Battle of Falkirk, July 22, 1298

Falkirk, on July 22, 1298, was one of the largest battles in the First War of Independence in Scotland, in an area southeast of Falkirk village, between a swamp formed by the Glenn and Westquarter streams, and the Callendar forest. Led by King Edward I, the English army defeated the Scots, led by William Wallace. In the analysis of chapter 2 we will see that the Scots made the following mistakes: for lack of a competent security force to report on English movements, they gave in to their operational strategy thus far, avoiding a decisive battle; assumed a defensive tactical device on unfavorable terrain; they concentrated the schiltrons too much, facilitating the convergence of Welsh arrows and English charges; left the archers unprotected; and besides not anchoring the flanks in obstacles, they did not position the cavalry as a central reserve in the rear.