Battle of Coilsfield facts for kids

The Battle of Coilsfield was a famous, but possibly legendary, fight in Ayrshire, Scotland. It happened between an army of Picts and Scots, led by Fergus I, and an army of Britons, led by Coilus. Coilus is thought to be the same person as Coel Hen from old Welsh stories.

What Was the Battle of Coilsfield?

The Britons had come into Ayrshire because of a local uprising. They set up a large camp near the River Doon, south of the town of Ayr. Old place-names like "Cynning Park" and "Cambusdoon" give clues about how big their camp was and how many soldiers were there.

The Armies and the Plan

Fergus I, leading the Picts and Scots, waited. He let the Britons stay in their camp through the winter. This made their supplies run low. Many of their soldiers also got sick or left.

The Surprise Attack

During a big winter celebration in the British camp, the soldiers were not paying attention. Fergus and his army attacked at night. The camp, which did not have strong walls or fences, was quickly taken over. The army of Coilus panicked and ran away from the Doon-side camp.

The Retreat and Final Stand

Coilus and his men tried to escape south. They went around the "Craigs of Kyle" and crossed the "Water of Coyle" at a place called "the King's Steps". But Fergus trapped them west of a small village called Failford. There, Coilus and most of his men were defeated at the place now known as Coilsfield.

A few survivors managed to gather together. The next day, after a short break in the fighting, Fergus wisely let them leave. Local names like "Dead-mens Holm" and "King Coil's Grave" (an old Bronze-age burial mound) still remind people of this battle.

What Do Old Writings Say?

A poem written around 1631 by John Bonar, a schoolmaster from Ayr, tells some details from local memory:

Coyle he fled,
unto the river Donne,
quher drowned were many,
yt thair did runn.
And northward held,
quhil they came to a muir,
and thair was stayet,
be Scots that on him fuir.
Fergus he followet,
and came right haestillie,
quhair Coyle was killet,
and all his hole armie.
The country people,
frae thenseforthe does it call,
Coylsfield in Kyll,
as ever more it sall.

This poem says that Coyle fled to the River Doon, where many drowned. He was stopped by the Scots, and Fergus followed quickly. Coyle and his army were defeated, and the place was named Coilsfield.

Lessons from Ancient Writers

Even though some experts today think the battle might be a story, some researchers believe old writers might have mentioned similar events. For example, a Roman writer named Vegetius talked about the problems of having a very large army. He said big armies are slow and can run out of food and water. He also warned that armies should always build defenses for their camps. He noted that if armies don't take these steps, they can be surprised by enemies day or night.

Another writer, Gildas, from Britain, described a disaster that sounds a bit like the Coilsfield battle. He wrote about an army that was slow to fight and not ready for battle. This army stayed in its camp, not paying attention, while enemies attacked with their weapons. These old writings show how important it was for armies to be prepared and alert.