BattlefieldsAlnwick Castle Lancastrian Sortie 1463
Medieval

Alnwick Castle Lancastrian Sortie 1463

1463
England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Lancastrians
Forces
Yorkist besieging force under Warwick; Alnwick garrison under Sir Ralph Percy
VS
Victor
Yorkists
Forces
Scottish relief army under Mary of Guelders
Outcome
Alnwick garrison evacuated to Scottish relief army without a fight; castle taken but Lancastrian forces escaped intact
The Battle

History & Significance

During the protracted Yorkist siege of Alnwick in early 1463 a Scottish army under Mary of Guelders appeared in relief, and the Yorkist besiegers, unwilling to fight a major field action while also conducting a siege, stood aside. The Lancastrian garrison slipped out to join the Scots, surrendering the castle. This unusual non-battle illustrates the constraints on Yorkist operations in Northumberland.

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