List of wars involving Scotland facts for kids

(934–937)

Portrait of Constantine II, leader of the Scottish forces against Athelstan's invading army

Norse–Gaels

Kingdom of Strathclyde

Kingdom of Dublin

Kingdom of Deheubarth

Kingdom of Gwynedd

• Defeat in final battle at Brunanburh
• However, end of Athelstan's plans to annex Scotland and Strathclyde

(c. 1034)

Dumbarton Rock, chief fortress of the old Kingdom of Strathclyde

Kingdom of England

(1039)

17th century portrait of Duncan I, leader of the Scottish forces who would die a year later in battle with Macbeth

(1072)

Part of the Norman conquest of Britain

Abernethy village, where the peace treaty declaring William I Scotland's overlord was signed

• Scottish Defeat with Scottish attacks on Northumbria repelled
• Malcolm III forced to submit to William the Conqueror, though makes subsequent raids once the Norman king returns south

(1130)

David I, King of Scotland in 1130. At the time of Óengus the pretender's invasion, he was serving as a judge at Henry I's court in England

Kingdom of Ross

• King Óengus of Moray killed in battle, while Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair (King of Ross) imprisoned for life

(1164)

Stained glass window in Glasgow Bute Hall depicting Saint Kentigern, who supposedly led the Scots to divine victory over the Islemen

Kingdom of Dublin

• King Somairle of the Isles killed in battle, leading to mass destabilisation and war in his kingdom

(1173–1174)

Alnwick, market town in Northumberland where William I of Scotland was captured by supposed 'divine providence'

Kingdom of Scotland

Kingdom of France

Duchy of Brittany

County of Flanders

County of Boulogne

• Decisive defeat of rebel forces at Battle of Alnwick
• Scottish King William the Lion taken as prisoner of war in England

(1262–1266)

Coronation of Alexander III, who revived his father (Alexander II)'s ambitions to conquer the Western Isles - beginning the Scottish-Norwegian War

Kingdom of the Isles

Earldom of Orkney

• Partial Scottish victory
• Hebrides and Isle of Man bought from Norway for 4,000 marks to become part of Scotland
• Norwegian sovereignty recognised over Orkney and Shetland

(1296–1328)

Robert the Bruce addressing his troops before Bannockburn (drawing from c. 1900)

Supported by:

Kingdom of France

Kingdom of Thomond

Kingdom of Uí Maine

Kingdom of Tyrconnell

Kingdom of West Breifne

Kingdom of Desmond

Kingdom of Magh Luirg

Kingdom of Oriel

Lordship of Ireland

• De facto independence won in 1314 at Battle of Bannockburn

Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton

• Peace treaty signed and ratified by Scottish and English Parliaments in 1328
• Bruce family established as the new Scottish royal line
• Border re-established roughly where it is today
• Humiliation to English nobles, and family's prompting Second War of Independence only 5 years later

(1332–1357)

The Battle of Neville's Cross, a heavy defeat for invading Scottish forces in which King David II was captured and held hostage for 11 years

Kingdom of France

Supporters of Edward Balliol

Treaty of Berwick (1357)

• Scotland forced to pay 20,000 marks in ransom fees to reclaim David II (captive in England)
• 14-year truce established between Scotland and England

(1296–1328)

19th-century painting of the Battle of Poitiers, in which Scottish troops were led by William,1st Earl of Douglas

Kingdom of France

Crown of Castile

Republic of Genoa

Kingdom of Bohemia

Crown of Aragon

Duchy of Burgundy

Duchy of Brittany (Montfort)

Kingdom of Portugal

Kingdom of Navarre

Flanders

Hainaut

Luxembourg

• Scots played a key role in this conflict after the battle of Agincourt, forming a large part of French armies in this period that changed the course of the war
• Battle of Homildon Hill ends in decisive English victory
• Battle of Sark Ends in decisive Scottish victory in the north, coinciding with victory on the continent in France

English victory in the Edwardian War

French victory in the Caroline War and the Lancastrian War

(1377–1575)

A 14th-century illustration depicting an English herald arriving on Scottish troops

(1511–1513)

16th century depiction of Battle of Flodden, showing Scottish pikeman battling with English halberdiers

France

Duchy of Ferrara

Papal States

Venice

Holy Roman Empire

Spain

Swiss mercenaries

• Decisive loss at the Battle of Flodden with the death of James IV of Scotland
• However, French and Venetian victory overall

(1543–1550)

River Esk, site of the Battle of Solway Moss, a heavy loss for Scottish troops during which thousands drowned after an English ambush

Kingdom of France

• Treaty of Norham ends English military occupation in border regions, as well as returns hostages and grants Scotland full fishing rights to the River Tweed

(1594–1603)

Redshank, nickname for the Scottish Gaelic mercenaries employed by Hugh O'Neill in fighting the English Tudor invaders

Spain

Scottish Gaelic mercenaries

Kingdom of Ireland

• English victory
• Treaty of Mellifont (1603)
• Flight of the Earls (1607)

(1040)

Fields at Pitgaveny (then known as Bothnagowan), near Elgin, where King Duncan was slain

Kingdom of Moray

• Death of Duncan I at Battle of Bothnagowan

(1501–1505)

Achnashellach Forest, site of the final Battle of Achnashellach, where Clan Cameron, loyal to the Lord of the Isles won - before Domnall Dubh was captured by royal forces

Clan Donald

(1545)

Drogheda, Ireland, where the rebellion's leader Domhnall Dubh died, destroying the Hebrides' final hopes of independence

Clan Donald

Kingdom of England

(1568–1573)

16th century illustration of the "Lang Siege" of Edinburgh, lasting from 1571 to 1573 and ending with supporters of James VI taking the castle

Kingdom of England

• Imprisonment of Mary before her flight to England

(1639–1640)

Signing of the National Covenant in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, prompting a religious civil war and rebellion in Scotland

Kingdom of England

(1648)

Schematics of the Battle of Preston, a decisive Scottish loss under the Duke of Hamilton which brought an end to the Second English Civil War

Scottish Engagers

• Decisive loss at the Battle of Preston (1648)
• Execution of Charles I

(1649–1651)

Modern re-enactment of musketeers at the Battle of Inverkeithing, during Oliver Cromwell's invasion of Scotland

Scottish Covenanters

• Exile of Charles II
• Establishment of the republican Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell

(1688-1689)

The Prince of Orange landing at Torbay as depicted in an illustration by Jan Hoynck van Papendrecht

• James VII replaced as king by his daughter Mary II and her husband William III

(1689–1746)

Modern depiction of the Battle of Dunkeld, fought between Highland Jacobites in support of James II and Covenanters in support of William III

Scotland (until 1707)
Great Britain (from 1707)

• Williamite War in Ireland (1688–91) - The Battle of the Boyne saw the last battle between two rival claimants for the throne
• Jacobite rising of 1689 (1689-92) - resulting in Massacre of Glencoe
• Jacobite rising of 1715 (1715–16)
• Jacobite rising of 1719 (1719)
• Jacobite rising of 1745 (1741–1746) - Jacobite restoration attempt defeated

Part of the First War of Scottish Independence

(c. 1294)

Loch Awe, site of the decisive clan battle, with Kilchurn Castle (seat of Clan Campbell) on the left

• Clan MacDougall victory at the Battle of Red Ford, with heavy casualties on either side

• Ford ran "red with blood"

(c. 1330–1688)

Druim Gleann Laoigh, likely site of clan's first battle - fought over rival land claims

• Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner

Ended in Battle of Mulroy, a Clan Cameron victory (allied with Clan MacDonald of Keppoch), after which clan warfare largely ceased in Scotland

(1391)

Glen Brierachan, site of the final stand-off between the Stewarts' raiding party and the Sheriff of Angus

Clan Robertson

Clan Mackay

Clan Lindsay

Clan Gray

• Lands of Angus burnt, homes sacked and civilians slaughtered
• Elgin Cathedral burnt to the ground

(1426–1517)

Strath of Harpsdale, site of the first clan battle between Mackay and Gunn and a "great slaughter on either side"

Supported by:

Clan Keith

Clan Ross

Supported by:

Clan Matheson

• Various clan battles and skirmishes throughout the 15th century, with no overall winner
• Ended in Battle of Torran Dubh, a Gunn victory, after which the two feuding clans allied against Clan Sinclair

(1440–1526)

King James II of Scotland, who spent his early adulthood and reign in an intense power struggle with the Earls of Douglas

• Eventual exile of the leaders of Clan Douglas after the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge

(1445–1452)

Arbroath Abbey, site of the first battle between Clans Gordon and Lindsay, which later tied into the Royal-Black Douglas feud

Supported by:

Clan Ogilvy

• Two clan battles: the first won by Clan Lindsay, the second, as part of the Royal-Black Douglas Civil War, Clan Gordon

(1452–1715)

Ben Wyvis, below which the first battle between Clans Munro and Mackenzie took place to determine control over Ross

Supported by:

Clan Fraser of Lovat

• Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner
• Ended in Siege of Brahan during the Jacobite rising of 1715, when Clan Munro, loyal to the British Government, forced the Jacobite Mackenzies to surrender. Clan warfare largely ceased after this period

(1452–1715)

Beauly Priory, the lands of which saw many border disputes between Clans Fraser of Lovat and Mackenzie

Supported by:

Clan Munro

• Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner
• Ended in Siege of Brahan during the Jacobite rising of 1715, when Clan Fraser, loyal to the British Government, forced the Jacobite Mackenzies to surrender. Clan warfare largely ceased after this period

(1454–1719)

Monument in Clachnaharry to the first battle between Clans Munro and Mackintosh after a dispute between the two over a "road collop" (passage money)

• Two clan battles and a perpetuated rivalry, ending after the Battle of Glen Shiel when Clan Mackintosh sided with the British Government, and Clan Munro the losing Jacobites

(1464–c. 1478)

Coast north of Wick, on which a trial by combat took place in 1478 deciding the Gunn-Keith feud once and for all

• Two clan battles ending in a Keith victory at the Battle of Champions
• A treaty of friendship was signed by the clans in 1978, after 300 years of peace

(c. 1480–1550)

Tarbat Old Church, built on the ruins of the church Clan Ross burnt with members of Clan Mackay sheltering inside

• Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 1480s, with no overall winner
• Ended in a 1550 raid (and massacre) by Clan Mackay on Clan Ross

(c. 1480–1598)

Bloody Bay, site of a father-son battle within Clan Donald of which Clan Maclean took the father's side

• Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 16th century, with no overall winner
• Ended in Battle of Benbigrie, a Clan Maclean victory

(c. 1480–1602)

Five Sisters of Kintail, one of several sites in Ross where Clans Donald and Mackenzie clashed

Supported by:

Clan Mackay

Clan Fraser of Lovat

Clan Ross

• Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 1480s, with no overall winner
• Ended in a tactical draw at Battle of Morar, after which both families agreed a peace

(1488–1586)

Kerelaw Castle, seat of Clan Cunningham; sacked and burned by Clan Montgomery in 1488

• Various clan battles and skirmishes, as well as several high-profile murders, with no overall winner

(1517–1590)

Torran Dubh, the site of the first battle between Clan Mackay and Sutherland

Clan Gordon

• Various clan battles and skirmishes throughout the 16th century, with no overall winner
• Ended in Battle of Clynetradwell, after which Clan Sutherland turned their attentions on Clan Sinclair

(1570–1601)

Dornoch Castle, besieged by supporters of Clan Sinclair in 1570, three members of Clan Murray (supporters of Clan Sutherland) being beheaded after surrendering a week later

• Various clan battles and skirmishes resulting in Clan Sinclair surrendering in the Stand-off at Bengrime