BattlefieldsNeville's Cross — Scottish Right Wing Broken by Archery 1346
Medieval

Neville's Cross — Scottish Right Wing Broken by Archery 1346

1346
England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scotland
Forces
English longbowmen on the northern flank
VS
Victor
England
Forces
Scottish right-wing schiltron
Outcome
Scottish right wing broken; English archery proved decisive again against Scottish schiltrons; collapse initiated chain reaction destroying Scottish formation
The Battle

History & Significance

The Scottish right wing at Neville's Cross was the first to be broken by English longbow fire, which began the collapse of the entire Scottish position. English archers on rising ground to the north of the road poured flanking fire into the Scottish spearmen, who could not maintain formation under the missile storm as their predecessors had failed to at Falkirk and Halidon Hill. The rout of the right exposed David II's centre and led directly to his capture.

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