Editing Edward II of England (section)

===Battle of Bannockburn===
{{Main article|Battle of Bannockburn}}
[[File:Peers and commoners fighting - The Holkham Bible Picture Book (c.1320-1330), f.40 - BL Add MS 47682.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=sketch of the Battle of Bannockburb|Depiction of the [[Battle of Bannockburn]] in 1314 from the [[Holkham Bible]], now in the [[British Library]]]]

By 1314, Robert the Bruce had recaptured most of the [[castles in Scotland]] once held by Edward, pushing raiding parties into northern England as far as [[Carlisle]].<ref name="Phillips2011PP223">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=223–224}}.</ref> In response, Edward planned a major military campaign with the support of Lancaster and the barons, mustering a large army between 15,000 and 20,000 strong.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=225–227}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=94}}.</ref> Meanwhile, Robert had besieged Stirling Castle, a key fortification in Scotland; its English commander had stated that unless Edward arrived by 24 June, he would surrender.<ref name=Phillips2011PP223/> News of this reached the king in late May, and he decided to speed up his march north from [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]] to relieve the castle.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=223, 227–228}}.</ref> Robert, with between 5,500 and 6,500 troops, predominantly [[spearmen]], prepared to prevent Edward's forces from reaching Stirling.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=228–229}}.</ref>

The battle began on 23 June as the English army attempted to force its way across the high ground of the [[Bannock Burn]], which was surrounded by marshland.<ref name="Phillips2011P230">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=230}}.</ref> Skirmishing between the two sides broke out, resulting in the death of Sir [[Henry de Bohun]], whom Robert killed in personal combat.<ref name=Phillips2011P230/> Edward continued his advance the following day, and encountered the bulk of the Scottish army as they emerged from the woods of New Park.<ref name="Phillips 2011 231–232">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=231–232}}.</ref> Edward appears not to have expected the Scots to give battle here, and as a result had kept his forces in marching, rather than battle, order, with the [[archers]]—who would usually have been used to break up enemy spear formations—at the back of his army, rather than the front.<ref name="Phillips 2011 231–232"/> His cavalry found it hard to operate in the cramped terrain and were crushed by Robert's spearmen.<ref name="Phillips2011P232">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=232}}.</ref> The English army was overwhelmed and its leaders were unable to regain control.<ref name=Phillips2011P232/>

Edward stayed behind to fight, but it became obvious to the Earl of Pembroke that the battle was lost and he dragged the king away from the battlefield, hotly pursued by the Scottish forces.<ref name="Phillips2011P233">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=233}}.</ref> Edward only just escaped the heavy fighting, making a vow to found a [[Carmelite]] religious house at [[Oxford]] if he survived.<ref name=Phillips2011P233/> The historian Roy Haines describes the defeat as a "calamity of stunning proportions" for the English, whose losses in the battle were huge.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=234–236}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=259}}.</ref> In the aftermath of the defeat, Edward retreated to [[Dunbar]], then travelled by ship to Berwick, and then back to [[York]]; in his absence, Stirling Castle quickly fell.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=233, 238}}.</ref>