Battle of Otterburn: Difference between revisions

Battle of Otterburn
	Part of Anglo-Scottish border conflicts
Date	5 August, 1388
Location	1 mile northwest of Otterburn, Northumberland
Result	Scottish victory
Belligerents
Scotland	England
Commanders and leaders
James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas	Henry "Hotspur" Percy
Strength
around 6000	around 8000
Casualties and losses
around 500	1,500 + killed, wounded, and captured

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Revision as of 02:30, 23 August 2006

The Battle of Otterburn took place on 19 August 1388, as part of the continuing border war between England an Scotland. Partly fought in moonlight, it was a victory for the Scots, led by James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas over Harry Hotspur, son of the Earl of Northumberland. Douglas was killed in the battle, though his victory added to the prestige of his house, foremost among the border fighters of Scotland.

To Newcastle

When the latest truce with England ended in the high summer of 1388 the Scots began attacks on both the western and eastern marches, taking advantage of growing divisions between the Percies and the Nevilles, the English wardens. In August the Earl of Douglas led a particularly bold move against the port of Newcastle. This was risky: he was not equiped to carry out a siege; Newcastle was one of the main muster points for English troops in the north, so it was likely there would be more soldiers inside the town defending than outside attacking; and with the Earl of Northumberland at Alnwick, there was always a danger that his retreat would be cut off. But the very audacity of Douglas' move had the effect his force was only the vanguard of a much larger army close by. Frequent skirmishes took place at the outer defences of the western wall. In the account of Jean Froissart Douglas is said to have captured Hotspur's own pennon, though this story reads as if it has been added to provide some romantic colour, a technique in which the chronicler excels.

When Hotspur woke on the morning of the 18th it was to find that his opponent had vanished in the night. By now the deception was clear, and he determined to set off in pursuit with all haste, before the enemy had a chance to slip back across the border. Hotspur had at his disposal some 8000 troops and, true to his impetuous nature, he decided to set off at once, rather than wait for reinforcements promised by John de Fordham, the Bishop of Durham.

To Otterburn

After leaving Newcastle Douglase moved in a north-westerly direction, making for the valley of the River Rede, intending to take the same route back to Scotland by which he had entered England. He was in no particular hurry, despite the obvious dangers of his situation. His force, of course, was weighed down with livestock and other booty; but when he reached the tower of Ponteland, a few miles from Newcastle, he paused to attack this unimportant obstacle, thus alerting Hotspur to the direction of his retreat.

By the evening of the same day reached the valley of the Rede at a place called Otterburn. Here Douglas set up camp across the road, with his right flank close to the river and his left stretching out on the slope leading up to the moors, approximately one mile beyond Otterburn Tower. Most of the following day-Wednesday 19 August-was spent in unsuccesful assaults on the tower. With his men tired by their exertions Douglas prepared to settle down for a second night on the banks of the Rede. Believing himself safe from attack he did not even take the precaution of posting sentries, an action suggesting a dangerous degree of overconfidence. But for the outcome of what was to follow history is likely to have passed a very different verdict on the second Earl of Douglas.

Hotspur's Attack

Aftermath

Such a decisive victory kept the two sides apart for some time. In 1402 the Earl Douglas' cousin attempted to emulate his great victory and hopefully survive but the Battle of Humbleton Hill was almost an exact reverse of Otterburn and a great defeat for the Scots.

Of such renown was the battle of Otterburn that several ballads were composed in its honour including The Battle of Otterburn and The Ballad of Chevy Chase (Child ballads 161 and 162). Chevy Chase rather mangles the history of the battle and may be confusing other conflicts at around the same time but it is still cited as one of the best of the ancient ballads.

External links

Froissart's account of the battle
Map sources for Percy's Cross which marks the battlefield
Various versions of the ballad The Battle of Otterburn

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 |commander1=[[James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas]]
 |commander2=[[Harry Hotspur | Henry "Hotspur" Percy]]
-|strength1=around 2,900
+|strength1=around 6000
-|strength2=around 3,200
+|strength2=around 8000
 |casualties1=around 500
 |casualties2=1,500 + killed, wounded, and captured
 }}
-'''The Battle of Otterburn''' took place on the [[5 August]] [[1388]], as part of the continuing border skirmishes between the [[Scotland|Scottish]] and [[England|English]].
+'''The Battle of Otterburn''' took place on [[19 August]] [[1388]], as part of the continuing border war between England an Scotland.  Partly fought in moonlight, it was a victory for the Scots, led by [[James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas]] over [[Harry Hotspur]], son of the [[Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland|Earl of Northumberland]].  Douglas was killed in the battle, though his victory added to the prestige of his house, foremost among the border fighters of Scotland.
+==To Newcastle==
+When the latest truce with England ended in the high summer of 1388 the Scots began attacks on both the western and eastern marches, taking advantage of growing divisions between the Percies and the Nevilles, the English wardens.  In August the Earl of Douglas led a particularly bold move against the port of [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne|Newcastle]].  This was risky: he was not equiped to carry out a siege; Newcastle was one of the main muster points for English troops in the north, so it was likely there would be more soldiers inside the town defending than outside attacking; and with the Earl of Northumberland at [[Alnwick]], there was always a danger that his retreat would be cut off.  But the very audacity of Douglas' move had the effect his force was only the vanguard of a much larger army close by.  Frequent skirmishes took place at the outer defences of the western wall.  In the account of [[Jean Froissart]] Douglas is said to have captured Hotspur's own pennon, though this story reads as if it has been added to provide some romantic colour, a technique in which the chronicler excels.
+When Hotspur woke on the morning of the 18th it was to find that his opponent had vanished in the night.  By now the deception was clear, and he determined to set off in pursuit with all haste, before the enemy had a chance to slip back across the border.  Hotspur had at his disposal some 8000 troops and, true to his impetuous nature, he decided to set off at once, rather than wait for reinforcements promised by John de Fordham, the [[Bishop of Durham]].
+==To Otterburn==
+After leaving Newcastle Douglase moved in a north-westerly direction, making for the valley of the  River Rede, intending to take the same route back to Scotland by which he had entered England.  He was in no particular hurry, despite the obvious dangers of his situation.  His force, of course, was weighed down with livestock and other booty; but when he reached the tower of Ponteland, a few miles from Newcastle, he paused to attack this unimportant obstacle, thus alerting Hotspur to the direction of his retreat.
+By the evening of the same day reached the valley of the Rede at a place called Otterburn.  Here Douglas set up camp across the road, with his right flank close to the river and his left stretching out on the slope leading up to the moors, approximately one mile beyond Otterburn Tower.  Most of the following day-Wednesday 19 August-was spent in unsuccesful assaults on the tower.  With his men tired by their exertions Douglas prepared to settle down for a second night on the banks of the Rede.  Believing himself safe from attack he did not even take the precaution of posting sentries, an action suggesting a dangerous degree of overconfidence.  But for the outcome of what was to follow history is likely to have passed a very different verdict on the second Earl of Douglas.
+==Hotspur's Attack==
-The best remaining record of the battle is from [[Jean Froissart]]'s ''[[Froissart's Chronicles|Chronicles]]'' in which he claims to have interviewed veterans from both sides of the battle. His account is still regarded with some concern as details, such as the distance between [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] and [[Otterburn]], are incorrect.
-The Scottish [[James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas]] decided to lead a raid&mdash;one of a continuing series on both sides of the border&mdash;into English territory. It was timed to take advantage of divisions on the English side between [[Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland|Lord Neville]] and [[Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland]] who had just taken over defence of the border.
-==The battle==
-The Scots divided their forces with the main force and their [[baggage train]] heading towards [[Carlisle]] while a raiding party including Earl Douglas ravaged the countryside around [[Durham]] and Newcastle. Henry Percy sent his two sons [[Harry Hotspur|Henry "Hotspur" Percy]] and Ralph to engage while he stayed at [[Alnwick]] to cut off the marauders retreat.
-Froissart says that the first fighting included the Earl Douglas and Henry Percy in hand to hand combat in which Percy's [[pennon]] was captured. Douglas then moved off destroying the castle at [[Ponteland]] and besieging Otterburn castle. Percy attacked Douglas' encampment with a surprise attack in the late afternoon but first encountered the Earl's serving men giving the bulk of the forces time to muster and attack them on their flank.
-During the battle on a moon-lit night Douglas was killed and the Percys were both captured with the remaining English force retreating to Newcastle. Despite Percy's force having an estimated three to one advantage over the Scots Froissart records 1040 English were captured and 1860 killed whereas 200 Scots were captured and 100 were killed.  The [[Westminister Chronicle]] gives the more reliable estimate of Scottish casualties for being around 500 or so.  When the [[Bishop of Durham]] advanced from Newcastle with 10,000 men he was so impressed by the ordered appearance of the Scottish force, the din they set up with their horns, and their seemingly unassailable position, that he declined to attack.
 ==Aftermath==