In 1346 the King of Scots led his army into England to help an ally hundreds of miles away – and ended the day a prisoner with an arrow in his face. The Battle of Neville's Cross was a heavy Scottish defeat that cost the kingdom its king for over a decade. It is also a striking example of the Auld Alliance with France in action, for good and for ill.
Key facts: the Battle of Neville's Cross
- Date: 17 October 1346
- Location: Near Durham, in northern England
- Who fought: The Scots under King David II against an English army
- Why: David invaded England to relieve pressure on France under the Auld Alliance
- Outcome: A decisive English victory
- Aftermath: David II was captured and held prisoner in England for eleven years
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A battle fought for France
By 1346, David II – son of Robert the Bruce – had returned from exile and taken up his crown. That autumn, Edward III of England won his famous victory over the French at Crécy and laid siege to Calais. The French king, hard pressed, called on his Scottish allies to honour the Auld Alliance by attacking England from the north and forcing Edward to divide his forces. David obliged, leading a large army across the border.
Defeat at Durham
The Scots advanced into the bishopric of Durham, but the north of England had not been left undefended. An English army, raised by the northern lords and clergy, met the Scots near the city at a spot marked by an old stone cross. As at Halidon Hill, the English longbow played a decisive part, and the Scottish divisions were broken one by one. David II himself fought bravely but was wounded – struck in the face by arrows – and taken prisoner. Many Scottish nobles were killed or captured alongside him.
A king in captivity
The consequences were severe. David II was held captive in England for eleven years, and Scotland was governed in his absence by his nephew, Robert the Steward – the future Robert II and first of the Stewart kings. David was finally released in 1357 under the Treaty of Berwick, but only in return for a crippling ransom that burdened Scotland for years.
Neville's Cross showed both the strength and the cost of the Auld Alliance: the bond with France shaped Scottish foreign policy for centuries, but here it drew Scotland into a disastrous war on behalf of a distant friend.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Battle of Neville's Cross?
It was fought on 17 October 1346, just outside Durham in the north of England.
Why did David II invade England?
He invaded to honour the Auld Alliance with France, hoping to relieve English pressure on the French after the Battle of Crécy.
What happened to David II after the battle?
He was captured and held prisoner in England for eleven years, until his release in 1357 in exchange for a large ransom.
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