Battle of the Standard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of the Standard |
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| Part of the Anarchy | |||||||
 Battlefield monument at |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of England | Kingdom of Scotland | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| William of Aumale | David I of Scotland | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~10,000 men | ~16,000 men | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown (low) | unknown, but maybe as many as 2,000 with around 10,000 dispersed. | ||||||
The Battle of the Standard, also known as the Battle of Northallerton, happened on August 22, 1138. It took place on Cowton Moor, close to Northallerton in Yorkshire, England. In this battle, English soldiers, led by William of Aumale, fought off a Scottish army. The Scottish forces were commanded by their king, David I of Scotland.
At this time, King Stephen of England was busy fighting rebels in the south of England. So, the English army in the north was mostly made up of local fighters and soldiers from northern England. Archbishop Thurstan of York worked hard to gather this army. He told everyone that fighting the Scots was doing God's work. The English army's main symbol was a tall mast on a cart. This mast held a special container called a pyx with holy bread inside. It also flew the sacred banners from important churches like York and Durham. This is why the battle is called the "Battle of the Standard."
King David of Scotland had two main reasons for invading England. First, he wanted to support his niece, Matilda, who believed she should be the Queen of England instead of King Stephen. Second, David wanted to make his kingdom bigger. Before the battle, David's army had already taken control of much of Northumberland, except for a few castles.
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Why the Battle of the Standard Happened
This battle was part of a bigger conflict called the Anarchy. This was a time when England had a civil war.
King David's Claim to English Land
King David of Scotland became king with help from his brother-in-law, Henry I of England. David wanted to make Scotland more like England. When Henry I died in 1135, he wanted his daughter, Matilda, to become queen. Many important English and Norman lords didn't want Matilda to rule. So, Stephen, Henry I's nephew, quickly took the throne instead.
When Stephen was crowned king, David went to war. After some fighting, they made a peace treaty in 1136. This treaty gave Cumberland to David. Also, David's son, Henry, became the Earl of Huntingdon. David refused to promise loyalty to Stephen because he had already promised it to Matilda.
In 1137, David invaded England again, but they quickly agreed to a truce. When the truce ended in November, David demanded to be made the earl of all of Northumberland. Stephen said no. So, in January 1138, David invaded England for a third time.
Scottish Invasion of Northumberland
David's army first attacked English castles near the Tweed River. Norham Castle quickly fell. David then moved deeper into Northumberland. His army demanded money from towns and churches to stop them from burning and stealing.
Some Scottish soldiers were very harsh. They even took women and children as slaves. This shocked the English writers of the time. In February 1138, King Stephen marched north to fight David. But David avoided him, and Stephen had to go back south.
Skirmishes Before the Main Battle
In the summer, David's nephew, William fitz Duncan, attacked Yorkshire. On June 10, he defeated an English force at the battle of Clitheroe. He also destroyed a church called Calder Abbey.
By late July, David's army was in northern England. His army was very large, possibly around 16,000 men. An English lord named Eustace fitz John joined David and gave him Alnwick Castle.
English leaders in Yorkshire met in York. They were worried because King Stephen was busy in the south and couldn't help them. But Archbishop Thurstan of York, who was 70 years old, urged them to fight. He said it was a holy cause. So, they agreed to gather their forces. They were joined by soldiers from other parts of England.
They marched to Thirsk and sent two lords, Robert de Brus and Bernard de Balliol, to talk to King David. They offered to give David's son, Henry, the earldom of Northumberland if the Scottish army left. But the talks failed. Robert de Brus, who had been loyal to David, angrily withdrew his loyalty. David's army then crossed the River Tees and moved south. The English army moved north and took up a strong position near Northallerton.
The Battle of the Standard
The English army set up their defenses on a ridge of slightly higher ground. They formed a strong line with their armored soldiers and knights at the front. Archers and lighter-armed men supported them. The English leaders stood in the middle around the "Standard" – the cart with the holy banners. One side of their position was protected by a marsh.
Scottish Army Arrives and Prepares
The Scots arrived in a thick mist. They saw the English Standard and army nearby. The Scottish army was arranged in four main groups. The first group was the Galwegians from southwest Scotland. They were known for their spears and fierce attacks.
Prince Henry, King David's son, led the second group, which included knights and archers. The third group was made of men from Lothian and the Scottish islands. King David himself led the last group, which included the main Scottish forces and some English and French knights as his bodyguards.
Before the battle, the Scottish leaders argued about who should attack first. The Galwegians wanted to lead the charge because they had won a battle before. But King David's Norman knights thought their armored men should go first. In the end, David let the Galwegians attack first.
English Leaders Speak Before Battle
Before the fighting began, an English leader, possibly Walter Espec or Radulf Novell, gave a speech to the English soldiers. He reminded them of the great victories of their ancestors, the Normans, in places like France and Jerusalem. He said the Scots were not skilled in fighting and that God was on their side to punish the Scots for their harsh actions.
He also told the English soldiers not to be afraid of the Scots' numbers. He explained that the English had better armor and training. He said that a small, well-trained army could defeat a large, undisciplined one. After these speeches, the battle began.
The Fighting Begins
The Galwegian spearmen charged first, shouting loudly. They pushed back the first line of English spearmen. But the English knights held their ground. The Scottish spears couldn't get through the English armor. So, the Galwegians drew their swords and tried to fight hand-to-hand.
The English archers caused a lot of damage to the Scottish ranks. Arrows covered the Galwegians like quills on a hedgehog, but they kept fighting bravely. However, after two of their leaders were killed, the Galwegians finally ran away. The men of Lothian also broke and fled after their earl was killed by an arrow.
King David and Prince Henry Retreat
King David wanted to keep fighting, but his friends forced him to get on his horse and leave. Prince Henry, David's son, led a charge with his mounted knights. He managed to break through the English lines and attack the horse-holders behind them. But Henry was alone, and the rest of the Scottish army was retreating. So, he hid his Scottish banners and tried to escape by joining the English who were chasing his father.
The battle lasted only a few hours, from early morning until mid-morning. By about 9 a.m., all parts of the Scottish army were running away. The English had very few losses, with only one knight killed. Many Scottish soldiers were killed during the battle and while fleeing. Some drowned trying to cross a river. Others were found and killed in fields and woods. It is believed that over 10,000 Scottish soldiers were missing after the battle.
Aftermath of the Battle
End of the Campaign
After the battle, King David gathered his remaining forces at Carlisle. The English lords did not chase him north. Even though the battle was a big defeat for David, it didn't completely undo his earlier gains. David still had an army and was able to keep control of Cumberland and Northumberland.
In September, a church leader named Cardinal Alberic arrived in Carlisle. He was there to settle a church dispute, but he also helped with the war. He convinced David to stop attacking until November. David agreed to continue blocking Wark Castle to make it surrender.
In November, the soldiers in Wark Castle finally gave up. King David treated them well, giving them new horses and letting them leave with their weapons.
A New Peace Agreement
David and Stephen continued to talk during the winter. In April, David's son Henry and Stephen's wife, Matilda of Boulogne, met and agreed to a settlement. Henry was given the earldom of Northumberland and got back his other lands. David was allowed to keep Carlisle and Cumberland. However, King Stephen kept control of the important castles of Bamburgh and Newcastle. Prince Henry had to promise loyalty to Stephen for his English lands.
Northern England Under Scottish Rule
This agreement lasted for almost 20 years. It seemed to work well for both sides. David was able to use the resources of northern England, like the silver mines, to make his own coins. Northern England stayed out of the civil war between Stephen and Matilda. David supported Matilda, but he didn't bring a Scottish army south.
In 1149, Matilda's son, Henry, was knighted by David at Carlisle. Henry promised that if he became King of England, he would give David Newcastle and all of Northumberland. He also promised that David and his heirs could keep the land between the Tweed and Tyne rivers forever.
Return to the Old Borders
However, Prince Henry died in 1152, King David died in 1153, and King Stephen died in 1154. This meant that a 14-year-old Malcolm IV of Scotland became king. He faced a young Henry II of England, who was now very powerful.
In 1157, Malcolm traveled to Chester to promise loyalty to Henry. Henry said that the King of England should not lose such a big part of his kingdom. Malcolm wisely agreed to give back the territories in northern England. In return, he received the earldom of Huntingdon, which was his by old right. After this, England had peace and security on its borders. Henry II ruled over a very large area, from Scotland all the way to the Pyrenees mountains in France.
Why the Battle Was Important
The Battle of the Standard didn't stop King David from getting what he wanted in the war. He gained control of important lands in northern England. However, these gains didn't last forever. When Henry II became a powerful king, Malcolm IV of Scotland had to give back the lands David had won. So, in the long run, the battle itself didn't change the borders permanently.
Images for kids
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Carlisle Castle was rebuilt by King David, and became one of his chief residences.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla del Estandarte para niños
