Under
the Hammer
Edward I and Scotland 1286-1307
Under
the Hammer
War truly begins when the invading army, conquest complete,
goes home. It is the relationship between the native population
and those remaining behind as part of the new administration
which holds the key to our understanding of not only the mechanisms
of conquest, but also the fundamental elements of government
desired by societies. Nowhere is this more convincingly demonstrated
than in the attempted annexation of Scotland by Edward I of
England, already conqueror of Wales. The Scotland of Wallace
and Bruce nearly succumbed, having wrestled with contradictory
desires for independence, and for stability and united government,
for nearly a decade. The fact that, ultimately, she did not
give in illustrates that patriotism does indeed play a central
role in discussions of war and conquest. Fiona Watson examines
the process of conquest and attempted colonisation of one
medieval kingdom by another, concentrating on that most vital
aspect of conquest: the maintenance of garrisons. She shows
how the kingdom of Scotland was able to marshal its resources
and create a coherent and cohesive national front to deal
with a more powerful enemy. Under the Hammer provides a much
clearer picture of medieval Scotland - its varying component
parts; its sense of self, its strengths and weakness. Much
of this will surprise.
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