At dawn on 3 September 1650, Oliver Cromwell launched a surprise attack that destroyed a Scottish army twice the size of his own. The Battle of Dunbar was one of Cromwell's most brilliant and brutal victories, and it opened the way to the English conquest of Scotland. For the Scots who had crowned a new king in defiance of England's republic, it was a catastrophe. (Not to be confused with the earlier Battle of Dunbar in 1296.)
Key facts: the Battle of Dunbar (1650)
- Date: 3 September 1650
- Location: Dunbar, on the East Lothian coast
- Who fought: Oliver Cromwell's English New Model Army against a Scottish army under David Leslie
- Why: Scotland had proclaimed Charles II king after the execution of his father
- Outcome: A devastating English victory despite being heavily outnumbered
- Aftermath: Thousands of Scots killed or captured; Cromwell occupied much of Scotland
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Why did Cromwell invade Scotland?
After the English Parliament executed Charles I in 1649, the Scots – who had fought the king in the Bishops' Wars but never wanted him dead – proclaimed his exiled son Charles II as their king, on condition that he accept the Covenant. To the new English republic, this was a direct threat. Oliver Cromwell led the New Model Army north to deal with it.
Outmanoeuvred, then triumphant
The campaign began badly for Cromwell. The Scottish commander, David Leslie, skilfully avoided battle and harried the English until disease and hunger had reduced Cromwell's army and pinned it against the sea at Dunbar. Leslie held the high ground of Doon Hill with a much larger force, and the Scots seemed certain of victory.
Then the Scots made a fatal error. Urged on by the Covenanter clergy, Leslie moved his army down from the heights to give battle – exposing it to attack. Cromwell saw his chance. At first light on 3 September his troops fell on the unready Scottish right wing with the cry ‘The Lord of Hosts!’ The Scottish army, caught off balance, collapsed.
A terrible aftermath
The defeat was overwhelming. Around 3,000 Scots were killed and as many as 10,000 captured. The fate of the prisoners was grim: marched south in dreadful conditions, many died of disease and starvation, and survivors were transported to England, Ireland and the colonies as forced labour. Cromwell went on to take Edinburgh and, after a final victory at Worcester in 1651, Scotland fell under English military occupation for the rest of the decade.
Dunbar stands as a stark reminder of how the religious and political storms of the seventeenth century repeatedly drew Scotland into ruinous war.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Battle of Dunbar?
The famous battle against Cromwell was fought on 3 September 1650. An earlier, separate Battle of Dunbar took place in 1296.
Why did the Scots lose at Dunbar?
Holding a strong position, they were persuaded to move down to attack and were caught unprepared by Cromwell's surprise dawn assault.
What happened to the Scottish prisoners?
Thousands were marched south in terrible conditions; many died, and survivors were often transported overseas as forced labourers.
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