Battle of Dunbar
Part of the First War of Scottish Independence
Date 27 April 1296 Location near Dunbar, Scotland Result Decisive English victory
Combatants
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders
John Bailliol	John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey
Strength
Approx. 40,000	12,000
Casualties
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Dunbar was the first major battle in the First War of Scottish Independence. King Edward I of England had invaded Scotland in 1296 to punish John Balliol for his refusal to support English military action in France. The early period of the First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the outbreak of the war in 1296 until the coronation of Robert the Bruce as King of Scots in 1306. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Events March 30 - Edward I stormed Berwick-upon-Tweed, sacking the then Scottish border town with much bloodshed. ... This article is about Dunbar in Scotland. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - UK Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I 843  Area    - Total 78,772 km... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one strikes me with impunity) Capital Edinburgh¹ Language(s) Gaelic, Scots Government Monarchy King/Queen  - 843-860 Kenneth I  - 1587–1625 James VI  - 1702-1714 Anne Legislature Parliament of Scotland History  - United 843  - Union of the Crowns March 24, 1603  - Act of Union... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Capital Winchester, then London from 11th century. ... John de Warenne (1231? – September 27, 1304), 7th Earl of Surrey or Warenne, was prominent during the reigns of Henry III and Edward I. During his long life he fought in the Barons War and in Edward Is wars in Scotland. ... The early period of the First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the outbreak of the war in 1296 until the coronation of Robert the Bruce as King of Scots in 1306. ... Combatants Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England Commanders Andrew Moray William Wallace Surrey Cressingham† Strength 7,000 infantry and 150 cavalry 30,000[citation needed] infantry and 750 cavalry Casualties  ? Over 7,000 killed The Battle of Stirling Bridge was one of the series of conflicts of the Wars of... Combatants Scotland England Commanders William Wallace Edward I of England Strength 500 cavalry, 9,500 infantry 2,000 cavalry, 12,000 infantry. ... The Battle of Roslin took place on 24 February 1303 at Roslin, Scotland. ... There have been at least chippermunkey sieges of Stirling Castle. ... Combatants Scotland England Commanders Robert I of Scotland Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke Strength 4,500 soldiers 3,000 soldiers Casualties 3,500+  ? The Battle of Methven took place at Methven in Scotland in 1306, during the Wars of Scottish Independence. ... Combatants Scottish Royal Army Clan MacDougall of Lorn Commanders Robert Bruce John MacDougall Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Dalry or the Battle of Dail Righ-the Kings Field- was fought in the summer of 1306 near Tyndrum, Scotland, between the army of Robert Bruce and... The Battle of Glen Trool was a battle in the Scottish Wars of Independence in March 1307. ... The Battle of Loudon Hill was fought in 1307 between the Scots and the English. ... Combatants Scottish Royal Army Scottish opponents of Bruce Commanders Robert Bruce John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Inverurie, also known as the Battle of Barra, was fought in May 1308 in the north-east of Scotland. ... // Battle of the Pass of Brander The Battle of the Pass of Brander forms a small part of the wider struggle known as the Wars of Scottish Independence, and a large part of the civil war between the Bruce and Balliol factions, a parallel and overlaping conflict. ... Combatants Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England Commanders Robert Bruce Edward II of England Strength about 8,000 20,000 Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Bannockburn (June 23, 1314 – June 24, 1314) was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence. ... The Battle of Faughart was fought in 1318 between the forces of England, and a Scots-Irish army. ... Combatants Scotland England Commanders Sir James Douglas and Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray William Melton Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown, but light unknown, but heavy The Battle of Myton, more properly known as the Chapter of Myton, was a minor engagement in the ongoing Scottish Wars of Independence, fought... The Declaration of Arbroath was a declaration of Scottish independence, and set out to confirm Scotlands status as an independent, sovereign state and its use of military action when unjustly attacked. ... The Battle of Boroughbridge was a small but important battle in the conflicts between Edward II of England and his rebellious barons. ... Combatants Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England Commanders Robert Bruce John de Bretagne, 1st Earl of Richmond Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Old Byland was a significant encounter between Scots and English troops in Yorkshire in October 1322, forming part of the Wars of Scottish Independence. ... The Treaty of Corbeil (1326) renewed the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France. ... The Battle of Stanhope Park was fought in northern England in August 1327 and forms part of the Wars of Scottish Independence. ... Prior to the Treaty of Edinbugh-Northampton, Edward II claimed he adhered to a truce, but he allowed English privateers to attack Flemish vessels trading with Scotland. ... The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between Scotland and England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. ... The early period of the First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the outbreak of the war in 1296 until the coronation of Robert the Bruce as King of Scots in 1306. ... The Second War of Scottish Independence began properly in 1333 when Edward III overturned the 1328 Treaty of Northampton, under which England recognised the legitimacy of the dynasty established by Robert Bruce. ... The early period of the First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the outbreak of the war in 1296 until the coronation of Robert the Bruce as King of Scots in 1306. ... Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), popularly known as Longshanks[1] and Hammer of the Scots,[2] achieved fame as the monarch who conquered Wales and who kept Scotland under English domination during his lifetime. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - UK Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I 843  Area    - Total 78,772 km... Events March 30 - Edward I stormed Berwick-upon-Tweed, sacking the then Scottish border town with much bloodshed. ... John Balliol, the son of Devorguilla Balliol and John, 5th Baron de Balliol, was the king of Scotland from November 17, 1292-1296. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ...

Background

After the sack of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edward, in no hurry to complete the conquest of Scotland, remained in the town for a month, supervising the strengthening of its defences. On the 5th of April he received a message from King John renouncing his homage, to which he remarked, more in contempt than anger, O foolish knave! What folly he commits. If he will not come to us we will go to him." Map sources for Berwick-upon-Tweed at grid reference NT9952 Berwick-upon-Tweed from across the river Berwick-upon-Tweed, (pronounced Berrick) situated in the county of Northumberland, is the northernmost town in England, situated on the east coast on the mouth of the river Tweed. ...

The next objective in the campaign was the Earl of March's castle at Dunbar, a few miles up the coast from Berwick. March was with the English, but his wife, Marjory Comyn, sister of the Earl of Buchan, did not share her husband's political loyalties and allowed her fellow Scots to occupy the castle. Edward sent one of his chief lieutenants, John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey, John Balliol's own father-in-law, northwards with a strong force of knights to invest the stronghold. The defenders sent messages to King John, bivouacked with the main body of his army at nearby Haddington, asking for urgent assistance. In response the army, or a large part of it, advanced to the rescue of Dunbar. John, who was showing even less skill as a commander than he had as a king, did not accompany it. The war of 1296 was now to enter its final phase. William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan (d. ... John de Warenne (1231? – September 27, 1304), 7th Earl of Surrey or Warenne, was prominent during the reigns of Henry III and Edward I. During his long life he fought in the Barons War and in Edward Is wars in Scotland. ... Haddington is a burgh in East Lothian, Scotland. ...

Battle

The two armies came in sight of each other on the 27th of April. Leaving a small force to cover the castle, Surrey turned to face the enemy. The Scots occupied a strong position on some high ground to the west. To meet them Surrey's cavalry had to cross a gully intersected by the Spot Burn. As they did so their ranks broke up, and the Scots, deluded into thinking the English were leaving the field, abandoned their position in a disorderly downhill charge, only to find that Surrey's forces had reformed on Spottsmuir and were advancing in perfect order. The English routed the disorganised Scots in a single charge, the leaders fleeing along with the common soldiers. Only Sir Patrick Graham stood and fought to the death. According to the English sources over ten thousand Scots died at the battle of Dunbar, hardly a credible figure, given the speed with which the whole affair was concluded. The survivors fled westwards to the safety of Selkirk Forest. The following day King Edward appeared in person and the castle surrendered. Some important prisoners were taken, amongst them three earls-Atholl, Ross and Mentieth-together with 130 knights and esquires. All were sent into captivity in England. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Highlands district of Atholl or Athole in the north of Perthshire in Scotland lies between Braemar, Badenoch, Breadalbane and Lochaber. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Aftermath

The battle of Dunbar effectively ended the war of 1296. The remainder of the campaign was little more than a grand mopping-up operation. James, the hereditary High Stewart of Scotland, surrendered the important fortress at Roxburgh without attempting a defence, and others were quick to follow his example. Only Edinburgh Castle held out for a week against Edward's siege engines. The garrison sent for help to John, who had fled north to Forfar, but were told to provide for their own safety. In the south-west young Robert Bruce, the future king, now fighting with the English, recaptured his father's lands in Annandale, dominated by Lochmaben Castle. Edward himself, true to his word, advanced into central and northern Scotland in pursuit of the fugitive King John, abandoned by all apart from his Comyn kinsmen. Stirling Castle, which guarded the vital passage across the River Forth was deserted save for a porter who stayed behind to hand the keys to the English. Edward reached Perth on 21 June, where he received messages from John begging for peace. James Stewart 5th High Steward of Scotland (c. ... Historically, the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh (Gaelic: Rosbrog), in the Scottish Borders, was an important trading burgh in the economy of Scotland. ... The castle from below (2003) Edinburgh Castle is an ancient fortress which from its position on Castle Rock, dominates views of the city of Edinburgh, and is Scotlands most famous landmark. ... The Royal Burgh of Forfar is a burgh of approximately 13,500 people, located in the unitary authority of Angus in Scotland. ... Robert I, King of Scots, usually known as Robert the Bruce (July 11, 1274 – June 7, 1329, reigned 1306 – 1329), was, according to a modern biographer (Geoffrey Barrow), a great hero who lived in a minor country. ... The name Annandale refers firstly to Annandale, Scotland in the valley of the River Annan. ... Lochmaben is a small town in Scotland, United Kingdom. ... Stirling Castle (southwest aspect) For ships named after the castle, see Stirling Castle (disambiguation) Stirling Castle is a castle in Stirling, one of the largest and most important, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland and indeed Western Europe. ... The River Forth meanders over fertile farmlands near Stirling The River Forth, 47 km (29 miles) long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland. ... The Royal Burgh of Perth (Peairt in Scottish Gaelic) is a large burgh in central Scotland. ...

John Balliol, in surrendering, submitted himself to a protracted abasement. At Kincardine Castle on 2 July he confessed to rebellion and prayed for forgivness. Five days later in the kirkyard of Stracathro he abandoned the treaty with the French. The final humiliation came at Montrose on 8 July. Dressed for the occasion John was ceremoniously stripped of the vestments of royalty. Anthony Bek, the bishop of Durham, ripped the red and gold arms of Scotland from his surcoat, thus bequeathing to history the nickname Toom Tabard (empty coat) by which John has been known to generations of Scottish schoolchildren. He and his son Edward were sent south into captivity. Soon after the English king followed, carrying in his train the Stone of Scone and other relics of Scottish nationhood. Kincardine or Kincardine-on-Forth is a small town located on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, in Fife, Scotland. ... Montrose is a minor port and tourist resort in Angus, on the east coast of Scotland. ... Statistics Population: 42,939 (2001) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: NZ274424 Administration District: City of Durham Shire county: Durham Region: North East England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Durham Historic county: Durham Services Police force: County Durham Ambulance service: North East Post office and telephone... The Stone of Scone, (pronounced scoon) also commonly known as the Stone of Destiny or the Coronation Stone (though the former name sometimes refers to Lia Fáil) is a block of sandstone historically kept at the now-ruined abbey in Scone, near Perth, Scotland. ...

 Source Alan Young Robert Bruce`s rivals :The Comyns 1212-1314 p 158