Battlefields›Battle of Nechtansmere 685
Early Medieval

Battle of Nechtansmere 685

685
Angus, Scotland
Also known as: Battle of Dunnichen · Linn Garan · Dun Nechtain
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Angus, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Northumbria (Ecgfrith)
Forces
Pictish army using terrain to advantage
VS
Victor
Picts (Bridei mac Bili)
Forces
Northumbrian mounted force
Outcome
Ecgfrith lured into a trap and killed; Northumbrian expansion north of the Forth permanently ended
The Battle

History & Significance

Bridei mac Bili lured Ecgfrith deep into Pictish territory and ambushed him at Nechtansmere. Ecgfrith was killed with most of his army. Bede saw it as divine punishment for Ecgfrith attack on the Irish the previous year. It was the greatest Pictish victory in history and permanently ended English ambitions north of the Forth.

Casualties & Losses

Ecgfrith and almost all his army killed

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of Nechtansmere 685

Carse Grey,settlement and souterrains 600m SW of
Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~0.1 miles
Carse Grey, stone setting 225m WNW of
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
Battledykes, cairn 475m SSE of
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
Myreside,henge,enclosure and barrows NW of
Scheduled monument · Bronze Age · ~1.3 miles
Battledykes, Roman camp
Scheduled monument · Roman · ~1.3 miles
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