Battle of Stirling Bridge
1297 CE · Scotland
The Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought in 1297 CE in Scotland between Kingdom of Scotland vs the Kingdom of England; decisive Scottish victory.
Battle of Stirling Bridge: quick facts
- Date
- 1297 CE
- Location
- Scotland
- Belligerents
- Kingdom of Scotland vs the Kingdom of England
- Commanders
- William Wallace and Andrew Moray vs John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey
- Result
- decisive Scottish victory.
- Era
- 🏰 Medieval Europe
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Battle of Stirling Bridge?
William Wallace and Andrew de Moray ambushed an English army as it crossed the narrow bridge over the River Forth near Stirling. The English could only cross a few abreast, and the Scots attacked when roughly half the army had crossed, trapping them against the river. The English vanguard was annihilated, and the remainder fled. The stunning victory made Wallace Guardian of Scotland and a symbol of Scottish resistance.
Did you know?
After Stirling Bridge, the Scots reportedly flayed the skin from the English treasurer Hugh de Cressingham's body. William Wallace allegedly had a sword belt made from the skin.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Stirling Bridge on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.