Wars of Independence

The Scottish Wars of Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between Scotland and England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The conflict began after the death of the Scottish monarch Alexander III in 1286 and his successor, Margaret, the Maid of Norway, in 1290. This succession crisis allowed Edward I of England to intervene, aiming to assert English overlordship.

Despite initial agreements for Scotland to remain a separate kingdom, Edward I's actions led to resistance. Figures like William Wallace emerged as leaders, though Wallace was eventually captured and executed. The struggle for independence gained significant momentum under Robert the Bruce, who was crowned King Robert I in 1306. A pivotal moment was the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where Robert I's forces decisively defeated the English army led by Edward II. This victory, along with the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, solidified Scottish resolve. Scotland's independence was officially recognized by England in the Treaty of Northampton in 1328.