Battle of Loudoun Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Loudoun Hill |
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| Part of First War of Scottish Independence | |||||||
 Trig Point and Battle Plaque at the summit of Loudoun Hill. Battle of Loudoun Hill, May 10, 1307, Through devotion and by willing hands this stone was hauled here to commemorate the first victory of King Robert the Bruce who won for us freedom from serfdom |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of Scotland | Kingdom of England | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Robert the Bruce | Earl of Pembroke | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 600 men | 3,000 men | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Low | "hundreds" | ||||||
| Designated | 14 December 2012 | ||||||
| Reference no. | BTL36 | ||||||
The Battle of Loudoun Hill was an important fight that happened on May 10, 1307. It was part of the First War of Scottish Independence, a long struggle for Scotland's freedom from England. In this battle, the Scottish army, led by King Robert the Bruce, faced the English forces. The English were commanded by Aymer de Valence, the Earl of Pembroke. The battle took place near Loudoun Hill in Ayrshire, Scotland. It ended with a big win for King Robert. This was his first major victory after a tough start to his reign.
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King Robert's Early Struggles
Before Loudoun Hill, King Robert the Bruce had a very difficult time. The year before, in 1306, he had faced Aymer de Valence near Perth at the Battle of Methven. Valence launched a surprise attack at night. King Robert's army was almost completely destroyed. Many of his key supporters were killed or captured and executed.
Soon after, what was left of his army was attacked again. This happened at the Battle of Dalrigh by the Macdougalls of Lorn, who were allies of the English. After these defeats, King Robert's army was gone. He had to hide and live as a fugitive, meaning someone on the run. He found safety for a while in places like Dunaverty Castle or Rathlin Island.
The King Returns to Fight
In February 1307, King Robert made a bold move. He sailed from the Isle of Arran to his own lands in Carrick, Ayrshire. He landed near Turnberry, knowing the local people would support him. However, all the castles there were held by the English. He attacked Turnberry town, killing many English soldiers and taking supplies.
Meanwhile, his brothers, Thomas and Alexander, tried a similar landing in Galloway. But their attempt ended in disaster. Their army of Irish and island fighters was defeated. Thomas and Alexander were captured and later executed by order of King Edward I. Despite this loss, King Robert managed to establish himself in the hills of Carrick and Galloway.
Bruce's New Battle Plan
King Robert had learned a valuable lesson from his earlier defeats. He realized he could not fight the English in open battles. Their army was much larger and better equipped. Instead, he decided to use a new strategy. He would use his deep knowledge of the Scottish countryside to his advantage.
His new plan focused on quick, surprise attacks, also known as "hit-and-run" tactics. He made sure his small force could move very fast. He would avoid direct fights and keep the English guessing. He also made sure to destroy crops and move livestock away from the English army's path. This stopped the English from getting fresh food and supplies for their heavy war horses. King Robert understood that English invasions often happened in summer and then they would leave before winter.
The Battle at Loudoun Hill
King Robert had his first small success at Glen Trool. There, he ambushed an English force led by Aymer de Valence. His men attacked from above with rocks and arrows, forcing the English to retreat with heavy losses. After this, he moved through the moors and arrived in northern Ayrshire in early May. His army grew stronger with new recruits.
Soon, he met Aymer de Valence again, who was leading the main English force in the area. King Robert chose his battleground carefully. On May 10, he took a position on a flat area south of Loudoun Hill. This area was only about 500 yards wide. On both sides, there were deep, muddy swamps, called morasses.
King Robert studied the land and made smart preparations. He knew the English would have to attack along a narrow path. He ordered his men to dig three deep ditches across this path. These ditches would make it even harder for the English to advance.
The English army, much larger than the Scots, had to attack along this very narrow path. The bogs on the sides and the ditches in front of the Scots meant the English couldn't use their greater numbers. They were forced to attack uphill, towards the waiting Scottish spears. This was similar to the Battle of Stirling Bridge, where a narrow crossing helped the Scots win.
When the English knights charged, they were met by the Scottish spearmen. The ground was bad for the knights, and they were slaughtered. The Scottish spearmen pushed downhill, causing panic among the English. Many English soldiers were killed. Aymer de Valence managed to escape the battle and fled to Bothwell Castle.
Seven years after this important victory at Loudoun Hill, King Robert went on to defeat another English army. This time, it was led by King Edward II at the famous Battle of Bannockburn, which secured Scotland's independence.
