Siege of Roxburgh Castle

Part of Wars of Scottish Independence

Date	1313
Location	Roxburgh Castle, Scotland 55°35′46″N 2°27′25″W / 55.596°N 2.457°W / 55.596; -2.457Coordinates: 55°35′46″N 2°27′25″W / 55.596°N 2.457°W / 55.596; -2.457
Result	Scottish victory

Belligerents

Kingdom of Scotland

Kingdom of England

Commanders and leaders

James Douglas, Lord of Douglas

William de Fiennes

Strength

Unknown, inferior to the English

Thousands

Casualties and losses

Low

High

The Siege of Roxburgh was a siege that took place in 1313. It was a major conflict in the First War of Scottish Independence. Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, after his victory over the Clan MacDougall had been capturing several castles back from the English, but the mere thought of taking Roxburgh Castle was one that daunted him. It was on impregnable ground, and was guarded well. He and Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland disguised their few men as cows, so the garrison was unaware of their presence. Then they used ladders to climb to the top. Then they took the castle by total surprise. They inflicted heavy casualties on the garrison, including wounding their leader in the face with an arrow. This siege was a prelude to the Battle of Bannockburn.

The Lanercost Chronicle records that "all that beautiful castle the Scots pulled down to the ground, like the other castles that they had succeeded in capturing, lest the English should ever again rule the land by holding the castles."

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