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Kingdom of Scotland (Feudal Scots)

This faction covers the lowland Scots armies from 1052 to 1300.

In the second quarter of the 12th century King David I of Scotland supported the claim of his niece the Empress Matilda against King Stephen of England. He invaded northern England several times. In 1138 a pitched battle was fought at Northallerton against a local English force. The Scots were defeated with heavy losses.

Over the rest of the period Scots forces entered England on a number of occasions. However, the main task of the Scottish Kings was to expand their control, which initially was confined to the lowlands, over the rest of Scotland. It was not until 1266 that King Magnus VI of Norway ceded the Western Isles to Scotland, and Orkney remained under Norwegian control until 1468.

Following the death of King Alexander III in 1286, there was no direct male heir to the throne. Alexander's granddaughter Margaret (daughter of King Eirik II of Norway) died on the way from Norway to take the throne. Following a six year interregnum, King John Balliol was crowned, with the support of King Edward I of England, in November 1292. His rival, Robert Bruce of Annandale, grandfather of Robert the Bruce, accepted this with reluctance. Over the following years Edward of England sought to use the concessions he had won in return for his support to undermine the authority of King John and the independence of Scotland. In 1295 King John made an alliance with the King of France. In 1296 Edward invaded, and deposed King John. In 1297 William Wallace and Andrew de Moray raised the country against the English, winning a victory at Stirling Bridge. In 1298, however, Edward came North in person and defeated Wallace at Falkirk. Wallace was later captured in 1305 and executed.

In 1306 Robert the Bruce, who had alternately supported the English and Scottish sides since 1292, declared himself King of Scots and way crowned at Scone. There followed many years of war before Robert decisively defeated Edward II's army at Bannockburn in 1314. Nevertheless, it took until 1328 to secure recognition by Edward III of Scotland's independence with Robert as its king.

Feudal Scottish knightly armour development largely kept pace with English, though with the possibility of a slight lag. The Scottish "Common Army" made up a bulk of Scottish forces, comprising poorly equipped peasant infantry with 12 foot spears, usually unarmoured with only a helmet and shield.