medieval-atlas/events-from-about-850-to-1460/97

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Robert 1(1306-29) AI the stan of 1309, Bmcc and his supporters still faced formidable Scotland resumed without interruption. if we except the landing opposition, particularly in the south-east and the central belt. where made in Fife by shipmen of the Humber which was thrown back in Iheirenemies held the majorcaslles of Edinburgh. Stirling. Jedburgh. near-ludicrous circumstances at Auchtertool. and occasional skirthe 'Marche Mon!" of Roxburgh and Berwick. linked by a network mishes against local raiding parties, as at Skaithmuir and Lintalee. of lesser fortifications. lllc one notable weakness in the English The initiative had passed firmly into the hands of Ihe SCOIS. Long position was the difficulty of supplying and re-in forcing these before Berwick fell. they were conducting carefully planned raids garrisons; in this respect even the completely isolated Banff. which into the North of England. systematically levying blackmail. and couId (in theory at least) be supplied by sea, mayhave been in a rather had threatened the English hold on Man and Ireland. better situation than the seemingly unassailable Stirling. Bruce and his lieulenanls now applied themselves to the gradual reduction of these obstacles. with resuhs which were. by the standards of contemporary warfare. astonishing. Lacking sophisticated siege equipment. they employed more unorthodox methods. usually infiltration by night. the technique which disposedofPcnh, Roxburgh and Edinburgh. as it already had of Forfar. Apart from an abortive expedi tion in 1310-11. Edward 11 did liule to stop the progressive destruction of the English foothold in Scotland. until the major expedition of 1314 to relieve Stirling. At Bannockbum aconventional feudal army. relying on heavily-anned o cavalry as a shock weapon, confronted a Scouish force which was inferior in all respects except the morale of its troops and the tactical skill of its leaders, particularly demonstrated on this occasion by their intelligent use of ground. Thereafter. the gradual recovery of {)

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