On June 23–24, 1314, the Scottish army under Robert the Bruce defeats the much larger English army led by Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn. This decisive victory ensures Scottish independence and solidifies Bruce's position as king of Scotland. It marks a turning point in the First War of Scottish Independence and becomes a celebrated national triumph.

Bannockburn is immortalized in Scottish poetry and balladry, most famously in Robert Burns's 'Scots Wha Hae,' which imagines Bruce addressing his troops. The battle becomes a touchstone for themes of liberty, nationalism, and heroism in Scottish literature, influencing poets from the 14th century to the present. It also appears in chronicle poetry and later works by Barbour, who wrote 'The Bruce' epic, cementing its place in the national poetic canon.