English invasion of Scotland (1400) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids English invasion of Scotland of August 1400
Part of Anglo-Scottish border conflicts
Date August 13 - 29 1400 Location Berwickshire & Lothian Result Militarily inconclusive English withdrawal
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Duke of Rothesay Duke of Albany	Henry IV Earl of March
Strength
	~13,000

The English invasion of Scotland in August 1400 was the first big military action by Henry IV of England. He had just become king after removing his cousin, Richard II. Henry IV really wanted to protect the border between England and Scotland. He also wanted to show he was a stronger leader than the previous king.

A large English army slowly gathered and marched into Scotland. But they never fought a big battle. The king also did not try to attack Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh. Henry's army left at the end of the summer after only a short stay. They mostly camped near Leith, which is close to Edinburgh. This spot allowed them to stay connected with their supply ships.

The campaign did not achieve much. It mainly cost the king a lot of money. This event is important because it was the last time an English king personally led an army into Scotland.

Why the Invasion Happened

Henry IV of England (painted 1597-1618)

War between England and Scotland had been going on for a long time. It started under Edward I. Since the 1370s, there were often raids and fights across the border. Scottish groups would cross into England, and English forces would try to push them back.

In 1399, there was a big change in England. King Richard II was removed from power. This gave Scotland a chance to try and get back land between the River Tweed and the Solway Firth. As one historian said, "England's confusion was Scotland's opportunity." In May 1399, Wark Castle was destroyed by a Scottish raid. So, Henry IV started planning an invasion almost as soon as he became king.

New Kings and New Wars

It was a tradition for new English kings to start military campaigns. Edward III did it when he became king. Richard II did it when he became an adult. Henry V would also do it a few years later. These campaigns helped new kings show their power. They also tested how loyal people were to the new ruler.

Some people thought Henry IV wanted peace with Scotland. But some English nobles wanted to attack first. The Percy family, especially the Earl of Northumberland and his son Henry 'Hotspur' Percy, were powerful border guards. They saw a war with Scotland as a chance to gain more power and land for themselves.

Some people at the time even believed the Percys pushed the king into this war. King Henry had to deny this in person to the parliament in November 1399. This shows how important the invasion was to Henry. It also shows that some people were against it. Henry promised to go through with his plan. Around the same time, the Scottish king sent Henry a letter. In it, he called Henry "Duke of Lancaster" instead of "King of England." This might have made Henry even more eager for war.

Scottish Troubles Help England

Arms of George Dunbar, Earl of March

What helped Henry even more were the problems within the Scottish nobility. George Dunbar, Earl of March, was angry with Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, who was ruling Scotland at the time. Dunbar felt betrayed because his daughter was supposed to marry David Stewart, Earl of Carrick. David was the heir to the Scottish throne. But the marriage never happened. Instead, David married Mary Douglas, the daughter of Dunbar's rival.

Dunbar felt his honor was insulted. He went to Henry IV for help. Dunbar was known as a great soldier and had been an enemy of England. But he traveled to London and promised to be loyal to Henry IV. When Henry invaded Scotland, Dunbar was with him. Dunbar was not only a sign of Scottish divisions but also one of Scotland's best military leaders.

The Campaign Begins

Henry had announced his plans in November 1399. But he did not try to invade in winter. He kept trying to negotiate with the Scots, which he found annoying. At the same time, the English parliament was not keen on the war. People had complained about the previous king spending too much money. So, Henry probably found it hard to ask for more money for the war. Parliament was against a Scottish war. They might have even thought a French invasion was a bigger problem.

In June 1400, the king called his soldiers from the Duchy of Lancaster to gather at York. These soldiers brought their own groups of fighters. At this point, everyone knew an invasion was coming. The Scots tried to start talks again. Scottish ambassadors arrived in York around June 26. But they went back to Scotland within two weeks.

Slow Start and Supply Problems

The army was supposed to gather at York on June 24. But they did not reach Scotland until mid-August. This was because army supplies arrived slowly. For example, the King's own tents were not sent from Westminster until mid-July. Henry knew these delays would happen.

Before the army left for Scotland, the Constable of England, Henry Percy, and the Earl Marshal, Ralph Neville, met the soldiers. Leaders of each group were paid a lump sum. They would then pay their own troops. Soldiers called men-at-arms received one shilling a day. Archers received half that. But captains and leaders did not seem to get paid more.

The army left York on July 25 and reached Newcastle-upon-Tyne four days later. They had problems with supplies, especially food. They had to ask for more food even before leaving York. As the campaign went on, bad weather made food shortages worse. This might have been a reason why the expedition was so short.

Army Size and March into Scotland

Henry's army was estimated to be around 13,000 men. About 800 men-at-arms and 2,000 archers came directly from the king's own household. This was "one of the largest armies raised in late medieval England." It was smaller than the huge army of 1345 (which fought the Battle of Crécy). But it was larger than most armies sent to France during the Hundred Years' War.

The English fleet also sailed along the east coast of Scotland. Their job was to block Scottish trade and resupply the army. At least three convoys were sent from London and the Humber River. The first one delivered 100 tonnes of flour and ten tonnes of sea salt to Henry's army in Scotland.

Henry crossed the border into Scotland in mid-August. He was careful not to destroy or steal from the countryside. This was very different from earlier invasions. For example, Richard II had caused a lot of damage in 1385. This careful approach was likely because the Earl of Dunbar, whose lands they were crossing, was with the English army.

Henry might have planned a "punishment trip." He hoped for a fight or to cause enough damage that the Scots would want to negotiate. But the Scots offered no resistance. The English army marched through Haddington without trouble.

However, Henry's army never went further than Leith. There, the army could stay in touch with the supply fleet. Henry personally cared about his supply ships. At one point, he even told his men to pay two Scottish fishermen £2 for their help. But Henry never attacked Edinburgh Castle, where the Duke of Rothsay was staying. By this time, Henry's campaign had become a "war of words." By August 29, the English army had returned to the English side of the border.

What Happened After

Historian John Sadler said this expedition, like many before it, "failed to yield any significant results." It did not force the Scots to fight a battle. It also did not gain any major land. Another historian, A.L. Brown, called the campaign "utterly futile." Sadler said the Scots succeeded by using a strategy to wear out the English. They avoided direct fights.

People at the time criticized Henry's weak campaign. A Welsh writer named Adam of Usk said the Scots hurt the English more than the English hurt them. The Scottish history book Scotichronicon also said that their enemies did "nothing worthy of remembrance."

The king was "desperately short of money" even before the campaign began. After it was over, he had even less. The campaign cost at least £10,000. But it brought in no loot or ransom money. Henry still needed to pay his army's wages. Just the wages for the merchant sailors were £500. The crown was now thousands of pounds deeper in debt. So, a parliament was called in York.

Before Henry could sort out his money problems or meet parliament, a rebellion began in Wales. This was the Glyndŵr Rising, which lasted for the rest of Henry's reign. Henry IV's campaign into Scotland in August 1400 was the last one ever led by an English king in person.