BattlefieldsAmbush of Pembroke at Earnside 1307
Medieval

Ambush of Pembroke at Earnside 1307

1307
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Also known as: Bruce ambushes Valence at Gairnside 1307 · Gairnside ambush 1307
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
England (Aymer de Valence / Pembroke)
Forces
Pembroke with English patrol force
VS
Victor
Scotland (Robert the Bruce)
Forces
Bruce with mobile Scottish force
Outcome
Bruce ambushed Pembrokes force at Gairnside in Aberdeenshire during the northern campaign, inflicting casualties and demonstrating his ability to strike in unexpected locations
The Battle

History & Significance

After his Moray campaign of 1307, Bruce demonstrated his cavalrys strategic mobility by striking far from the areas the English expected him to operate in. The Gairnside ambush caught Pembrokes forces in Aberdeenshire, far north of his usual operating area. The action illustrated the strategic principle that would underpin Bruces entire campaign: never be where the enemy expects, always strike where defences are weakest.

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