC"). There is no much known about his childhood ("BBC"). This is most likely due to poor record systems in the early ages. The Scottish rebelled due to the English king coming in and putting forth English law. This was King Edward the First ("BBC"). William lost the battle of Falkirk and escaped Scotland ("BBC"). He came back and faced trial. He was hung and his limbs sent across the country ("BBC").

The Scottish did not rebel at first but just resisted. The rebellion came when William rode to the town of Lanark, where he killed the English Sherriff ("BBC"). This action caused the other Scots to rally with William for the full blown revolution. William led his army to the Stirling Bridge where he fought and defeated the English ("BBC"). After the fight he was knighted to Guardian of Scotland ("BBC"). He resigned his knighthood when he left Scotland ("BBC"). = = =Sir Andrew Moray, Guardian of Scotland - Kevin M.=

Andrew Moray was born during the late 13th Century to the Morays of Petty, a wealthy and powerful family in northeastern Scotland (Urquhart). In the spring of 1296, the Scots made their first attempt at war against England (Urquhart). Unprepared for the English’s utter brutality, the Scottish quickly fell and many of them were captured (Urquhart). Andrew Moray was among those captured by Edward I at the Battle of Dunbar (“Andrew Moray”). He was imprisoned in Chester Castle and escaped the following year (“Andrew Moray”). Being imprisoned for a year, Andrew Moray was aggravated and ready to get back to war.

After escaping Andrew Moray went back to his land in the north and raised the standard of revolt (Barron). While William Wallace was causing havoc in Lanark and the south, Andrew Moray led a rising against Edward’s rule in the north (“Andrew Moray”). Along with Alexander Pilchie, a burgess from Inverness, Andrew Moray led a large body of rogues in a guerrilla war to capture Inverness, Elgin, Banff and Duffus, and Urquhart castles (“Andrew Moray”). Andrew Moray later met William Wallace at Dundee and they formed an alliance (“Andrew Moray”).

In September of 1297, Moray and Wallace joined forces near Stirling and prepared for battle (“Andrew Moray”). Andrew Moray can be credited for the strategy of the battle (Barron). On 11 September, the Scottish met the English army (“Andrew Moray”). The Battle of Stirling Bridge was a victory for the Scottish, but after the battle Andrew Moray later died from an arrow wound (“Andrew Moray”). Andrew Moray’s widow gave birth to Sir Andrew Moray who eventually became Guardian of Scotland (“Andrew Moray”).

=The Historically Epic Battles of Stirling Bridge & Falkirk - Heather B.=

The Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought on September 11, 1297 at Stirling Bridge in the Scottish county of Stirlingshire between the native Scots led by Sir William Wallace against the English led by the Earl of Surrey. Why was violence the only answer to these people’s problems? Who actually started this fight? What were the causes that ultimately led to these battles? What were the aftermaths? How did this affect the livelihood and culture – and even the mindset of the people of Scotland today?

It all started when the infatuated King Alexander III of Scotland died mysteriously in 1286 trying to see his new, young bride. Despite the futile efforts of his advisors, the king had his final argument made: “Neither storms nor floods nor rocky cliffs, would prevent him from visiting his matrons, virgins, and widows, by day or by night as the fancy seized him.” This ultimately marked an abrupt end to the relatively peaceful period of peace and prosperity despite their hidden concerns about their borders.

Immediately, Edward I, the King of England, took of the situation by deciding who should rule Scotland. If he couldn’t rule Scotland, then he would elect the most malleable contender to use as his feudal “puppet” in order to dominate the country. He was faced with two contenders: John Balliol and Sir Robert the Bruce, both of whom were descendants of knights of William the Conqueror. King Edward I chose the weak-willed John Balliol who would soon denounce his allegiance to the king, tired of being his front-runner on Edward’s ambitions, for his renewed in the Auld Alliance with France in preparation for war against England. Unfortunately, that was a fatal mistake due to the fact that he was the most feared ruler of his time just by his arrogance and bloodlust for revenge.

Storming to demand the abdication of Balliol in Montrose in front of both the Scottish and English courtiers, King Edward ripped John Balliol’s coat of arms ripped from him and thrown on the. As if that wasn’t enough, King Edward had the sacred Stone of Scone – where the kings of Scotland were crowned – be removed and delivered to Westminster Abbey. He left with a coldhearted farewell to the astonished witnesses by saying, “it does a man good to be shot (rid) of a turd” (Gunn). He then sent John de Warrene to negotiate a treaty with Scotland on September 10th by sending two Dominican friars up the causeway to meet with William Wallace to accept the king’s peace and ask for remission of past deeds. However, they received no such compliance with his counter offer in which he said: 'Tell your people that we have not come here to gain peace, but are prepared for battle, to avenge and deliver our country. Let them come up when they like, and they will find us ready to meet them even to their beards' (Chung). In other words, they were not to be toyed with and they weren’t going down without a fight.

=“Black Agnes” (Countess of March) - Rome V.=



"She kept a stir in tower and trench, That brawling, boisterous Scottish wench, Came I early, came I late I found Agnes at the gate." --- Ballad attributed to the Earl of Salisbury (Mortimer)

The Countess of March, Agnes Randolph, was the wife of Patrick, 9th Earl of Dunbar and March and who was later known as "black agnes" because of both her dusky complexion and dark hair and fierce defense against a determined foe (Adams). While her husband was away the Countess was left in charge of their castle which was than attacked by a man known as Salisbury who was English."Though considered one of the ablest commanders of his day, Salisbury was obliged to lift his fruitless siege of Dunbar castle after nearly five months without success" (Adams).

The Countess was a true hero in her time and even today. She was able to keep the English from gaining a key defense of scotland.Surrender to her was never an option even when food began to run low and her brother was kidnapped (Mortimer). It is said she made a mockery of Salisbury's attempts by having her maids dress in their Sunday best; she then led them to the outer walls, where with their handkerchiefs they nonchalantly and slightingly dusted away the damage caused by Salisbury (Mortimer).



=The Declaration of Arbroath - Ashley M.=

**//'For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.'//** From The Declaration of Arbroath 1320. (Prebble) April 6th, 2010, Rt.Hon. Alex Fergusson, a member of Scottish Parliament, was honored by being the Parade Grand Marshal for the New York Tartan Day Parade, eight years after Sir Sean Connery held the position (“NY Tartan Week”). Almost 700 years prior to the birth of ‘Bond, James Bond’, the reason for the celebrations was completed in Arbroath Abbey in Scotland: the Declaration of Arbroath (“BBC”).

In 1306, Robert the Bruce became the king of Scotland, and began a 'guerrilla war' against England ("Declaration of Arbroath"). After many battles, including the Battle of Bannockburn ("ScotClans"), the King of England - Edward III - agreed to the treaty of Edinburgh in 1328, putting an end to the war ("Declaration of Arbroath"). However, during the war, the nobles of Scotland had to convince the Pope to recognize the nation as an independent one (Gittings). To do this, the Declaration of Arbroath was drafted by, as many experts believe, Bernard de Linton, the Abbot of Arbroath and a Chancellor of Scotland. After being sealed by eight earls and forty-five barons, the document was sent to the Pope (Prebble).

The Declaration itself asked Pope John XXII ("BBC") to 'see things from a Scottish perspective' and to not 'take the English claim of Scotland seriously' (Gittings). The document did two things for the people of Scotland. It put the people above the king; if they felt that he had betrayed them, the king could, and would, be replaced (Prebble). This gave the people more power, while limiting the power of the monarchy. The Declaration also declared the nation as it's own in 'a way no battle could' (Prebble). In fact, it is sometimes referred to as the Declaration of Independence ("Rampant Scotland") and later went on to influence the American Declaration of Independence ("BBC").  

The Declaration of Arbroath is still considered to be the 'most famous document in Scottish history' ("BBC"), and the last remaining copy is kept in the National Archives of Scotland ("National Archives of Scotland")

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= =Works Cited=

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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Feature: the Declaration of Arbroath, 6 April 1320." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//The National Archives of Scotland// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. N.p., 29 Mar 2010. Web. 4 Jun 2011. < []<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">>.

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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Prebble, John. "The Declaration of Arbroath 1320." N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Jun 2011. < []<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">>.

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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Origins of New York's Tartan Day." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//NY Tarten Week// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jun 2011. < []<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">>

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=Related Links=

Andrew Moray - []

The Declaration of Arbroath- <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; vertical-align: auto;">__[]__ "Black Agnes"- []

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1411px; width: 1px;">Andrew Moray was born during the late 13th Century to the Morays of Petty, a wealthy and powerful family in northeastern Scotland (Urquhart). In the spring of 1296, the Scots made their first attempt at war against England (Urquhart). Unprepared for the English’s utter brutality, the Scottish quickly fell and many of them were captured (Urquhart). Andrew Moray was among those captured by Edward I at the Battle of Dunbar (“Andrew Moray”). He was imprisoned in Chester Castle and escaped the following year (“Andrew Moray”). Being imprisoned for a year, Andrew Moray was aggravated and ready to get back to war. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1411px; width: 1px;">After escaping Andrew Moray went back to his land in the north and raised the standard of revolt (Barron). While William Wallace was causing havoc in Lanark and the south, Andrew Moray led a rising against Edward’s rule in the north (“Andrew Moray”). Along with Alexander Pilchie, a burgess from Inverness, Andrew Moray led a large body of rogues in a guerilla war to capture Inverness, Elgin, Banff and Duffus, and Urquhart castles (“Andrew Moray”). Andrew Moray later met William Wallace at Dundee and they formed an alliance (“Andrew Moray”). <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1411px; width: 1px;">In September of 1297, Moray and Wallace joined forces near Stirling and prepared for battle (“Andrew Moray”). Andrew Moray can be credited for the strategy of the battle (Barron). On 11 September, the Scottish met the English army (“Andrew Moray”). The Battle of Stirling Bridge was a victory for the Scottish, but after the battle Andrew Moray later died from an arrow wound (“Andrew Moray”). Andrew Moray’s widow gave birth to Sir Andrew Moray who eventually became Guardian of Scotland (“Andrew Moray”).