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The capture of Edinburgh Castle
History told as a story
In the tumultuous landscape of medieval Scotland,
where castles stood as both bastions of power and symbols of
strife, a remarkable event unfolded—the capture of Edinburgh
Castle in 1341. At the heart of this daring feat was Sir
William Douglas, a man whose cunning and courage would echo
through the annals of history.
During the Wars of
Independence (1296 -
1342), Edinburgh Castle changed hands like a pawn on a chessboard.
It was a coveted prize—a strategic stronghold perched atop Castle
Rock. In 1314, after the legendary Battle of Bannockburn,
Robert the Bruce reclaimed the castle from the English.
Impressed by its ease of capture, he ordered the demolition of its
fortifications.
But fate had other plans.
In 1335,
Edward III of England rebuilt Edinburgh Castle, determined to
assert English dominance. Yet, his hold on the fortress was
short-lived.
William Bullock, a priest was a key player in this audacious
plot. Posing as a French ship's captain, Bullock gained admittance
to the castle. His cargo? Supposedly, the contents of his
ship—food and wine for sale to the English garrison.
As dawn broke, carts laden with
"goods" arrived at the castle gate. The portcullis lifted, and the
carts began their entry. But Bullock had orchestrated a brilliant
twist. The first cart upset, preventing the gate from lowering.
Chaos erupted—the other cart drivers attacked the gate guards. The
bugle call sounded, signaling Douglas and his troops.
Enter Sir William Douglas and his
audacious band of warriors.
Disguised as merchants,
Douglas and his men infiltrated the castle. Their true intent? To
reclaim what was rightfully Scottish. With swords concealed
beneath their cloaks, they stormed the castle, decapitating most
of the English garrison. Bodies tumbled over the castle walls, a
grim testament to their resolve.
The English were defeated. Edinburgh
Castle remained in Scottish hands until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. But amidst the triumph, tragedy lingered.
William Bullock, the mastermind, met a miserable fate—starved to
death in the castle of Lochindorb.
And so, the tale of Sir
William Douglas and the capture of Edinburgh Castle reverberates—a
saga of valour, cunning, and the enduring spirit of Scotland.
See also:
Edinburgh Castle
William Douglas of
Liddesdale
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