Anglo-Scottish Wars facts for kids
The Anglo-Scottish Wars were a series of battles between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. These conflicts lasted for a long time, from the early 1300s to the late 1500s. They started after the Wars of Scottish Independence, where Scotland fought to stay free from England.
Even after Scotland won its independence, the two countries often had problems. English kings like Richard II and Henry IV sometimes attacked Scotland. There were also many small fights along the border. Important places like Roxburgh Castle and Berwick-upon-Tweed were often fought over.
Scotland took back Roxburgh in 1460. They also captured Berwick in 1461 by helping one side in England's own civil war, the Wars of the Roses. Berwick changed hands many times. Finally, Richard, Duke of Gloucester of England captured it for good in 1482.
England was busy with its civil war, which helped Scotland recover a bit. By the early 1500s, James IV of Scotland and Henry VII of England tried to make lasting peace. But this peace broke down when Henry VIII became king of England. He was more eager for war.
In 1513, James IV invaded England, leading to the terrible Battle of Flodden. Three decades later, after James V died in 1542, England attacked Scotland again in what was called the 'rough wooing'. The last big battle between Scotland and England as separate countries was the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September 1547. But smaller fights still happened.
France was also important in these wars. During the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), Scottish and English soldiers often fought on opposite sides in France. Scotland usually helped France against England because of an old agreement called the Auld Alliance. Later, France often helped Scotland against England. This made things even more complicated for all sides by the late 1500s.
The Anglo-Scottish Wars officially ended in 1603. This is when James VI and I became king of both England and Scotland, uniting the crowns. Even so, fighting between the two nations continued in different ways throughout the 1600s.
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Battles on the Border: Scotland and England
In the mid-1400s, there were many fights along the border. A notable one was the Battle of Sark in 1448. These battles happened because England was fighting in France. Scotland tried to help France during these times.
The Flodden Campaign
In 1512, England's King Henry VIII declared war on France. James IV of Scotland invaded England to keep his promise to France. James was married to Henry's sister, Margaret, but he still sided with France.
In 1513, James's army invaded England. His cannons quickly captured English castles like Norham and Wark. James then challenged the English army, led by the Earl of Surrey, to a big battle. James made his position strong, which Surrey saw as not very knightly.
Surrey's army moved around the Scottish army. The Scots then attacked to try and get back north to Scotland. In the terrible Battle of Flodden, James IV was killed. Many Scottish nobles and important people also died. This event was a huge loss for Scotland.
Years of Trouble: 1514–1523
When his father died, James V of Scotland was just a baby. Different groups of Scottish nobles fought for power and control of the young king. Henry VIII of England secretly encouraged some of these groups.
English armies and some border families, called Border Reivers, often raided and stole from southwest Scotland. This kept pressure on the Scottish leaders.
Eventually, the Earl of Angus and his group gained control. Peace returned between England and Scotland. Henry VIII also calmed down because the problems he caused in Scotland were starting to affect England too.
The Solway Moss Campaign
When James V grew up, he took control of Scotland. He ended the Angus group's power and renewed Scotland's Auld Alliance with France. He first married Madeleine of Valois, the daughter of Francis I of France. When she died, he married Mary of Guise.
Tension between England and Scotland grew again. Henry VIII had broken away from the Roman Catholic Church. He also started taking over monasteries. James V, however, stayed loyal to Rome and supported powerful church leaders like Cardinal David Beaton.
War broke out in 1541. After some small border fights, James sent a large army into England. But its leaders were weak and divided. The army suffered a big defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss.
The Rough Wooing
James V died soon after the defeat. Once again, Scotland's ruler was a baby, this time Mary, Queen of Scots. Henry VIII tried to force Scotland into an alliance. He wanted Mary to marry his son Edward. This effort was known as the "Rough Wooing".
When Cardinal Beaton gained control of Scotland's government and renewed the alliance with France, Henry reacted. In 1544, he sent an army led by the Earl of Hertford, Edward's uncle. This army burned Edinburgh and caused much destruction in southern Scotland. Henry hoped this would make Scotland change its mind.
Fighting continued the next year. But some Scottish groups joined together and won a victory at the Battle of Ancrum Moor. This stopped the English attacks for a while.
Henry VIII died in 1547. Hertford, now the Duke of Somerset and Protector of England, tried again to force an alliance. He also wanted to make Scotland adopt the Anglican church. He won a great victory at the Battle of Pinkie. However, Mary was secretly sent to France to marry the Dauphin Francis.
Fighting went on for several more years, especially at the siege of Haddington. French troops helped the Scots. The war was very expensive for Somerset's government. He was eventually removed from power and later executed.
The Reformation in Scotland
The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh was the last major battle between England and Scotland before they united in 1603. Cardinal Beaton was killed in 1546. Within a few years, Scotland had a big religious change called the Reformation. Unlike many other European countries, this change was mostly peaceful.
For a while, both countries had their own internal problems. Eventually, Queen Elizabeth I became queen of England and brought stability.
Scotland remained divided. The Catholic group, led by the queen mother Mary of Guise, held Leith and Edinburgh. Elizabeth helped the Protestant group win. She used her ships to block the Catholics, stopping French help from reaching them.
For the rest of the 1500s, peace was kept. This was because it was likely that James VI of Scotland would become King of England when Elizabeth died. James was raised as a Protestant and was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. There were still problems with Border Reivers, but Elizabeth chose to forgive their raids rather than start a fight with her Protestant neighbor.
See also
- List of battles between Scotland and England
