When I Had to Face 15,000 English Soldiers

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Looks like [music] you've got your fate, Robert.

[00:00:02]A few days earlier, just before the battle began, my men and I searched for a way to welcome the English army that was rumored to be arriving soon.

[00:00:14]Their numbers were estimated to reach 15,000 soldiers, [music] complete with war horses and heavy iron armor.

[00:00:22]Meanwhile, >> [music] >> I only had around 5,000 men, and some of them were nothing more than ordinary civilians. So, the first thing I did was choose the battlefield. Wet and muddy ground was the perfect choice because it would slow down the movement of enemies wearing heavy armor. But to bring the enemy [music] down to the ground, I first had to knock them off their horses. That was why I added trenches with sharpened wooden stakes beneath them.

[00:00:52]Anyone who fell into those pits [music] might never get back up again.

[00:00:56]Even so, trenches alone would not be enough. Some of the enemy would still manage to [music] get through. Because of that, I prepared long spears measuring around 4 m to hold them back.

[00:01:09]This strategy was almost the same as the one used by the man before me, William Wallace, and perhaps I had even perfected it. Hopefully.

[00:01:25]Morning finally arrived. [music] I walked toward my soldiers who had already lined up while staring at the English army in the distance.

[00:01:34]The unequal numbers, the shining armor, and those massive horse were enough to make anyone think twice [music] about fighting.

[00:01:42]And so did my soldiers. I knew there was fear and doubt in their hearts.

[00:01:47]Today, before the battle truly began, there was not a single bit of force keeping them here.

[00:01:54]But with a loud voice, I said, "I know you all as men, but today today we are beasts.

[00:02:07]You fight for God, for honor, for country, for family, for yourselves, I do not care, SO LONG AS YOU FIGHT!"

[00:02:17]>> [cheering] [screaming] >> AFTER HEARING THE BATTLE CRIES from my soldiers, >> [music] >> the first wave of the English army began their attack.

[00:02:32]The pounding steps of those massive horses instantly made the ground shake and sent strong winds toward us.

[00:02:42]My soldiers would not move until I gave the order, and no, I would not order them to charge forward, but instead to step back a few steps behind the trenches, then raise their spears together.

[00:02:59]The strategy worked. Many enemies fell into the trenches along with their horses. [music] Even if someone tried to stop in time, they would still fall because of the slippery ground and the pressure from the soldiers behind [music] them.

[00:03:15]>> [screaming] >> The trench strategy only managed to [music] stop some of the front lines, while the rest still had to be faced head-on. That was why my soldiers and I only wore light protection, so we could move faster and more freely across the muddy ground, unlike the English soldiers who struggled to move because of their heavy armor. Even in the middle of battle, many of them were more focused on searching for a drier path.

[00:03:43]Not long after the first wave began to fall, King Edward II ordered all of his soldiers to enter the battle. It was one of the dumbest decisions I had ever seen. Having a larger army did not make things easier.

[00:03:56]He did not realize that the battlefield I had prepared was extremely narrow, and it would only make things harder for both him and his men. They kept falling into the mud, and even their horses seemed unwilling to keep moving forward.

[00:04:12]On the other side, I watched my soldiers fight with incredible courage. They had truly become beasts on the battlefield.

[00:04:20]The sun continued to rise higher, shining over the wet battlefield [music] now covered in blood mixed with mud. A few moments later, a loud command was heard from the distance.

[00:04:32]The main commander of the English army had ordered a retreat. It seemed that even he had realized the stupidity of his king's decision. Victory echoed across the land of Scotland. At that moment, screams, tears, and exhaustion all became one.

[00:04:50]Son, this is not a fictional story. This is a true story. This battle is known [music] as the Battle of Bannockburn, which took place in 1314.

[00:05:02]In truth, my story is far longer than this.

[00:05:06]I suffered many defeats before this battle ever happened. Hopefully, someday I can tell the rest of my story, even [music] if I still do not deserve to be called a hero.

[00:05:18]Thank you.

[00:05:19]I am Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland.

[00:05:27]Now come my soldier, [music] who carries a mighty sword.

[00:05:31]He will tear your city down, a-lay a-lie a-lord.

[00:05:34]A-lay a-lie a-lord.

[00:05:36]>> [music and singing]