BattlefieldsAberdeen Submission to James VI 1594
Tudor

Aberdeen Submission to James VI 1594

1594
Scotland
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Gordon and Erroll
Forces
no effective Gordon resistance; earls had fled
VS
Victor
James VI
Forces
James VI with royal army c.5,000
Outcome
Aberdeen submitted; Gordon and Erroll castles ordered demolished; Catholic earls temporarily fled
The Battle

History & Significance

After the Catholic earls' victory at Glenlivet, James VI personally led an army north to Aberdeen in late 1594 to impose his authority. The citizens of Aberdeen — long under Gordon influence — formally submitted to the king. James VI ordered the demolition of Huntly's castles and those of Erroll. His army marched through Strathbogie and levelled the Gordon strongholds before withdrawing south. The demolition order was partially carried out but the earls' power base was shaken. Aberdeen's submission was the king's most direct exercise of military power in the northeast.

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