The Scottish Wars of Independence Quiz

Answer: William Wallace

Although the film took some liberties with the known history of William Wallace, it did much to give recognition to a man whose accomplishments are little known outside Scotland. Robert the Bruce took over the struggle for independence after Wallace's defeat. Sir Andrew de Moray was an experienced guerilla fighter, and Wallace's closest friend and advisor. Rob Roy MacGregor was a cattle dealer who became an outlaw, having fought on the Jacobite side in the 1715 Rebellion to restore the Stuart line to the throne.

Answer: A defensive formation against cavalry

A Schiltron comprised a large body of soldiers armed with long spears (often little more than long poles with sharpened points). They formed up in a hollow sqare formation, shoulder to shoulder, with the spears pointing outward on all sides. By moving the schiltron bodily across the battlefield, like a very vicious hedgehog, it could also be used offensively.

This was an extremely effective tactic against cavalry, but the schiltron was vulnerable if there were effective archers on the battlefield.

Answer: Stirling Bridge

This is completely misrepresented in the film "Braveheart", which shows long lines of soldiers on an open battlefield. In reality, Wallace's army were on the north side of the River Forth, while Surrey's army were on the south bank: the larger English Army had only a narrow wooden bridge with which to cross the river. Wallace's men were hiding in nearby woodland - when a manageable number of English soldiers had crossed the bridge, the Scots attacked. With no hope of reinforcement, those English who had crossed already were slaughtered in their thousands or drowned as they tried to escape.

Answer: King Robert I (Robert the Bruce)

According to the legend, Robert had tried six times to defeat the English and had failed on every occasion. In despair, he was thinking about giving up and fleeing overseas. While hiding from his enemies in a peasant's hut (or a cave, depending on which legend you hear) he saw a small spider trying to swing itself between the roof timbers to make its web. Six times the spider swung and failed to reach its target.

However it was successful on its seventh attempt, and thus inspired Bruce to give it one more try.

Answer: A broadsword

The highlander's traditional sword was the basket-hilted broadsword, a weapon of some 40 inchs (1 m.) in length, although many (including Wallace) used the larger claymore. Some two-handed versions of these were more than 5 feet long. The cutlass is a shorter curved sword, some 30" in length, handy for close-quarters melee fighting, such as in boarding an enemy's ship.

The sabre is a longer curved sword, optimised for cavalry use, while the gladius was the short stabbing sword of the Roman legionary, and - hence the name - the gladiator.

Answer: 1314

1415 saw the Battle of Agincourt, in which an English Army, heavily outnumbered, defeated a French army, slaughtering some 10,000 Frenchmen for the loss of less than 500 English. 1513 was the disasterous Battle of Flodden Field, a heavy Scottish defeat where most of Scotland's nobles, including King James IV, were killed. 1298 was the Battle of Falkirk, in which Wallace was defeated by an English army under Edward I.

Answer: The Declaration of Arbroath

The Declaration of Arbroath was prepared as a formal Declaration of Independence and presented to the Pope, in order that he should recognise Scotland as an independant nation. It was drawn up in Arbroath Abbey in 1320, probably by the Abbot, Bernard de Linton, who was also the Chancellor of Scotland.

The other options are fictitious.

Answer: King James VI

King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England, so I hope you didn't fall for this distractor. Malcolm I is right out of the picture, since he reigned from 943 AD to 954. King Charles I was the son of King James VI/I.

Answer: Queen Anne

King James II only reigned for 3 years - he was deposed because, despite his assurances otherwise when he was crowned, he was a Roman Catholic. A number of candidates were considered to replace him, but William and Mary were judged to be the best of the bunch. Queen Anne succeeded William in 1702.

After Anne's death in 1714, George of Hanover was invited to rule the country now known as Great Britain, as King George I.

Answer: 1999

Although the Scottish Parliament has very limited powers as yet, it sat again for the first time in nearly 300 years in 1999. 1921 saw the formation of a Northern Ireland Parliament, which was dissolved in 1972 because of the Troubles. 1998 saw the formation of the Greater London Authority.