Battle of Boroughbridge

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v • d • e First War of Scottish Independence

Dunbar – Stirling Bridge – Falkirk – Roslin – Happrew – Stirling Castle – Methven – Dalry – Glen Trool – Loudoun Hill – Slioch – Inverurie – Pass of Brander – Bannockburn – Connor – Skaitmuir– Skerries – Faughart – Berwick – Myton – Arbroath – Boroughbridge – Old Byland – Corbeil – Stanhope Park – Edinburgh-Northampton

v • d • e Wars of Scottish Independence

First – Second

The Battle of Boroughbridge was a small but important battle in the conflicts between Edward II of England and his rebellious barons. The battle took place near an important bridge across the River Ure called Boroughbridge, northwest of York.

Early in 1322, King Edward took forces north in England to subdue his cousin Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. Thomas was pushed further north, where he may have been hoping to join up with forces from Scotland. However on March 16, he found his way across the River Ure barred by forces of Sir Andrew Harclay. Sir Andrew used the infantry tactics which were later to prove so effective against the French at Crécy, and the rebels were defeated.

Of the rebel leaders, Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, was killed, and the rest captured. The prisoners were later convicted of treason and executed. Three among them, the Lords Clifford, Mowbray, and Deynville, were executed at York and their bodies hung in chains from York Castle (23 Mar 1322).

It has been suggested^[1] that a possible historical candidate for the legendary outlaw Robin Hood fought in this battle on Lancaster's side, prior to being outlawed along with the remnants of Lancaster's army.