BattlefieldsHaddon Rig — Scottish Victory over English Raiding Party 1542
Tudor

Haddon Rig — Scottish Victory over English Raiding Party 1542

1542
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
England
Forces
English raiding party under Bowes — approximately 3,000 border riders
VS
Victor
Scotland
Forces
Scottish force under Huntly — approximately 5,000 men
Outcome
English raiding force of 3,000 routed; Bowes captured along with 600 other English riders; Scottish border temporarily reinforced; English Warden humiliated; Huntly celebrated in Scotland.
The Battle

History & Significance

On 24 August 1542, a Scottish force under the Earl of Huntly defeated an English raiding party commanded by Sir Robert Bowes at Haddon Rig, near the Tweed. Bowes had led approximately 3,000 English riders on an incursion into Scotland but was caught by Huntly's larger Scottish force and comprehensively routed. The English lost over 600 prisoners including Bowes himself. Haddon Rig was a rare Scottish tactical victory in the 1540s and temporarily restored Scottish border confidence before the catastrophe of Solway Moss three months later.

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