BattlefieldsSiege of Norham Castle 1513
Tudor

Siege of Norham Castle 1513

1513
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Fall of Norham 1513
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
England (Norham garrison)
Forces
Norham c.100-200
VS
Victor
Scotland (James IV)
Forces
Scotland c.5000-10000
Outcome
Scotland's heaviest artillery breached the walls; garrison surrendered after five days; one of England's strongest border castles taken
The Battle

History & Significance

The fall of Norham in August 1513 demonstrated the effectiveness of James IV's powerful artillery train — the finest in Britain at the time. The castle had resisted sieges for two centuries; the new gunpowder technology rendered its walls obsolete. The ease of its fall shocked the English north and contributed to the panicked atmosphere that prevailed until Surrey's army arrived to give battle.

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