Stirling Bridge and Falkirk 1297-98: William Wallace's rebellion

Description

The death of the last of the Scottish royal house of Canmore in 1290 triggered a succession crisis. Attempts to undermine Scottish independence by King Edward I of England sparked open rebellion culminating in an English defeat at the hands of William Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297. Edward gathered an army, marched north and at Falkirk on 22 July 1298 he brought Wallace's army to battle. Amid accusations of treachery, Wallace's spearmen were slaughtered by Edward's longbowmen, then charged by the English cavalry and almost annihilated. In 1305 Wallace was captured and executed, but the flame of rebellion he had ignited could not be extinguished.

PETER ARMSTRONG went to Keswick School after which he travelled widely before taking a degree in Fine Art at Maidstone College of Art. He was an art teacher in Kendal in Cumbria for several years but escaped and is now among other things the sculptor behind Border Miniatures, specialising in producing military miniatures from the medieval period. In the course of his model making, Pete's previous publications include Campaign 102 Bannockburn 1314 - Robert Bruce's great victory. Angus McBride is one of the world's most respected historical illustrators, and has contributed to more than 70 Osprey titles in the past three decades. Born in 1931 of Highland parents but orphaned as a child, he was educated at Canterbury Cathedral Choir School. He worked in advertising agencies from 1947, and after national service, emigrated to South Africa. He now lives and works in Cape Town.