Fact of the day

The Battle of Bannockburn ended on 24 June 1314. The Scots used an infantry formation called a schiltron - a cluster of soldiers armed with extra long spears rammed into the earth to break enemy cavalry charges. King Robert the Bruce won a resounding victory against the English army despite being outnumbered three to one. To read more, see heritage.scotsman.com

This battle, by itself, did not end the Scottish Wars of Independence but it was the principal turning point. After this there was never any real doubt that England would have to recognize Scotland's as a separate and independent kingdom.