Why did William Wallace's rising succeed at Stirling Bridge but fail at Falkirk?
William Wallace and the rising of 1297-1298: the reasons for the rebellion, the victory at Stirling Bridge, Wallace as Guardian, and the defeat at Falkirk and its consequences.
How William Wallace led the Scottish rising of 1297-1298: the reasons for the rebellion against English rule, the victory at Stirling Bridge, Wallace's role as Guardian, and his defeat at Falkirk in 1298 with its consequences for the Scottish cause.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers the rising led by William Wallace in 1297 and 1298, from the reasons it broke out, through the Scottish victory at Stirling Bridge and Wallace's time as Guardian, to his defeat by Edward I at Falkirk. After the conquest of 1296, resistance to English rule grew, and Wallace, along with Andrew Murray, became its leader. The SQA topic requires you to know why the rebellion happened, why the Scots won at Stirling Bridge, what Wallace did as Guardian, and why he lost at Falkirk. The contrast between the two battles is a favourite for Explain questions.
The rising matters because it kept Scottish resistance alive after the conquest and showed that English rule could be challenged. It also set the stage for Robert Bruce. Questions are usually Explain (why the Scots won at Stirling Bridge, or why Wallace lost at Falkirk), so you need the causes of both outcomes clearly contrasted.
The answer
After Edward I's harsh conquest of 1296, resentment at English rule, heavy taxation and the behaviour of English officials sparked rebellion across Scotland in 1297. William Wallace and Andrew Murray emerged as leaders and combined their forces. At Stirling Bridge in 1297 they won a stunning victory by trapping the English army as it crossed a narrow bridge over the River Forth, destroying the portion that had crossed while the rest could not help. Wallace was made a Guardian of Scotland and governed in the name of the absent King John. But in 1298 Edward returned in person with a much larger army and defeated Wallace at Falkirk: on open ground his cavalry and longbowmen broke the Scottish spear formations. Wallace resigned as Guardian, and although resistance continued, the defeat ended his leadership of the cause.
Why the rebellion broke out
The conquest of 1296 did not bring peace. English officials governed harshly, taxes and demands were heavy, and many Scots resented being ruled by a foreign power that had humiliated their king. By 1297 risings broke out in different parts of Scotland. In the north, Andrew Murray led resistance; in the south, William Wallace did the same. Their success in attacking English garrisons drew support, and the two leaders joined forces, turning scattered revolts into a serious national rising.
The victory at Stirling Bridge, 1297
At Stirling Bridge, Wallace and Murray won because they used the ground brilliantly. The English army had to cross a narrow bridge over the Forth, which meant only a few could cross at a time. The Scots waited until a large part of the English force was over, then attacked and destroyed it while the rest were stranded on the far bank, unable to help. The boggy ground trapped the heavy English cavalry, removing their main advantage. The victory was a huge boost to Scottish morale and made Wallace's reputation.
Wallace as Guardian and the defeat at Falkirk, 1298
As Guardian, Wallace governed Scotland and tried to restore order and resist England in King John's name. But Edward I returned in 1298 determined to crush the rising, leading a large, well-equipped army in person. At Falkirk the ground was open, so Edward's cavalry could charge freely. His longbowmen rained arrows on the Scottish schiltrons, the tightly packed circles of spearmen, thinning them until the cavalry could break in. The Scots were defeated. Wallace resigned as Guardian soon after, and although he stayed involved in the cause, his leadership of the war was over. He was eventually captured and executed by the English in 1305.
Examples in context
A favourite Explain question asks you to contrast the two battles. For Stirling Bridge: "the Scots chose ground at a narrow bridge, so the English could only cross a few at a time"; "they attacked once part of the army had crossed, which let them destroy it while the rest were stranded"; "the boggy ground trapped the cavalry, so the English lost their main strength". For Falkirk: "the ground was open, so the cavalry could charge freely"; "Edward's longbowmen broke up the schiltrons, which let the cavalry ride in"; "the Scots were outnumbered and some nobles failed to support Wallace, so the army was weakened".
The contrast itself is the point: terrain and tactics won Stirling Bridge for the Scots, while open ground, numbers and the longbow won Falkirk for Edward.
Try this
Q1. Give two reasons the Scots won the battle of Stirling Bridge. [2 marks]
- What the marker wants. Any two of: the narrow bridge let only a few English cross at a time; the Scots attacked once part of the army was over and stranded; the boggy ground trapped the English cavalry.
Q2. What was the role of a Guardian, and in whose name did Wallace govern? [2 marks]
- What the marker wants. A Guardian governed Scotland in the name of the absent king; Wallace governed in the name of King John Balliol.
Q3. Why did the open ground at Falkirk help Edward I's army? [2 marks]
- What the marker wants. Because his cavalry could charge freely and his longbowmen could break up the Scottish schiltrons, advantages they had lacked on the difficult ground at Stirling Bridge.
A note on sources
This guide is AI-written and not individually human-reviewed. The events and dates follow the standard account taught for the SQA National 5 History Wars of Independence topic; verify content and emphasis against the SQA National 5 History course specification and SQA past papers at sqa.org.uk.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA N5 style6 marksExplain the reasons why the Scots won the battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. (6 marks)Show worked answer →
An Explain question, so give developed reasons linking cause to effect, around six.
Developed reasons: Wallace and Andrew Murray chose strong ground by the narrow bridge over the Forth, so the English could only cross a few at a time; the Scots waited until part of the English army had crossed before attacking, which meant they could destroy that part while the rest were stranded; the boggy ground trapped the heavy English cavalry, so their main advantage was lost; Scottish morale and motivation were high after months of resistance, which meant they fought hard; and the English commanders were overconfident and advanced carelessly, so they walked into the trap.
Each reason must carry the factor through to its result.
SQA N5 style6 marksExplain the reasons why Wallace was defeated at the battle of Falkirk in 1298. (6 marks)Show worked answer →
An Explain question on the defeat, so give developed reasons, around six.
Developed reasons: at Falkirk the ground was open, so the English cavalry could charge freely, unlike at Stirling; Edward I led a much larger, well-equipped army in person, which meant the Scots were outnumbered; Edward's longbowmen poured arrows into the tightly packed Scottish schiltrons, so the spear formations were broken up; once the schiltrons were thinned, the cavalry could ride in, which meant the Scots could not hold; and some Scottish nobles failed to support Wallace fully, so his army was weakened by disunity.
Each reason must link factor to outcome to be developed.
Related dot points
- Edward I as overlord 1292-1296: his harsh treatment of King John Balliol, the Scottish alliance with France, Edward's invasion, the sack of Berwick, the defeat of Balliol, and the imposition of English control.
How Edward I's demands as overlord drove Scotland to war: his humiliation of King John Balliol, the Scottish treaty with France, Edward's invasion of 1296, the sack of Berwick, the defeat and abdication of Balliol, and the imposition of direct English rule.
- The Great Cause 1291-1292: the appeal to Edward I, his demand to be accepted as overlord at Norham, the rival claims of Bruce and Balliol, and Edward's choice of John Balliol as king.
How the disputed Scottish succession was settled by the Great Cause: the Scots' appeal to Edward I, his demand to be recognised as overlord at Norham, the rival claims of Robert Bruce and John Balliol, and Edward's decision to make Balliol king in 1292.
- Robert Bruce 1306-1314: his seizure of the throne after killing John Comyn, his early defeats and recovery, his guerrilla campaign and capture of castles, and his decisive victory at Bannockburn in 1314.
How Robert Bruce became king and turned the war: his killing of John Comyn and seizure of the throne in 1306, his early defeats and recovery, his guerrilla tactics and recapture of castles, and his decisive victory over Edward II at Bannockburn in 1314.
- Securing independence 1314-1328: continued war and raids after Bannockburn, the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320, and the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton of 1328 by which England recognised Scottish independence.
How Scotland secured its independence after Bannockburn: continued raids on England, the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320 asserting Scottish independence and the right to resist tyranny, and the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton of 1328 in which England finally recognised Robert Bruce as king of an independent Scotland.
- The succession problem 1286-1292: the death of Alexander III, the position of the Maid of Norway, the Treaty of Birgham, and her death leaving Scotland without a clear heir.
How the death of Alexander III in 1286 and then the Maid of Norway created a succession crisis in Scotland: the role of the Guardians, the Treaty of Birgham with England, and how the Maid's death left no clear heir and opened the door to rival claimants.
Sources & how we know this
- National 5 History Course Specification — SQA (2024)
- National 5 History past papers and marking instructions — SQA (2025)