Battle of Kringen

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The Battle of Kringen was an ambush perpetrated by a Norwegian peasant militia against Scottish soldiers who were on their way to enlist in the Swedish army for the Kalmar War. By all accounts, the battle took on a character of a massacre, as the Scottish soldiers were lightly armed and many were summarily executed on the battlefield or shortly thereafter.

The battle has since become a part of folklore in Norway, giving names to local places in the Otta region. A longstanding misconception was that George Sinclair was the commander of the forces; in fact, he was subordinate to Ramsay.

[edit] Background

Painting by Adolph Tidemand in the style of Norwegian romantic nationalism of the Scottish landing at Isfjorden - the number of ships is inaccurate

The Scottish forces were partly recruited, partly pressed into service by Sir James Spens, apparently against the preferences of James VI, who was partial to the Danish side of the war. Two ships sailed from Dundee and Caithness in early August, met up on the Orkney Islands and sailed for Norway.

Because sea routes had been blocked by Danish forces in the Kalmar War, the Scottish forces decided to follow a land route to Sweden that other Scottish and Dutch forces had successfully used. On August 20th, the ships landed in Isfjorden in Romsdal, though the pilot apparently, through an act of sabotage, put the forces on shore in rough terrain.

The soldiers proceeded to march up Romsdalen and down the valley of Gudbrandsdalen.

Having been warned of the incursion, and probably inflamed by a massacre of Norwegian conscripts at Nya Lödöse, the farmers and peasants of the Vågå, Lesja, Dovre, Fron, and Ringebu mobilized to meet the enemy. Legend has it that the sheriff of the area, Lars Hage (also known as Lauritz Gunnarson Hågå b. approx. 1570, d. approx. 1650), came into church in Dovre with a battle axe, struck it on the floor and shouted "Let it be known - the enemy has come to our land!" ("Gjev ljod - fienden har kome til landet!"). As the Scottish forces progressed southward, they were followed by Norwegian scouts.

[edit] Order of battle

Scottish forces included two companies on foot, commanded by George Sinclair and Ramsay. They were lightly armed, as they expected to be equipped upon enlistment in Sweden. According to folklore, the force of the Scottish troops was between 900 and 1,100 or more, but historians generally discount the estimate, placing the probable strength at around 300.

The strength of the Norwegian militia troops is estimated to about 500.

[edit] Combat operations

There are few entirely credible accounts of the battle, but the oral history has two Norwegians by horse followed the Scottish troops, possibly on the other side of the valley. One was a woman by the name of Guri, known as Prillar-Guri to posterity; the other was an unnamed man. The man rode his horse facing backward, providing a distraction for the marching troops. When the Scots reached the narrowest section of the valley - Kringen - Guri blew in her horn, signalling the ambush.

According to folklore, the Norwegian troops let loose logs and rocks down the valley, crushing the marching soldiers, but this appears not be confirmed. It is known, however, that they also shot at the soldiers with crossbows and muskets. Among the first to fall was George Sinclair, apparently shot by one Berdon Sejelstad. It is his name that is most commonly associated with the battle. Sinclair was a nephew of the Earl of Caithness and a historical figure in the Clan Sinclair

Close combat ensued, the militiamen fighting with axes, scythes, and presumably other improvised weapons. More than 370 of the Scots were killed during the battle. Some may have escaped, but others were captured. All but 14 were summarily executed at Kvam in what is now Nord-Fron, the survivors then sent to Christiania for imprisonment. Among these survivors were the officers Alexander Ramsay, Sir Henry Bruce, James Moneypenny, and James Scott. These were eventually repatriated, Ramsay being made the scapegoat for the defeat.

[edit] Aftermath and legacy

Norwegian historians take little pride in the actions of the Norwegian forces that day, but it is considered that the battle constituted a defense of Norwegian sovereignty.

A number of places were named after the Scottish incursion, notably along the route. There is also some evidence that many Scotsmen settled in Norway, and farm names may confirm that. It is also said that the dialect certain areas of Setesdal have traces of Scots. There is also a "Sinclair's Club" in Otta, and there are regular re-enactments of the battle. Sinclair's grave is a local landmark, and though the Norwegians at the time sought to desecrate his memory by burying him outside the church walls, he is now revered in the area.

Since there has been a historical connection between Norway and Scotland in general and Caithness om particular, the battle has become a matter of shared history between the two peoples.

Part of the bunad design for this area - known as rutaliv - is reminiscent of the Sinclair Red tartan.

[edit] External links

• Electronic Scotland's account of the expedition
• Iain Laird's account of the battle