BattlefieldsElliott clan raids into Northumberland 1530s–1580s
Tudor

Elliott clan raids into Northumberland 1530s–1580s

1535–1585
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Elliot reiver raids · Liddesdale raids
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English Northumberland settlers
Forces
Northumberland settlers c.50–150.
VS
Victor
Elliot clan
Forces
Elliott clan c.100–200
Outcome
Elliot reivers conducted sustained raiding from Liddesdale into Redesdale and Tynedale; English marches chronically insecure
The Battle

History & Significance

The Elliot clan of Liddesdale were among the most feared of all reiver families. Operating from the notoriously lawless valley of Liddesdale — which the Wardens of both marches struggled to govern — they raided into England on a near-annual basis. The English Warden's records for the mid-sixteenth century are full of 'bills' (formal complaints) against Elliot clansmen for theft, murder, and arson. The Elliots were also frequently at war with each other and with the Scott and Kerr clans.

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