The Battle of Bannockburn occurred during a critical period of the First War of Scottish Independence, as Scottish forces sought to expel the English from their lands. On June 23 and 24, 1314, Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, faced off against the much larger army of King Edward II of England. The strategic positioning of the Scottish forces along sloping ground provided them with a defensive advantage. The Scots were heavily outnumbered, with estimates of their forces around 5,000 to 10,000 men compared to the English’s possibly 20,000. Despite this disparity, Bruce's forces utilized both clever tactical maneuvers, including the use of schiltrons (a formation of spear-wielding soldiers), which proved effective against cavalry charges. On the first day, intense skirmishes ensued, with both sides seeing significant losses. However, on the second day, the Scots launched a surprise attack that ultimately led to the breakdown of the English lines. As the English retreated, many were cut down, and the Scottish victory at Bannockburn asserted their independence claims.