Siege of Roxburgh Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Roxburgh Castle
Part of Wars of Scottish Independence
Date 19 February 1314 Location Roxburgh Castle, Scotland 55°35′46″N 2°27′25″W / 55.596°N 2.457°W / 55.596; -2.457 Result Scottish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
James Douglas, Lord of Douglas	William de Fiennes
Strength
Unknown, inferior to the English	Thousands
Casualties and losses
Low	High

The Siege of Roxburgh was an important event that happened in 1314. It was a big part of the First War of Scottish Independence, which was a long fight for Scotland to be free from English rule. This siege showed how clever and brave Scottish soldiers could be.

What Was the Siege of Roxburgh?

The Siege of Roxburgh was a surprise attack on Roxburgh Castle by Scottish forces. It happened on February 19, 1314. The castle was held by English soldiers at the time. This event was a key moment in the fight for Scotland's freedom.

The Wars for Scottish Freedom

The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of battles between Scotland and England. Scotland wanted to be an independent country. These wars lasted for many years. The Siege of Roxburgh was one of the important battles during this time.

Sir James Douglas: The Black Douglas

The Scottish attack was led by Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglas. He was a very skilled and famous Scottish knight. People sometimes called him "The Black Douglas" because of his dark hair and fierce fighting style. He was a close friend and trusted leader under Robert the Bruce, the King of Scots.

Before Roxburgh, Douglas had already won many battles. He had taken back several castles from the English. But Roxburgh Castle was known to be very strong. It was built on high ground and had thick walls. Taking it seemed almost impossible.

The Clever Plan to Take the Castle

Roxburgh Castle was thought to be "impregnable." This means it was almost impossible to capture because of its strong defenses. It had many guards and was hard to reach. But Sir James Douglas and his men had a very smart plan.

The Cow Disguise

On the night of the attack, Douglas and his men used a clever trick. They disguised themselves by covering themselves with animal skins. They looked like cows or other farm animals. This helped them get close to the castle without being noticed. The English guards thought they were just animals wandering in the dark.

Scaling the Walls

While the guards were not paying attention, Douglas and his second-in-command, Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, led their small group of soldiers. They quietly used ladders to climb the castle walls. They moved very carefully so no one would hear them.

A Total Surprise Attack

The Scottish soldiers surprised the English garrison completely. A garrison is the group of soldiers defending a castle. The English were caught off guard and couldn't fight back effectively. The Scots quickly took control of the castle. Many English soldiers were hurt or captured. Even their leader was wounded in the face by an arrow.

What Happened After the Siege?

The Scottish victory at Roxburgh was a big boost for their cause. It showed that even the strongest English castles could be captured.

Destroying the Castle

After taking Roxburgh Castle, the Scots did something important. They tore down most of the castle walls. They did this with other castles they captured too. The idea was to stop the English from using these castles again if they ever took them back. This made it harder for England to control Scotland.

Leading to Bannockburn

The Siege of Roxburgh was a very important event. It happened just a few months before the famous Battle of Bannockburn. The victory at Roxburgh gave the Scottish army more confidence. It also showed their clever tactics. This helped prepare them for the even bigger battle at Bannockburn, where Scotland won a major victory and secured its independence for many years.