BattlefieldsMalcolm III Invasion of England 1070
Early Medieval

Malcolm III Invasion of England 1070

1070
County Durham, England
Also known as: Malcolm Canmore raids England 1070 · Scottish harrying of Northumbria 1070
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
County Durham, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Northumbrian population
Forces
Northumbrian militia c.1,000–2,000
VS
Victor
Scotland (Malcolm III)
Forces
Malcolm III c.2,000–4,000
Outcome
Northumbria devastated; many English taken as slaves into Scotland
The Battle

History & Significance

Malcolm III's second invasion of England came in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest. He raided deeply into the north, taking enormous amounts of plunder and thousands of English captives as slaves. Contemporary sources including the Life of St Margaret record that Scotland became so full of English slaves after this raid that the price of a captive Englishman fell dramatically. Margaret herself is said to have worked to ransom as many as she could. The invasion consolidated Malcolm's position as the dominant power in northern Britain in the years immediately after 1066.

Casualties & Losses

Many Northumbrians killed, enslaved or displaced

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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