From the Roman period to the Jacobite rebellions and beyond, the battles fought across these isles have led to dramatic turning points in history. In many cases their impact is still relevant today as they have contributed to the shaping of British laws, institutions and our concepts of identity. This site aims to provide detail on those battles, including interpretation of the action, to aid visitors in their quest to explore and understand these significant events.
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Alnwick (1093)
In the late eleventh century Malcolm III sought to claim northern England for the Scottish Crown. With William II distracted by political events in Normandy, the Scottish King invaded but was ambushed and killed at the first Battle of Alnwick (1093) by an English force under Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria.
Langside (1568)
At the Battle of Langside (1568) the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots was decisively defeated by Protestant forces after which she fled to England where she was incarcerated by Elizabeth I and eventually executed. More significantly, the battle led to the entrenchment of Presbyterian church which would have significant consequences almost a century later during the Wars of Three Kingdoms.
Stow-on-the-Wold (1646)
The Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold (1646) was the last engagement of the First Civil War and saw the sole remaining Royalist field army destroyed. With the King's cause now irretrievably lost, the Royalist commander pointedly observed to his captors, "You have now done your work boys and may go play, unless you will fall out amongst yourselves". It was a prophetic statement.
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