List of battles between England and Scotland facts for kids
The Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland often fought each other. These battles were usually about land. Because of this, the Anglo-Scottish border (the line between the two countries) changed a lot. Even before England and Scotland became official kingdoms, their older groups like the Northumbrians, Picts, and Dal Riatans also had many fights.
Some of the biggest wars between them were the Wars of Scottish Independence (from 1296 to 1357) and the Rough Wooing (from 1544 to 1551). There were also many smaller fights and campaigns. In 1603, something big happened: England and Scotland joined in a "personal union." This meant that King James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England. After this, large wars mostly stopped. However, some later conflicts, like the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in the 1600s and the Jacobite risings in the 1700s, are sometimes seen as Anglo-Scottish fights.
This list shows the battles in the order they happened.
Contents
Early Conflicts: Northumbria, Picts, and Dal Riatans
Long ago, before England and Scotland were fully formed, different groups fought for control of the land. The Northumbrians (from what is now northern England) often clashed with the Picts and Dal Riatans (from what is now Scotland).
| Date | Name | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| 596 | Battle of Raith | The Angles (an early English group) beat an alliance of Scots, Britons, and Picts. This battle is sometimes confused with another one called the Battle of Catraeth. |
| 603 | Battle of Degsastan | A battle between the English Kingdom of Bernicia and the kingdom of Dál Riata. |
| 671 | Battle of Two Rivers | Ecgfrith, the leader of the Northumbrians, defeated the Picts. |
| 685 | Battle of Dunnichen | King Bridei Mac Bili of the Picts defeated the Northumbrians. This ended the Northumbrians' control over northern Britain. |
Early Battles Between England and Scotland
As the kingdoms of England and Scotland grew, their armies often met in battle. These early clashes helped shape the border and the power of each kingdom.
| Date | Name | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| 937 | Battle of Brunanburh | A big English victory over combined armies from Scotland, Dublin, and Strathclyde. |
| 1016/1018 | Battle of Carham | King Malcolm II of Scotland won this battle. It is believed that Scotland gained the region of Lothian because of this victory. |
| 1054 | Battle of Dunsinane | |
| 1093 | Battle of Alnwick | While attacking Alnwick Castle, the Scottish King Malcolm III was killed by English knights. His army then ran away. |
| 1138 | Battle of Clitheroe | A Scottish army led by William fitz Duncan defeated the English. |
| 1138 | Battle of the Standard | King David I of Scotland was defeated by an English army. This battle is also known as the Battle of Northallerton. |
| 1174 | Battle of Alnwick | King William I of Scotland was captured by a small English force. |
The Wars for Scottish Independence
These were major conflicts where Scotland fought to remain independent from England. They involved famous figures like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
Key Battles of the First War
| Date | Name | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| 1296 | Capture of Berwick | English forces captured the important town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. |
| 1296 | Battle of Dunbar | An English army defeated the Scots, which helped King Edward I of England take control of much of Scotland. |
| 1297 | Raid of Scone | William Wallace and William Douglas led a successful surprise attack on Scone. |
| 1297 | Battle of Stirling Bridge | William Wallace and Andrew de Moray led the Scots to a big victory over the English near Stirling. |
| 1298 | Battle of Falkirk | King Edward I of England led his army to defeat the Scots, who were led by William Wallace. Wallace soon stepped down as Guardian of Scotland. |
| 1300 | Battle on the Cree | An English victory. |
| 1303 | Battle of Roslin | A Scottish force defeated the English in a series of smaller fights. |
| 1304 | Action at Happrew | William Wallace and Sir Simon Fraser were defeated by an English army. |
| 1304 | Siege of Stirling Castle | The English army, led by King Edward I, captured Stirling Castle. |
| 1304 | Action at Earnside | Details are not clear, but this was the last known fight involving William Wallace. |
| 1306 | Battle of Methven | Robert the Bruce's forces were defeated at Methven. |
| 1307 | Battle of Glen Trool | Robert the Bruce pushed back an English raiding party in a small fight. |
| 1307 | Battle of Loch Ryan | Scottish rebels won an important victory against the royal army and their Irish allies. |
| 1307 | Battle of Loudoun Hill | This was Robert the Bruce's first major victory against the English. |
Other Important Fights in the First War
- Siege of Roxburgh Castle (1314)
- Battle of Bannockburn (1314) - A huge Scottish victory that helped secure their independence.
- Siege of Carlisle (1315)
- Capture of Berwick (1318)
- Battle of Myton (1319)
- Battle of Old Byland (1322)
- Battle of Stanhope Park (1327)
After the first war, fighting broke out again as England tried to control Scotland.
Key Battles of the Second War
- Battle of Dupplin Moor (1332)
- Battle of Halidon Hill (1333) - A major English victory.
- Battle of Culblean (1335)
- Battle of Neville's Cross (1346) - King David II of Scotland was captured by the English.
- Sieges of Berwick (1355 and 1356)
Border Wars and Later Conflicts
Even after the Wars of Independence, smaller fights continued along the border.
Border Skirmishes
- Battle of Otterburn (1388)
- Battle of Humbleton Hill (1402)
- Battle of Piperdean (1435)
- Battle of Sark (1448)
These were a series of conflicts between the two kingdoms in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Major Anglo-Scottish Battles
- Capture of Roxburgh (1460)
- Capture of Berwick (1482)
- Battle of Flodden (1513) - A terrible defeat for Scotland, where King James IV and many Scottish nobles were killed.
- Battle of Solway Moss (1542)
The Rough Wooing
This was a period when England tried to force a marriage between its young King Edward VI and the infant Mary, Queen of Scots. This led to more fighting.
Battles of the Rough Wooing
- Burning of Edinburgh (1544) - English forces attacked and burned parts of Edinburgh.
- Battle of Ancrum Moor (1545) - A Scottish victory.
- Battle of Pinkie (1547) - A large English victory.
- Sieges of Haddington (1548–1549)
The Scottish Reformation
This period involved religious changes in Scotland, which sometimes led to conflict, including English involvement.
- Siege of Leith (1560)
Border Reivers and Later Wars
The "Border Reivers" were families who raided across the Anglo-Scottish border, causing many small skirmishes.
- Raid of the Redeswire (1575)
Even after the Union of the Crowns, England and Scotland were involved in the wider Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which included conflicts between them.
Battles of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
- Battle of Newburn (1640)
- Battle of Dunbar (1650)
- Battle of Inverkeithing (1651)
- Siege of Dundee (1651)
- Battle of Worcester (1651) - A major battle that ended the main fighting of the English Civil War.
