The 1316 Durham raid extended the pattern of systematic Scottish devastation of northern England. County Durham was targeted because of its relative wealth — the bishopric was one of the richest in England — and because its Bishop Prince had been prominent in English military operations against Scotland. The burning of Durham-county settlements and the threatening of the great cathedral was designed to demonstrate that no corner of northern England was safe from Scottish military action.
Scottish mounted raiding force; no English field army
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