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While the
popular impression is that Scotland's independence was
secured by the
Battle
of Bannockburn,
it took much longer to achieve this. The first War
of Independence was concluded at the
Treaty of Northampton in 1328.
King Robert died in 1329 and the English invaded
again in 1332. Edward III had
Edward Balliol crowned his puppet King, and he soon
had more control over Scotland than his grandfather,
Edward I. The Battle of Culblean on St Andrew's
Day 1335 was the turning point in the
Second War of Independence.
In 1335 four
castles remained in Scottish hands, and the David de
Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, loyal to Balliol, was
laying siege to one of them, Kildrummy Castle in
Aberdeenshire, which controlled the North East. Among
them was the Bruce's sister, Christian. The
Bruce's son, David was in exile in France and her
husband, Regent Andrew de Moray raised an army of about
4,000 to lift the siege, including the Earl of March and
Sir William de Douglas. On 29th November the army
camped at "Hall of Logy Rothwayne" on the north east
shore of Loch Davan. On learning of their approach
Atholl abandoned the siege and camped at the east end of
Culblean, perhaps aiming for his land of Atholl, to the
south.
The
battle was described by
Wyntoun's Chronicle. John of the Craig,
defender of Kildrummy told de Moray of an approach to
outflank Atholl, and splitting his forces, on St
Andrew's Day , de Douglas feinted to the front of
Atholls army, about 3,000 strong, and de Moray hit
them from the flank. Surprised and overwhelmed the pro
English army was defeated. According to
Boece's account Atholl himself was killed by
Alexander Gordon, the successor to the Lordship of
Strathbogie forefeited by Atholl.
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