Schiltron - Medieval Tactics #shorts

New Kings and Generals animated historical shorts video on Medieval history and tactics continues with a video on schiltron - the military formation often used by the middle age armies of Scotland, especially during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England.

Previously:

Script: David Muncan
Video: Arif Azaman

#Documentary #Kingsandgenerals #shorts

[MichaelSmith-ijut]

"Begging your pardon, sire, but won't we hit our own troops?"
"Yes. But we'll hit theirs too."

[Cervando]

The English archers at Bannockburn were driven off by the Scottish cavalry after they tried to reposition on the Scottish flanks to avoid hitting their own men.

[onaraisedbeach]

The concept of circular schiltrons is very much up for debate among Scottish historians. Some, like myself (I ran the battle simulation at the Bannockburn visitor centre for several years) believe they never would have been practical, and instead interpret the schiltron as exclusively a roughly rectangular formation.
The difference between Wallace at Falkirk and Bruce at Bannockburn was that Wallace did not have the time to train his men to advance in an orderly fashion in schiltron formation, while the nearly year-long period of preparation prior to Bannockburn allowed Bruce to instil discipline. Bruce even turned away hardened soldiers who showed up too late to train in schiltron formation, as he couldn't risk the integrity of any of his line - instead, they were peppered among the schiltrons with daggers and hand axes to despatch fallen English knights.
The schiltrons were able to advance relatively unmolested by English archers not because they were too close, but because a force of some 500 light cavalry under Robert Keith were able to drive the archers away from the flanks and back into the main press or else pursued fleeing archers across the Pelstream Burn.
The spears of a schiltron were between 12-15ft, with the front rank kneeling when prone, the 2nd rank holding spears straight ahead, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th ranks holding the spears above their heads, creating a triple-layer of spears: one to take out horses, one to press back infantry, and others to add to the weight of the schiltron's press.
A schiltron on its own in open ground is incredibly vulnerable, but paired with a tightened neck of land and some cavalry support it was formidable.

[StrategosAmoros]

Total war player be like 0o0: *NOOB BOX*

[rediponto]

Total Wars when playing as Greek factions be like:

[ancientsitesgirl]

After the Kadesh video, I look forward to hearing more about Bronze Age battles and wars! ✌

[andrewnicholson]

0:45 "English longbowmen were likewise rendered useless" Random soldier in Braveheart "sire won't we hit our own troops?" King Edward Longshanks "yes but we'll hit theirs as well, we have reserves." So they combined details of Falkirk and Bannockburn into the Falkirk battle. No circular formation in Braveheart but close proxmity of archers in Bannockburn.

[Astickkkk]

Thanks! My grandma used this against me

[mohdaamir]

Wth bro, I just yesterday saw movie The Outlaw King & It was amazing.

[PvtPuplovski]

The more detailed history one learns, the more every ruler of the past seems truly human. Doing a circle of pikes for defense is something I would’ve thought of in elementary school, and yet the fog of war makes it seem all that more effective because the English weren’t expecting it.

[lisboah]

And ironically, in 1385, at the Battle of Aljubarrota, the English longbowmen would fight alongside the Portuguese, who used a modified version of the Schiltron formation, to counter the Castilian cavalry.

[andystewart]

The 'Fal' in Falkirk is pronounced like fall, and the emphasis is on the first syllable. Sorry to be a pedant, just trying to help

Edit: would love a full series on both Scottish Wars of Independence

[CommonSwindler]

Nice, except it was Edward II at Bannockburn not Edward III

[dmitriyb]

Damn, that cavalry charge on the pikes. Was total war ai playing as english that day?

[kratoskingdom]

Total war players be like :- Charging on Pikes from front with your cavalry is a foolish charge. That was a shameful display😂

[lilgoop]

This shit is so fascinating to me. I could never wrap my head around old world tactics but these have been helping me understand.

[brokenbridge]

I like the shorts from this channel. Keep'em up.

[jamesredmond]

Nice short, but there's one detail that I noticed was incorrect. At Bannockburn, the English were under the command of Edward *II*, not Edward *III* .

[dijionstovall]

I use these formations in total war so thanks for helping out a fellow General

[peacebewithyou]

I love your videos man. Could you also please include the year that the battles roughly took place?

I know I can look it up but is very handy to just see it right there.

Thank you! Love your stuff man.