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  1. Home
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  3. Stirling Castle
Castle
Castle
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Stirling Castle

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 County

TBC 

 Categories

Stone / Cliff-top

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location56.12283,-3.946983 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

TBC 

 Categories

Stone / Cliff-top

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
56.12283,-3.946983
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
tirling Castle is known as 'the Key to Scotland' this may be the most important and strategic castle in Scotland. It is situated in the link between the north and the south. It is built on an outcrop of volcanic rock. Access to the castle is from the south-east where the rock slopes down. Over the years the castle has fallen into the hands of many people, both Scottish and English. In 1174, William the Lion signed the treaty of Falaise which allowed key Scottish castles to be taken over by the English. During the period 1296 and 1304, the castle was captured by the Scottish and the English several times until Edward I finally took control of it to last for ten years. After the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 the Scots reclaimed the castle, but in 1333 the English took it back again. More to come ...

Location

See Also

People

  • Alexander (I, King of Scotland 1107-1124)
  • Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307)
  • Edward (II, King of England 1307-1327)
  • Edward (III, King of England 1327-1377)
  • Wallace, William
  • William (I, the Lion, King of Scotland 1165-1214)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Related Episodes

Edward I and Scotland (click here)

Edward I and Scotland (click here)

Timeline

1174

December 8

William I of Scotland signs Treaty of Falaise

Captured by the English, William I of Scotland was forced to sign the Treaty of Falaise. The treaty made Scotland a feudal possession of England and William and his nobles swore fealty to Henry II. William had to hand over several castles to the English in return for his freedom. One of these was Stirling Castle.This treaty was overruled by King Richard I in return for funds paid by Scotland that Richard needed for his crusade in 1189. ¹

1297

September 11

Battle at Stirling Bridge

William Wallace and Andrew De Moray leaders of the Scottish revolt in the South and North joined forces and defeated the English army led by Surrey at Stirling. The Scots caught the English forces as they crossed a bridge across the Forth. ¹

1303

December

Edward stays at Dunfermline Abbey

Edward spent the winter months at Dunfermline Abbey where he planned the attack on Stirling Castle. ¹

1304

Spring

Edward besieges Stirling Castle

Edward began a siege of Stirling Castle. ¹

1304

July

Stirling Castle surrenders

The Scots surrendered Stirling Castle to Edward.  ¹

1313

June

Stirling Castle Siege

Stirling castle was still under the control of English forces but was under siege from the Scots led by Edward Bruce. Bruce and the English commander, Sir Philippe de Mowbray, came to an agreement that if English forces had not reached the castle by midsummer 1314, Mowbray would surrender the castle to the Scots. Bruce even let Mowbray leave the castle to inform the English king of the agreement. ¹

1314

June 17

Edward leaves Berwick

Edward II and his army left Berwick to march to Stirling Castle which they had to reach before midsummer's day if the castle were to be saved from falling back into the hands of the Scots. ¹

1314

June 24

Battle of Bannockburn

Forces led by Edward II were defeated by Robert I at Bannockburn. Edward was trying to reach Stirling Castle to relieve the English forces there. This was an important battle for the Scots to win and helped them to make some gains of land in northern England even if the success was short-lived.

1337

August

Edward rescues Stirling Castle

Edward III reached Stirling Castle with supplies to assist the English garrison there that was under siege from Sir Andrew Moray. ¹

1425

May 24

Stirling Castle executions

When James I returned to Scotland and take the thone he found that the country was in a poor state of affairs. There were many barons who had used the time of his imprisonment to further their own ambitions rather than to protect Scotland and it's people. These included Murdoch Stewart and his sons, Walter and Alexander. Murdoch had been acting as regent since the death of his father, Robert Duke of Albany in 1420. King James had Walter, Alexander and finally Murdoch arrested and executed at Stirling Castle.

1452

February

Death of William Douglas at Stirling

The Scottish Earl of Douglas had angered King James II and when the 8th Earl refused to meet the king's demands, James stabbed and killed him.

1513

September 21

James V crowned King of Scotland

Shortly after the death of his father, James V was crowned King of Scotland at Stirling Castle. His mother, Margaret became regent as the young king was too young to rule.

1513

September 21

James V crowned King of Scotland

Shortly after the death of his father, James V was crowned King of Scotland at Stirling Castle. His mother, Margaret became regent as the young king was too young to rule.

1547

September 10

Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

Thousands of Scots gathered near the town of Musselburgh, just to the east of Edinburgh. They faced an English army led by the Duke of Somerset. The Scots had a good position on the battle field but wasted it when they attacked. The Scots were heavily defeated. The defeat at Pinkie Cleugh was a threat to Mary, Queen of Scots, and so she was secretly moved from Stirling Castle to the Augustinian Inchmahome Priory located on an island on lake Menteith. ¹

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. J.D. Mackie, A History of Scotland, 1978, ISBN:0-7139-1206-5
  • 2. Susan Ross, The Castles of Scotland, ISBN:0-85097-184-5
  • 3. Caroline Bingham, The Life and Times of Edward II
  • 4. Antonia Fraser, Mary Queen of Scots

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Alexander (I, King of Scotland 1107-1124)
    • Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307)
    • Edward (II, King of England 1307-1327)
    • Edward (III, King of England 1327-1377)
    • Wallace, William
    • William (I, the Lion, King of Scotland 1165-1214)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles
    3D/VR

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