Battle of Alnwick (1174) facts for kids

The Battle of Alnwick (1174) was a key event in English and Scottish history. It happened on July 13, 1174, near the town of Alnwick in Northumberland, England. During this battle, William I of Scotland, also known as William the Lion, was captured. A small English force led by Ranulf de Glanvill achieved this important victory.

Why the Battle Happened

William's Claim to Land

William I became King of Scotland in 1165. Before that, in 1152, he had inherited the title of Earl of Northumbria. This meant he controlled land in northern England. However, in 1157, he had to give up this title to King Henry II of England. William spent much of his time as king trying to get this land back.

Invasions of Northumbria

In 1173, King Henry II was busy fighting his own sons. This was part of a bigger conflict called the Revolt of 1173–1174. William saw this as a chance to reclaim his lost territory. He invaded Northumbria. He tried to attack Newcastle, but its stone castle was too strong. He also attacked Prudhoe Castle, but its defenses were too good. William didn't want a long fight, so he went back to Scotland.

In 1174, William invaded Northumbria again. This time, he had an even larger army. It included soldiers from Flanders, who were paid fighters called mercenaries. Some stories say his army had eighty thousand men, but this is likely a huge exaggeration. He avoided Newcastle this time. Instead, he attacked Prudhoe Castle again. The castle had been made stronger since his last visit. After three days of trying to capture it, William moved north. He planned to attack Alnwick.

Dividing the Scottish Army

William made a mistake by splitting his army. He divided it into three groups. One group, led by Duncan, Earl of Fife, attacked Warkworth. They set fire to the church of St Lawrence. Many people seeking safety were trapped inside.

The Battle of Alnwick

English Knights' Journey

William's biggest mistake was letting his army spread out. They were not gathered around his main camp at Alnwick. On the night of July 11, about four hundred English knights left Newcastle. They were led by Ranulf de Glanvill. This small group of fighters included many experienced knights. They had fought against the Scots before.

Surprise Attack

The English knights reached Alnwick shortly after sunrise. They had gotten lost in a thick fog. When they arrived, they found William's camp. The Scottish king was only protected by about sixty bodyguards. When the alarm sounded, William quickly left his tent. He got ready to fight.

William's Capture

The English force charged forward. King William and his bodyguards bravely met the attack. The fight did not last long. William's horse was killed, and he was captured. The rest of his followers who were not killed quickly surrendered.

What Happened Next

William's Imprisonment

William was taken back to Newcastle as a prisoner. His army was left without a leader. They slowly made their way back to Scotland. William was held at Newcastle for a short time. However, it was not considered strong enough to hold a king. He was then moved to Falaise in Normandy, France. While William was held there, King Henry II sent an army to take over parts of Scotland. They captured five of Scotland's strongest castles. These were Roxburgh, Berwick, Jedburgh, Edinburgh, and Stirling.

The Treaty of Falaise

To get his freedom, William had to sign an agreement called the Treaty of Falaise. In this treaty, he promised to be loyal to the English king. He also agreed that English soldiers would stay in the captured castles. Scotland would have to pay for these soldiers. After signing the treaty, William was set free. He traveled back to Scotland through Newcastle. On his way, a crowd of angry local people attacked him. They were very upset about the Scottish invasions.

Later History

End of the Treaty

The Treaty of Falaise lasted for fifteen years. Then, Richard the Lionheart became King of England. He effectively sold the castles back to William. Richard needed money to fund his journey to the Holy Land for a crusade.

Setting the Border

This battle was the last time a Scottish king tried to get back land in northern England. In 1237, another agreement was made. It was called the Treaty of York. Under this treaty, Alexander II of Scotland gave up his family's claims to Northumbria and Cumbria. This treaty also set the border between England and Scotland. The border runs from the Solway Firth in the west to the mouth of the River Tweed in the east. This is still the border between the two countries today.