BattlefieldsSiege of Berwick — Scottish Assault Repulsed 1319
Medieval

Siege of Berwick — Scottish Assault Repulsed 1319

1319
Berwickshire, Scotland
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Berwickshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
England
Forces
Edward II commanding full English siege army
VS
Victor
Scotland
Forces
Scottish garrison under Walter Stewart
Outcome
English siege repulsed; English sow burned by garrison; Myton raid forced English withdrawal; Berwick remained Scottish
The Battle

History & Significance

In 1319 Edward II besieged Berwick in an attempt to recover the town Bruce had taken in 1318. The Scottish garrison under Walter Stewart resisted the assault including an innovative English attack using a sow — a wheeled protective shelter for sappers. The sow was burned by Scottish defenders using flaming materials lowered from the walls. The Myton raid then forced Edward II to abandon the siege. The 1319 siege failure confirmed that England could not easily recover Scottish territorial gains.

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