BattlefieldsSurrender of Stirling Castle 1296
Medieval

Surrender of Stirling Castle 1296

1296
Stirlingshire, Scotland
Also known as: Fall of Stirling Castle to Edward I 1296
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Stirlingshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scotland (Stirling garrison)
VS
Victor
England (Edward I)
Outcome
Stirling Castle surrendered to Edward I without significant resistance; the keeper fled before the English arrived
The Battle

History & Significance

When Edward I marched north after Dunbar and Edinburgh, Stirling Castle was found almost deserted. The English chronicler Rishanger records that the keeper escaped just before the English arrived, leaving the castle effectively abandoned. Edward simply occupied it. Stirling was the gateway between north and south Scotland and its bloodless capture completed the English conquest of Lowland Scotland in 1296. Its recovery would become the proximate cause of Bannockburn eighteen years later.

Forces Involved

English army under Edward I; minimal or no Scottish garrison

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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