Civil Wars in Scotland—Plantagenet Era

1054 to 1455
Usurpers, Clans, Barons — versus — Kings, Normans, Regents

Macbeth, 1054 , Revolt Against William Rufus, 1093 , Revolt Against Stephen, 1138 Anglo-Scottish Border Raids, 1357-onward , Siege of Roxburg, 1460
The Red Harlow, 1411 , Fall of the Douglases, 1422-1455

The Scots have long been considered a combative race. They were fierce warriors and brave soldiers, but prone to taking up arms on slight provocation. The history of Scotland is therefore rife with clan warfare, and various other occasions of senseless violence. There were long-standing disputes between the highlanders and lowlanders, and between large and ancient families and clans of various classes. The following "civil wars" therefore, include only some of the most notable conflicts, and also exclude civil wars which are better understood as part of a larger conflict. For example, the English Civil Wars, and Jacobite Rebellion, both encompassed battles that were fought between two Scottish factions, but they are best understood as part of a larger struggle. The following conflicts are only some of the more notorious Scottish wars fought between the tenth and seventeenth centuries.

Macbeth : Dunsinane Hill : 1054

DO YOU SEE THAT LITTLE WHITE SAIL FAR OUT TO SEA? YONDER IS MACDUFF.

The story of how Macbeth usurped the crown of Scotland and what became of him is the subject of one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. He is assured by the witches that he will "never be vanquished until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him." At the Battle of Dunsinane however, his enemies cut branches in Birnam wood to camouflage their approach, and when Macbeth sees the forest moving up the hill towards him, he knows all is lost. The rightful heir to the throne was Malcolm Canmore, son of the murdered Duncan, and he is restored to the throne of Scotland upon the death of Macbeth.

Date	Battle Summary
1054	Battle of Dunsinane (War of the Roses ) Canmore victory Fought 1054, between the usurper, Macbeth, and the Anglo-Saxons under Siward, Earl of Northumberland, who was supporting Malcolm Canmore, the son of the murdered Duncan. Macbeth was defeated, losing 10,000 men, and fled to the north. The Anglo-Saxons lost 1,500.

Commander	Short Biography
Macbeth †	Murdered Duncan, the rightful king of Scotland. Ruled until he was murdered by MacDuff.
Malcolm Canmore	Long reigning King of Scotland, married St. Margaret, befriended Saxon exiles from Normans.
Macduff †	Thane of Fife whose family is killed by Macbeth's men. At Dunsinane, he kills Macbeth.

Story Links	Book Links
Macbeth—How Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Malcolm Canmore—The King Overcame a Traitor  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall

Malcolm Canmore: Revolt against William Rufus : 1093

WILLIAM RUFUS HUNTING

Malcolm Canmore was king of Scotland during the period immediately following the Norman Conquest. He was on good terms with the Saxons, and his second wife, Saint Margaret of Scotland, was the Sister of the deposed Wessex heir to the throne. Many of the Saxon nobles fled to Scotland after the invasion, and accompanied Malcolm in raiding expeditions in Northumbria. William the Conqueror brought an army to Scotland, but Malcolm made peace with him, which continued as long as the conqueror lived. When William Rufus ascended to the throne however, conflict broke out between them. Malcolm resumed his raiding expeditions in the south, but in 1093 was ambushed and killed by the Earl of Northumbria.

Date	Battle Summary
1093	Battle of Alne (Norman Rebellion ) English victory Fought November 13, 1093, between the Scots under Malcolm Canmore and the English. The Scots were totally defeated, and Malcolm and his eldest son Edward slain in the battle.

Commander	Short Biography
Malcolm Canmore	Long reigning King of Scotland, married St. Margaret, befriended Saxon exiles from Normans.
William Rufus	Son of William the Conqueror. A bad and brutal king. Killed in the New Forest.

David I : Revolt against Stephen : 1138

When Henry I died without a son, he tried to pass the kingdom on to his daughter Matilda. However, her cousin Stephen seized the throne on the death of Henry I. David I of Scotland was the uncle of Matilda, and led and army into England to fight for the crown on her behalf. He was defeated at the Battle of the Standard however, and returned to Scotland. Matilda did briefly win the throne, but the barons turned against her and the throne devolved again to Stephen. On the death of Stephen however, Henry II, the son of Matilda, assumed the throne.

Date	Battle Summary
1138	Battle of the Standard (Rebellion against Albany ) English victory Fought at Luton Moor, near Northallerton, in 1138, between the Scots, under David, and the English, under Thurstan, Archbishop of York, and Raoul, Bishop of Durham. The Scots were routed, and fled in disorder. The battle derives its name from the fact that the banner of St. Cuthbert of Durham, which was held to ensure victory, that of St. Peter of York, and those of other saints, were carried in a waggon in the midst of the English army.

Commander	Short Biography
David I of Scotland	Son of Malcolm Canmore. Sought to help restore his niece Matilda to the throne.

Story Links	Book Links
David I.—Battle of the Standard  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Contest for the Crown  in	Historical Tales: English  by  Charles Morris

Anglo-Scottish Border Raids : starting from 1357

THANKS BE TO GOD, THERE ARE FEW OF MY ANCESTORS WHO HAVE DIED IN THEIR BEDS.

The Scottish Wars of Independence lasted until 1357 and after that time an uneasy peace reigned between England as Scotland. After the truce was up however, the Scots resumed their habit of border raids into England on the slightest provocation. The Douglas clan was in high favor during this time, and led several of the more famous raids, while their arch-nemesis, the Percy family opposed them.

Date	Battle Summary
1388	Battle of Otterburn (Border Raids ) Scots victory Fought August 19, 1388, between 9,000 English, under Henry Percy (Hotspur) and a greatly inferior force of Scots, under Earls Douglas and Murray. Hotspur attacked the Scottish entrenchments, and was totally defeated, with a loss of about 2,000. The battle is celebrated in the old ballad of "Chevy Chace."
1402	Battle of Homildon Hill (Douglas Rebellion ) English victory Fought September, 1402, when the Percies lay in wait for a Scottish force, under Murdach Stewart, and Archibald, Earl of Douglas, who were returning from a foray into England. The Scots were totally routed, losing Stewart, 4 Scottish peers, and 80 gentlemen of rank.

Commander	Short Biography
James Douglas †	Leader of the Douglas clan; Fought border wars with the English. Killed after Otterburn.
Henry Hotspur Percy	Arch-nemesis of the Douglas clan. Led English at Battle of Otterburn.
Archibald Douglas	Leader of the Doublas clan; Fought border wars with the English.

Story Links	Book Links
Story of Pierce-Eye  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Robert II.—French and Scots Made War on England  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Robert II.—The Battle of Otterburn  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Regent Murdoch—The Scots in France  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall

James II of Scotland: The Siege of Roxburgh : 1460

Another famous border battle that occurred in Scotland during the War of the Roses in England was the Battle of Roxburgh. James II took advantage of the chaos going on in England to besiege the fortress of Roxburgh, one of the last castles held by the English. While directing the firing of a cannon, James II was killed, but his men continued the siege and destroyed the fortress. The battle is significant not only for the death of the king, but because it marks the first time the Scots used heavy artillery.

Date	Battle Summary
1460	Siege of Roxburgh (Betrothal of Mary ) Scots victory This town, defended by an English garrison, was besieged by the Scots, under James II of Scotland, in 1460, and after a stubborn defense was captured and destroyed. This is the first occasion on which artillery was used by the Scots. During the siege the Scottish king was killed by the bursting of a gun of large calibre, August 3, 1460.

Commander	Short Biography
James II	King of Scots who brought rebel Barons under control. Destroyed power of Black Douglases. Died at Roxburgh.

Duke of Albany : The Red Harlow : 1411

BRAVE CATHERINE TRIED IN VAIN TO KEEP THEM BACK

The Duke of Albany was not the king of Scotland, but several of his brothers and nephews were, and he was a regent for most of them. During his reign there was much strife between the barons, as there always was in the absence of a strong king. One of the highland chieftains, by the name of Donald contended with Albany for control of a large property, and when he lost, he resolved to lay waste to the lowlanders. A large and spectacularly bloody battle ensued between 2000 Royal Knights and 12,000 savage highlanders. Although the battle went badly for both sides, the highlanders were at last fended off, and so many warriors were killed that there was peace for some time afterward.

Date	Battle Summary
1411	Battle of Harlaw (Revolt of Macbeth ) Rebels victory Fought July 24, 1411, between the rebel Highlanders, under Donald, Lord of the Isles, and the Lowland Scots, under the Earl of Mar, together with the town militia of Aberdeen, led by their Provost. After a most sanguinary battle, the Lowlanders were utterly routed. Among the slain were the Provost, many knights, 500 men-at-arms, and the majority of the burghers forming the militia. The Highlanders lost 500 only.

Commander	Short Biography
Duke of Albany	Son of Robert II of Scotland who was regent for several of his brothers and nephews.

Story Links	Book Links
Regent Albany—The Battle of Harlaw  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall

James II: The Fall of the Douglases : 1422-1455

The Douglas Clan was among the most powerful in Scotland. A Douglas had fought side by side with Robert Bruce during the Scottish War of Independence, and in the years afterward, the Douglases had bravely fought several border wars with England. Eventually, however, the most powerful branch of the Douglas family, the Black Douglases, had a falling out with James II, the king of Scotland. Eventually this led to open war, and James II led his troops against the rebel Douglases and defeated them all. Once the Douglases were brought into line, other unruly Barons were more easily ruled by James II, and the nation new a brief period of peace.

Date	Battle Summary
1452	Battle of Brechin (Norman Rebellion ) Royalists victory Fought 1452, between the revolted Douglasses under the Earl of Craufurd, and the Royal troops under the Earl of Huntly. The Douglasses were defeated.
1455	Battle of Arkenholm (Douglas Rebellion ) Royalists victory Fought May 12, 1455, between the troops of James II of Scotland and the rebels under the Douglas brothers. The rebels were completely defeated. Archibald Douglas was killed, Hugh captured, and James, Earl of Douglas, forced to take refuge in England.

Commander	Short Biography
James II	Catholic king of England, deposed by his daughter Mary and William III.
Archibald Douglas	Leader of the Doublas clan; Fought border wars with the English.

Story Links	Book Links
James II.—Fall of the Black Douglases  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
James III.—The Battle of Sauchieburn  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
James V.—Fall of the Red Douglases  in	Scotland's Story  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall

Image Links
Do you see that little white sail far out to sea? Yonder is Macduff.  in Scotland's Story	But, thanks be to God, there are few of my ancestors who have died in their beds.  in Scotland's Story	Brave Catherine tried in vain to keep them back  in Scotland's Story
Sir Andrew with his two ships, the Yellow Carvel  in Scotland's Story