Martha Trent Burns, age 16, of St. Augustine, Fla., for her qusetion:

WHAT WAS THE BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN?

The battle of Bannockburn was fought at Bannockburn, Scotland, in 1314. It was one of the most important battles in the history of Scotland. The Scots saved their country from foreign rule by defeating the English troops of Edward II.

Robert Bruce won the throne of Scotland by this victory.

The English had 60,000 men and the Scots had only 40,000. But the Scots fought from a better position and the English were too cramped for space to use their superior numbers.

The Scots stopped the English advance by digging pits along the line of attack.

The English lost 10,000 foot soldiers and 200 knights at Bannockburn while the Scots lost only 4,000 men.

After the battle of Bannockburn, Edward III of England finally recognized Scotland's independence and the right of Bruce to the throne as King Robert I in 1328. Bruce is remembered as a gallant Scottish king who spent his entire life trying to free his country from English rule.