23 June 1314
Battle of Bannockburn

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Despite a past of dubious morality (see 25 March 1306), when Robert Bruce rallies his forces against Edward II at Bannockburn, he is regarded with respect as Scotland's king. The body count is high as English knights are felled by Scottish schiltrons – circular clusters of 2,000 men with 3.6-metre (12-foot) spears. At the Declaration of Arbroath six years later, a group of lords and bishops assert their national pride: 'For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we, on any condition, be brought under English rule.'

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