Slinging.org Forum
https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl
General >> Project Goliath - The History of The Sling >> Slinging at the Battle of Falkirk.
https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1352157577

Message started by slingbadger on Nov 5th, 2012 at 6:19pm

Title: Slinging at the Battle of Falkirk.
Post by slingbadger on Nov 5th, 2012 at 6:19pm
The Battle was portrayed in Braveheart. It occurred in June 1298. Edward had a force 80,000 infantry of English, Welsh and Irish. Plus he had the Cavalry.
Wallace had about 30,000 men, mostly commoners. This is the battle where Wallace deployed schiltrons ( spears) to ward of the mounted cavalry.

 "Stoutly the Scots stood, shoulder to shoulder;and though infantry came , and showers of cloth yard shafts were shot point blank into the ranks of Wallace, while with a storm of stones, the Welsh and Irish (they did fight on the English side), slingers plied their missiles securely from behind, they could not penetrate that wood of spears."
 Later

"Already deserted by their cavalry, most of it riding off with Red Comyn, and after the destruction of their archers, left exposed to a pitiless storm of missiles from the Welsh Longbow and Irish slingers,infantry, with their long spears leveled over a breastwork of their dead and dying, made a desperate attempt of their ground. "

Title: Re: Slinging at the Battle of Falkirk.
Post by David Morningstar on Nov 7th, 2012 at 7:14am

That is probably the last example of slingers on a British battlefield as a regular (ish) unit, rather than as desperate ad-hoc measure.

Title: Re: Slinging at the Battle of Falkirk.
Post by Lugh-Lamhfada on Mar 1st, 2013 at 11:25am
Didnt this battle take place on a bridge or river crossing rather than a field as portrayed in Braveheart?

If the Irish and their English commanders were clever they would have slung flaming pitch in pots over the pike formation and onto the men ;)

Title: Re: Slinging at the Battle of Falkirk.
Post by Mauro Fiorentini on Mar 1st, 2013 at 11:46am
Topic added to the PG's Index.
Greetings,
Mauro.

Title: Re: Slinging at the Battle of Falkirk.
Post by SchlrFtrRkMystc on Apr 27th, 2013 at 11:12pm
Lugh... that was the first battle... Sterling Bridge. So... are you familiar with any examples of little pots filled with flamables being slung... its something I've thought alot about.

Also David Morningstar, while I don't know as much about use of slings in later English campaigns... I know slings were used well into the 1300s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_najera_froissart.jpg Here's a link to a depiction of Najera which features some 4,000 slingers... depicted with shield and armor front and center ready for an overhand cast.

Also, to the OP care to give your source? I'd love to use it for reference.

Title: Re: Slinging at the Battle of Falkirk.
Post by slingbadger on Apr 28th, 2013 at 8:29am
clanwallace.org

Slinging.org Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.5.2!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2024. All Rights Reserved.