Battlefields›Skirmish at Abernethy — Pictish Royal Submission to Northumbria 685 before Nechtansmere
Early Medieval

Skirmish at Abernethy — Pictish Royal Submission to Northumbria 685 before Nechtansmere

671
Perthshire, Scotland
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Perthshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Pictland
Forces
Pictish king at Abernethy
VS
Victor
Northumbria
Forces
Northumbrian royal army under Ecgfrith
Outcome
Pictish submission; hostages given to Northumbria; Pictish humiliation stored up for revenge
The Battle

History & Significance

A Pictish king submitted to Northumbrian Ecgfrith at Abernethy — likely Drest — giving hostages including Bridei mac Bili; this submission set up the eventual revolt and revenge at Nechtansmere; Abernethy was a key Pictish royal site

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Skirmish at Abernethy — Pictish Royal Submission to Northumbria 685 before Nechtansmere

Kinloch,souterrain 850m SSW of Kinloch House
Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~0.8 miles
Easter Kilwhiss, enclosure 820m SSE of
Scheduled monument · Post-Medieval · ~0.9 miles
Shiells, settlements 665m NW of
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
Ravenshall, homestead & ring-ditches N of
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
Lathrisk House, settlement 300m WNW of
Scheduled monument · ~1.4 miles
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