Battle of Stracathro

Who Fought

History & Significance

The Battle of Stracathro, also known as the Battle of Inchbare, took place on 16 April 1130 about three miles (4.8 km) north of Brechin, Scotland, near the River North Esk.

Óengus of Moray and Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair invaded Scotland with 5,000 warriors according to the Anglo-Norman chronicler Orderic Vitalis. This invasion was launched by the joint forces of Moray and Ross at an opportunistic moment to destabilise David I of Scotland's control as he was visiting England. David had spent most of 1130 in England to serve as a judge at Henry I's court, as well as to attend the dedication service of Canterbury Cathedral.

The rebellion was led by two pretenders to the Scottish crown, Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair (Malcolm)—the illegitimate son of Alexander I of Scotland—and Óengus of Moray (Angus). Angus was the grandson of King Lulach who had been deposed and killed by David's father Malcolm "Canmore". Details of the invasion are sparse in the historical record; however, it is recognised that the aim was to depose David and replace him with Angus—as a legitimate heir.

The forces loyal to David were led by Edward, Constable of Scotland. Edward's army defeated the invading rebellion at Stracathro. Óengus of Moray was killed in the battle. Contemporary reports differ in the scale of the loss of the rebels, with some estimating as many as 4,000 may have been killed but other sources claiming a much smaller battle.

Malcolm, having escaped, took up the mantle as the new pretender to the Scottish crown after the death of Angus. He was later betrayed in 1134 and imprisoned in Roxburgh by David for life.

The ground they fought on

The site of Battle of Stracathro lies on Arbuthnott-Garvock Group, bedrock that formed in the Pragian. The rock here is sandstone with subordinate conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of Stracathro

Brechin,Maison Dieu Chapel

Scheduled monument · Medieval · ~0.6 mi

Brechin Maison Dieu Chapel is a medieval charitable chapel located in Angus, Scotland. Maisons Dieu, or 'Houses of God', were religious hospices established to provide shelter and care for pilgrims, the poor and the sick during the medieval period. These modest but essential institutions reflecte…

Brechin Cathedral Round Tower

Scheduled monument · ~0.8 mi

Brechin Cathedral Round Tower is a Romanesque round tower of twelfth-century date, forming part of the cathedral complex in Brechin, Angus. The tower stands approximately 85 feet high and is distinguished by its round stone construction, a form characteristic of Irish-influenced ecclesiastical ar…

Keithock, Roman camp N of East Mains of Keithock

Scheduled monument · Roman · ~1.7 mi

Keithock Roman camp is a Roman military installation situated north of East Mains of Keithock in Angus, Scotland. The site lies upon Strathmore Group bedrock, Emsian sandstone with subordinate conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone deposits that form the underlying geology of this region. The camp…

Middle Drums,ring ditches 50m NE of

Scheduled monument · ~2.3 mi

Middle Drums is a ring ditch monument located in Angus, Scotland, protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland. Ring ditches are circular or sub-circular earthworks created by the deliberate excavation of a ditch, typically surrounding a central area which may have held timb…

Killievair Stone, standing stone, Barrelwell Smithy

Scheduled monument · Bronze Age · ~2.4 mi

Killievair Stone is a Bronze Age standing stone located near Barrelwell Smithy in Angus, Scotland. The monument stands on bedrock of the Arbuthnott-Garvock Group, sandstones interspersed with conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone formed during the Pragian period of the Early Devonian. This local g…

Belliehill, unenclosed settlement 350m NE of

Scheduled monument · ~2.6 mi

Belliehill is an unenclosed settlement located 350 metres north-east of Angus in Scotland. The site sits upon bedrock of the Strathmore Group, a geological formation dating to the Emsian period, comprising sandstone with subordinate layers of conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone. This varied geol…

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Battles near Battle of Stracathro

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• Battle of Stracathro · Wikidata
• Battle_of_Stracathro · Wikipedia
• Stracathro · Canmore