BattlefieldsScottish Ransom of Knaresborough 1318
Medieval

Scottish Ransom of Knaresborough 1318

1318
England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Knaresborough town community
Forces
Knaresborough town community
VS
Victor
Scottish raiding force (Douglas)
Forces
Douglas's Scottish raiding force
Outcome
Knaresborough district ransomed; town purchased protection from destruction; English garrison confined to castle unable to intervene
The Battle

History & Significance

Knaresborough was threatened during Douglas's 1318 raid and paid a ransom to the Scottish forces. The castle, under English garrison, could not prevent the surrounding town and district from being terrorised into payment. The combination of the Knaresborough and Ripon ransoms with the burning of Northallerton demonstrated the depth of Scottish penetration into Yorkshire and the inability of local English forces to protect communities more than a stone's throw from castle walls.

Questions & Answers

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