BattlefieldsHalidon Hill — Archers on the Flanks 1333
Medieval

Halidon Hill — Archers on the Flanks 1333

1333
Berwickshire, Scotland
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Berwickshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scottish
Forces
Scottish army under Guardian Archibald Douglas
VS
Victor
English
Forces
English army under Edward III with dismounted knights and longbow wings
Outcome
English tactical victory; Scottish army destroyed approaching the ridge; Guardian Douglas and most Scottish leaders killed; Berwick fell immediately after
The Battle

History & Significance

At Halidon Hill on 19 July 1333 English longbowmen were positioned on the flanks of the dismounted English men-at-arms on the summit ridge. As the Scottish army advanced uphill across marshy ground, the flank archers poured converging fire into the Scottish columns from both sides simultaneously. The tactic annihilated the Scottish advance before it reached the English line; the final cavalry pursuit destroyed the fleeing survivors. Halidon Hill was a masterclass in the use of terrain-assisted archery that would later be applied at Crecy and Agincourt.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Berwickshire

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Berwickshire