On April 27, 1296, the English army of King Edward I defeated the Scottish forces under King John Balliol at the Battle of Dunbar. The Scottish army was routed, effectively ending the first phase of the resistance to English rule. The defeat led to the submission of King John and the Scottish nobility, marking the beginning of a period of English occupation in Scotland.

The Battle of Dunbar was a major defeat for Scotland that inspired a rich body of Scottish literature, including ballads and poems that lamented the loss and celebrated the heroism of the fallen. The battle is a key event in the narrative of the Wars of Scottish Independence, a central theme in Scottish national literature. The events of 1296, including Dunbar, set the stage for the rise of William Wallace and the later poetic and literary traditions that honor his legacy.