Battle of Bannockburn

The greatest challenge for Bruce came in 1314 as Edward invaded Scotland with a large army, nominally aimed at the relief of Stirling Castle, but with the real intention of pinning down the foxes. The Scots army - roughly a quarter the size of the enemy force - was poised to the south of Stirling, ready to make a quick withdrawal into the wild country to the west. However, their position, just north of the Bannock Burn, had strong natural advantages, and the king made ready to suspend for a time the guerilla tactics pursued hitherto.

During the two days of the Battle of Bannockburn - 23th and 24th June - Douglas played a conspicuous part, commandiing the main battalion - or schiltron - on the left flank of the army. On the morning of the 24th June, the day of the main battle, he received the singular honour of being created a Knight banneret by the king, a distinction only ever conferred on the battlefield.

Once the English army was defeated Bruce ordered Douglas off in pursuit of the fleeing Edward and his party of knights, a task carried out with such relentless vigour that the fugitives, according to Barbour, ‘had not even leisure to make water.’ In the end Edward managed to evade Douglas by taking refuge in Dunbar Castle.

Bannockburn effectively ended the English presence in Scotland, with all strongpoints - outwith Berwick - now in Bruce’s hands. It did not, however, end the war. Edward had been soundly defeated but he still refused to abandon his claim to Scotland. For Douglas one struggle had ended and another was about to begin.