BattlefieldsCulblean — Murray Defeats Atholl 1335
Medieval

Culblean — Murray Defeats Atholl 1335

1335
Scotland
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
David of Atholl
Forces
English-supporting Atholl army in Deeside forest
VS
Victor
Andrew Murray
Forces
Scottish Guardian Andrew Murray
Outcome
Murray victory; Atholl killed; English-Balliol strategy in the north defeated; Scottish resistance in Aberdeenshire consolidated
The Battle

History & Significance

On St Andrews Day 1335 Andrew Murray, Guardian of Scotland, surprised the English-supporting army of the Earl of Atholl at Culblean in Aberdeenshire. Murray used the forest cover to approach undetected and attacked at dawn, routing Atholl's force which was caught before it could form a proper battle line. Atholl was killed and his army destroyed. Culblean was the turning point that checked Edward III's Scottish strategy and gave the Guardian authority to progressively recover castles across the north.

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