BattlefieldsEnglish Burnt Candlemas — Lothian Devastation 1356
Medieval

English Burnt Candlemas — Lothian Devastation 1356

1356
Scotland
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scottish civilians and economy
Forces
Scottish forces avoiding pitched battle; Scottish civilians bore the brunt
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
English army under Edward III
Outcome
Lothian devastated; Scottish population and economy suffered severely; Edward III withdrew without strategic gain; peace negotiations led to Treaty of Berwick 1357
The Battle

History & Significance

In January-February 1356 Edward III led a devastating chevauchee through Lothian known as the Burnt Candlemas, burning virtually every settlement and farm in the Lothians as far as Edinburgh. The destruction was so thorough it shocked even contemporaries. Despite the devastation, Edward could not bring the Scots to pitched battle and withdrew; the campaign demonstrated that England could ravage Scotland but could not hold it. The Treaty of Berwick the following year ended the Second War.

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