BattlefieldsPinkie Cleugh — Spanish and Italian Arquebusiers 1547
Tudor

Pinkie Cleugh — Spanish and Italian Arquebusiers 1547

1547
East Lothian, Scotland
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
East Lothian, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scotland
Forces
Scottish advancing pike columns
VS
Victor
England
Forces
c.600 Spanish and Italian arquebusiers
Outcome
Arquebusier fire decisive in breaking Scottish pike cohesion
The Battle

History & Significance

Somerset deployed experienced Spanish and Italian arquebusiers in the English centre at Pinkie — mercenaries experienced in continental warfare. Their concentrated fire tore into the advancing Scottish pike columns. This was one of the first major deployments of professional firearms infantry in a British battle. The Scots, advancing in pike schiltrons, had no effective counter. The arquebusiers prepared the Scottish formations for the bill and cavalry to finish.

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