BattlefieldsBattle of Pinkie — Scottish retreat and pursuit 1547
Tudor

Battle of Pinkie — Scottish retreat and pursuit 1547

1547
Midlothian, Scotland
Also known as: Pinkie pursuit 1547 · Rout at Pinkie
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Midlothian, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scotland (fleeing army)
VS
Victor
England (Somerset)
Outcome
English cavalry pursued routed Scottish army for miles; thousands cut down in the pursuit; English fleet bombarded Scots from the sea simultaneously
The Battle

History & Significance

The pursuit after Pinkie was as devastating as the battle itself. English cavalry hunted the routing Scots for miles toward Edinburgh, killing thousands who had survived the initial engagement. The English fleet simultaneously bombarded the coast, trapping Scots who tried to escape by sea. Contemporary accounts describe the pursuit as a slaughter rather than a battle. The total Scottish dead may have reached 10,000 — one of the highest single-day losses in Scottish military history.

Casualties & Losses

c.6,000–10,000 Scots killed in battle and pursuit

Forces Involved

Somerset's cavalry c.1,500–3,000 pursuing routed Scottish army.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Midlothian

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Midlothian