BattlefieldsNorthumbrian attack on Traprain Law 638
Early Medieval

Northumbrian attack on Traprain Law 638

638
East Lothian, Scotland
Also known as: Northumbrian seizure of Traprain Law 638
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
East Lothian, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Gododdin hill fort garrison
Forces
Gododdin hill fort garrison
VS
Victor
Northumbria (Oswald)
Forces
Northumbrian force
Outcome
Northumbrian forces seized or neutralised Traprain Law, the ancient capital of the Gododdin, as part of the same campaign that took Din Eidyn
The Battle

History & Significance

Traprain Law in East Lothian was the ancient capital of the Votadini / Gododdin people — a massive hill fort occupied for over a thousand years. Its fall to Northumbrian power in the early seventh century marked the final end of the Gododdin as an independent British kingdom in Lothian. The great Traprain Treasure — now in the National Museum of Scotland — was buried here, perhaps around this period of crisis.

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