Battle of Summerdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Summerdale |
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| Part of Rebellion of the Orkney Sinclairs | |||||||
  Flags of Caithness and Orkney |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Clan Sinclair of Caithness (supporters of James V of Scotland) | Sinclairs of Orkney Orcadians |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness † William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair |
James Sinclair, Governor of Orkney | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 500 men killed including the Earl of Caithness William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair and others taken prisoner |
One killed | ||||||
The Battle of Summerdale (also known as the Battle of Bigswell) happened on May 19, 1529. It was the very last battle fought on the Orkney Islands in Scotland. This important fight took place near the towns of Orphir and Stenness on Mainland, Orkney. The battle was between two groups of the Sinclair family: the Sinclairs from Orkney and the Sinclairs from Caithness. The Caithness Sinclairs had the support of King James V of Scotland.
Contents
Why Did the Battle Happen?
Control Over Orkney
The Orkney Islands became part of Scottish rule in 1468. After this, the Scottish King would rent out the land. People called tacksmen would collect money and taxes from the Orcadians. These tacksmen often used their power unfairly.
In 1489, Henry Sinclair, 4th Lord Sinclair was the tacksman. This role was passed down through the Sinclair family. The Sinclairs were important nobles in Orkney. However, they were not all on the same side.
A Family Divided
Some Sinclairs, like William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair, were loyal to the Scottish King. Others, such as James Sinclair, worried about Scotland taking too much control. James Sinclair and his followers rebelled against the King's growing power. They even refused to pay their taxes.
During this rebellion, the loyal Sinclairs were forced out of Orkney. James Sinclair took control of Kirkwall Castle. After many talks, James V of Scotland sent the Caithness Sinclairs to fight. Their goal was to help the King get back control of the Orkney Islands.
The Battle of Summerdale
Who Fought?
The battle was a clash between the Caithness Sinclairs, who supported the King, and the Orkney Sinclairs, led by James Sinclair. The Orcadians fought bravely to protect their home.
The Outcome
The battle was a big victory for the Orkney Sinclairs. Most of the Caithness Sinclairs were killed. Only one man from their side survived. On the other hand, only one Orcadian boy was killed. This shows how completely the Orkney side won.
According to historical records, John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness, was killed along with 500 of his men. William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair, and others were captured.
Strange Stories of the Battle
The Witch's Prophecy
Some old stories say that when William Sinclair of Caithness landed in Orphir, he met a witch. This witch had two balls of wool, one red and one blue. As the soldiers marched, she unwound them. The red ball ran out first. The witch told William Sinclair that this meant the side whose blood was spilled first would lose.
Sinclair believed this prophecy. He decided to kill the first Orcadian they saw. His men killed a boy herding cattle. But then they realized the boy was from Caithness! He had moved to Orkney earlier. This event supposedly made the Caithness men nervous and contributed to their defeat.
Help from Saint Magnus
On the other side, the Orcadians were said to have help from Saint Magnus. He is a Christian saint important to Orkney. People believed Saint Magnus appeared on the battlefield to help the Orkneymen win.
Stones from Nowhere
Another old story says the land where the battle happened was smooth grass. But on the morning of the battle, many stones suddenly appeared. The Orcadians, who were armed with pitchforks, dropped them. Instead, they threw these new stones at the Caithness men. This stopped the Caithness men from getting close enough to attack. It eventually made them run away, with the Orcadians chasing them.
What Happened After the Battle?
James Sinclair's Pardon
Even though James Sinclair had openly rebelled against the King, King James V completely forgave him. Some historians think the King was worried. He might have feared losing Orkney to Norway or Denmark if he pushed too hard.
Lasting Feelings
After the battle, communication between the people of Orkney and Caithness almost stopped. There was a strong feeling of dislike between the two groups. This animosity lasted for more than 300 years after the Battle of Summerdale.
Burial Mounds
There are mounds of earth in the battle area. People say these are the graves of the Caithness men who died. However, some historians have questioned this. In 1960, an excavation of one mound showed it had been disturbed before. This might mean someone had looked for treasure or information. It also didn't rule out the possibility that the mounds were indeed for the fallen soldiers.
