| Revision as of 21:47, 9 September 2005 edit63.241.34.4 (talk) sp← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:50, 10 September 2005 edit undoR.D.H. (Ghost In The Machine) (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers5,439 edits added numbers, more details, infoNext edit → | ||
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| |commander1=] | |commander1=] | ||
| |commander2=] † | |commander2=] † | ||
| |strength1= |
|strength1=around 30,000 | ||
| |strength2= |
|strength2=around 30,000 | ||
| |casualties1=1,500-4,000 | |casualties1=1,500-4,000 | ||
| |casualties2=10,000 | |casualties2=10,000 | ||
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| The battle actually took place near the village of ] in the ] of ], rather than at ] – hence the alternative name of '''Battle of Branxton'''. The Scots had previously been stationed at Flodden, near to Branxton. (This was to be the last battle to take place in Northumberland.) | The battle actually took place near the village of ] in the ] of ], rather than at ] – hence the alternative name of '''Battle of Branxton'''. The Scots had previously been stationed at Flodden, near to Branxton. (This was to be the last battle to take place in Northumberland.) | ||
| The battle was the climax of days of maneuvering, with the Scottish ]s |
The battle was the climax of days of maneuvering, the English finally managed cross the ] and get behind the Scottish positions. The Scots' ] opened fire, but due to poorly trained artillerymen, cumbersome guns and damp powder, they mostly missed. The more limber and much better trained English ] then returned fire with deadly accuracy, blowing the Scottish guns and gunners off the field. The English cannons and ] then concentrated a furious fire on the ] of the Scottish ]s. This took a terrible toll and caused them to charge down the hill and relinquish the defensive high ground in order to come to grips with the English, whose ] wielded a devastating weapon that was more than a match for the Scottish spears which had changed little since ]. In the bloody slogging match that characterised such warfare, the Scots were eventually encircled and cut to pieces. The Scottish reserve led by the ], ] (c.]–]), who was to pay for this inaction with his head many years later, watched impassively as King James and his army was destroyed. The king, many of his nobles, and over 10,000 Scottish men were killed. The English losses are estimated as between 1,500 and 4,000. | ||
| Tactically, this battle was one of the first major engagements on the British Isles where artillery would play a decisive role and one of the last decisive victories for English longbowmen. | |||
| Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Surrey, was ] and largely responsible for the ] victory for ]. He subsequently was restored to his father's title of ]. | Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Surrey, was ] and largely responsible for the ] victory for ]. He subsequently was restored to his father's title of ]. | ||
| Skirmishes over the English-Scottish border had been taking place for centuries, and this was perhaps the longest such 'war' on record. |
Skirmishes over the English-Scottish border had been taking place for centuries, and this was perhaps the longest such 'war' on record. | ||
| There was not a noble family in Scotland who did not lose at least someone at Flodden. They and the other dead are remembered by the pipe tune `The Flowers of the Forest'; | |||
| ::We'll here nae mair lilting at our ewe milking, | |||
| ::Women and bairns are heartless and wae, | |||
| ::Sighing and moaning on a ilka green loaning, | |||
| ::The flowers of the forest are a wede away. | |||
| On this occasion, King James had proclaimed war with England to honour the ], namely, to divert ]'s English troops from their campaign against the French king ]; England was involved in a larger conflict, defending ] and the ] from the ], (see ]), as a member of the ]. | On this occasion, King James had proclaimed war with England to honour the ], namely, to divert ]'s English troops from their campaign against the French king ]; England was involved in a larger conflict, defending ] and the ] from the ], (see ]), as a member of the ]. | ||
Revision as of 16:50, 10 September 2005
_-_2004-Feb-06_-_Looking_SSE_from_the_monument.jpg)
_-_2004-Feb-06_-_Noticeboard_-_Map.jpg){kind=link}
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field was fought in northern England on September 9, 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by Thomas Howard.
The battle actually took place near the village of Branxton in the county of Northumberland, rather than at Flodden – hence the alternative name of Battle of Branxton. The Scots had previously been stationed at Flodden, near to Branxton. (This was to be the last battle to take place in Northumberland.)
The battle was the climax of days of maneuvering, the English finally managed cross the River Till and get behind the Scottish positions. The Scots' cannon opened fire, but due to poorly trained artillerymen, cumbersome guns and damp powder, they mostly missed. The more limber and much better trained English artillery then returned fire with deadly accuracy, blowing the Scottish guns and gunners off the field. The English cannons and longbowmen then concentrated a furious fire on the pikemen of the Scottish schiltrons. This took a terrible toll and caused them to charge down the hill and relinquish the defensive high ground in order to come to grips with the English, whose billmen wielded a devastating weapon that was more than a match for the Scottish spears which had changed little since Bannockburn. In the bloody slogging match that characterised such warfare, the Scots were eventually encircled and cut to pieces. The Scottish reserve led by the Earl of Argyll, Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll (c.1507–1558), who was to pay for this inaction with his head many years later, watched impassively as King James and his army was destroyed. The king, many of his nobles, and over 10,000 Scottish men were killed. The English losses are estimated as between 1,500 and 4,000.
Tactically, this battle was one of the first major engagements on the British Isles where artillery would play a decisive role and one of the last decisive victories for English longbowmen.
Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Surrey, was Lieutenant General and largely responsible for the Tudor victory for Henry VIII of England. He subsequently was restored to his father's title of Duke of Norfolk.
Skirmishes over the English-Scottish border had been taking place for centuries, and this was perhaps the longest such 'war' on record.
There was not a noble family in Scotland who did not lose at least someone at Flodden. They and the other dead are remembered by the pipe tune `The Flowers of the Forest';
- We'll here nae mair lilting at our ewe milking,
- Women and bairns are heartless and wae,
- Sighing and moaning on a ilka green loaning,
- The flowers of the forest are a wede away.
On this occasion, King James had proclaimed war with England to honour the Auld Alliance, namely, to divert Henry VIII's English troops from their campaign against the French king Louis XII; England was involved in a larger conflict, defending Italy and the Pope from the French, (see Italian Wars), as a member of the Catholic League.