BattlefieldsRaid of Stirling 1585 — Angus Armed Return
Tudor

Raid of Stirling 1585 — Angus Armed Return

1585
Scotland
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Arran government forces
Forces
inadequate Arran government forces
VS
Victor
Angus and Protestant lords
Forces
Angus and allied lords with c.1,500 horse from England
Outcome
Angus and Protestant lords seized Stirling; Arran fled; James VI forced to accept them back
The Battle

History & Significance

In October 1585 the exiled Protestant lords — including the Earl of Angus and the Master of Glamis, who had fled to England after their failed coup of 1584 — returned from England with an armed force and rode for Stirling. James VI was caught unawares; his favourite Captain James Stewart, now Earl of Arran, commanded the royal forces but could muster little resistance. The Protestant lords entered Stirling, Arran fled, and the king was compelled to accept the returning lords back into his council. It was a bloodless coup accomplished by a show of armed force rather than actual battle.

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