Quick Facts
Date:
August 12, 1332
Location:
Perth
Scotland
United Kingdom
Participants:
Edward
Scotland
Key People:
Edward

Battle of Dupplin Moor, (Aug. 12, 1332), battle fought about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Perth, Perthshire, a victory for Edward de Balliol, a claimant to the Scottish throne, over forces led by Donald, earl of Mar, regent for the young King David II. Secretly encouraged by King Edward III of England, Balliol and other knights who had been disinherited by David’s father, Robert I the Bruce, landed at Kinghorn in Fifeshire, where they routed the local troops. They marched to Dunfermline and then northward and, reaching the River Eann, forded it on the night of August 11–12. Dawn revealed the main Scottish force arrayed in two divisions ready to attack. Greatly outnumbered, Balliol adopted tactics later copied by Edward III at the Battles of Halidon Hill (1333) and Crécy (1346); most of his men at arms dismounted, while archers were posted at either flank. When the first Scottish division charged, flights of arrows drove its flanks in upon its centre. The charge of the second division failed to renew the Scottish momentum, and their men trod one another underfoot, more dying by suffocation than by the sword. Pursuing the fugitives, Balliol’s men entered Perth, and he was crowned king at Scone the next month. Although King David temporarily left the country, Balliol never received widespread recognition. In 1339 he lost Perth, and in 1356 he resigned his kingdom to Edward III.

Quick Facts
Date:
July 19, 1333
Location:
Berwick-upon-Tweed
United Kingdom
England
Participants:
Scotland
England
Key People:
Edward III

Battle of Halidon Hill, (July 19, 1333), major engagement in Scotland’s protracted struggle for political independence from England. The battle ended in a complete rout of Scottish forces attempting to relieve Berwick-upon-Tweed, which was besieged by the English under Edward III. Edward was acting on behalf of his vassal Edward de Balliol, who had revolted against the Scottish king David II.

Berwick’s defenders had agreed to capitulate unless relieved by July 20, 1333. At Halidon Hill, Edward blocked the approach of a relief force under Sir Archibald Douglas, regent for David II. Edward’s three dismounted divisions, each protected with wings of archers, riddled the Scots with arrows as they approached across swampy ground and then uphill. Those who reached the English lines were soon overcome. The next day Berwick surrendered.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.