BattlefieldsSiege of Dunnottar Castle 1651–1652
English Civil War

Siege of Dunnottar Castle 1651–1652

1651–1652
Kincardineshire, Scotland
Also known as: Defence of Dunnottar 1651
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Kincardineshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scottish garrison (Ogilvy)
Forces
Garrison: c.60–80
VS
Victor
Parliamentarians (Lambert / Monck)
Forces
Parliamentarians: c.1,500–2,000
Outcome
Dunnottar surrendered May 1652; but Scottish Crown Jewels secretly smuggled out
The Battle

History & Significance

Governor George Ogilvy held Dunnottar Castle — the last Scottish fortress to resist Cromwell — for eight months. Inside were the Scottish Crown Jewels (the Honours of Scotland). Just before the surrender, the regalia were smuggled out hidden under a minister's wife's clothing and buried under the floor of nearby Kinneff Church, where they remained until the Restoration in 1660.

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