Battle of Glasgow (1560) facts for kids
The Battle of Glasgow happened on March 18, 1560, in Glasgow, Scotland. It was a fight between Scottish people who supported the Scottish Reformation (a big change in religion) and French soldiers. This battle was part of a larger conflict during a time when Scotland was going through major changes.
Quick facts for kids Battle of Glasgow (1560) |
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| Part of The Reformation | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Scotland (Protestant) |
 Kingdom of France |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Earl of Arran Earl of Glencairn |
Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Why the Battle Happened
At this time, Mary of Guise was ruling Scotland as the Queen's mother and a special leader called a Regent. Her rule was challenged by a group of Scottish nobles known as the Lords of the Congregation. These Lords wanted Scotland to become a Protestant country, moving away from the Catholic Church.
Mary of Guise asked for help from France, her home country. So, French soldiers came to Scotland to support her. In response, the Scottish Lords asked for help from England. They signed a deal called the Treaty of Berwick (1560) to get English military support. The Battle of Glasgow happened just before a bigger fight, the Siege of Leith, began.
The Battle in Glasgow
On March 3, 1560, the Scottish foot soldiers of the Congregation left Fife and headed towards Glasgow. The main leader of the Lords of the Congregation, the Earl of Arran, left Glasgow on March 17, 1560. He left a small group of 25 men in the Bishop's Palace and 13 men in the Steeple of the Cathedral.
Early on March 18, French troops, led by Henri Cleutin, arrived in Glasgow. French soldiers on horseback, called Harquebusiers, were met by about 70 Scots. These Scots were led by a son of the Earl of Glencairn. They had stayed behind in Glasgow to destroy any supplies that the French might use.
The French and Scots fought fiercely at a bridge. The Scots were eventually forced into the open, where many were killed. Others were captured, and their leaders were hanged. The French offered to spare the remaining Scots if they stopped supporting the Congregation. Later that afternoon, the Scottish soldiers in the Palace and the Cathedral steeple also gave up.
The Earl of Arran later wrote a letter confirming this French account. He said he had left the soldiers in Glasgow to gain 48 hours of time. When the French entered the Bishop's Castle, gunpowder accidentally exploded in one of the towers, killing 13 French soldiers. Arran also mentioned that 30 Scots fought at the bridge and killed 8 Frenchmen.
After the battle, the French troops went back to Leith. About 800 Scottish horsemen, led by the Earl of Arran, followed them closely. The Earl's men had a small fight with the French in the Callendar woods. A writer named Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie noted that the Scots did not use all their strength in this skirmish. This was because their allies, the English fleet, had just arrived to help them.
See also
