Battle of Kinghorn

The First War of Scottish Independence between England and Scotland began in March 1296, when Edward I of England (r. 1272–1307) stormed and sacked the Scottish border town of Berwick as a prelude to his invasion of Scotland.[1] After 30 years of warfare that followed, the newly-crowned 14-year-old King Edward III was nearly captured in the English disaster at Stanhope Park. This brought his regents, Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer, to the negotiating table. They agreed to the Treaty of Northampton with Robert the Bruce (r. 1306–1329) in 1328 but this treaty was widely resented in England and commonly known as turpis pax, "the cowards' peace". Some Scottish nobles refused to swear fealty to Bruce and were disinherited; they left Scotland to join forces with Edward Balliol, son of King John I of Scotland (r. 1292–1296),[2] whom Edward I had deposed in 1296.[3]

Robert Bruce died in 1329; his heir was 5-year-old David II (r. 1329–1371). In 1331, under the leadership of Edward Balliol and Henry Beaumont, Earl of Buchan, the disinherited Scottish nobles gathered in Yorkshire and plotted an invasion of Scotland. Edward III was aware of the scheme and officially forbade it. The reality was different, and Edward III was happy to cause trouble for his northern neighbour. He insisted that Balliol not invade Scotland overland from England but turned a blind eye to his forces sailing for Scotland from Yorkshire ports on 31 July 1332. The Scots were aware of the situation and were waiting for Balliol. David II's regent was an experienced old soldier, Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray. He had prepared for Balliol and Beaumont, but he died ten days before they sailed.[4][5]

Balliol's force was small, only 1,500 men: 500 men-at-arms and 1,000 longbowmen.[6] He anticipated being joined by large numbers of Scots once he had landed.[7] While they were underway, the Scots selected Donald, Earl of Mar, as the new guardian, and divided their large army: Mar commanded the part north of the Firth of Forth, while Patrick, Earl of March, commanded those to the south. Balliol had been in communication with Mar and hoped that he would come over to him, with many of his troops. Knowing Mar to be commanding the troops on the northern shore of the firth, Balliol landed there, at Wester Kinghorn (present day Burntisland),[8] on 6 August 1332.[9]

While the invaders were still disembarking they were confronted by a large Scottish force commanded by Duncan, Earl of Fife and Robert Bruce (an illegitimate son of King Robert the Bruce). Contemporary and near-contemporary English chronicles record their number variously as 4,000, 10,000, 14,000 and 24,000.[10] Scottish sources imply that the force was much smaller. The historian Clifford Rogers says, based on the presence of both Fife and Bruce, that 4,000 "is probably the closest to the truth".[11] The Scots attacked the part of the English force on the beach,[12] but were driven off after a hard-pressed assault by the fire of English longbowmen and by their supporting infantry, before Balliol and Beaumont's men-at-arms could get ashore.[13]

Scottish accounts of the time dismiss their losses as trivial, while one English source gives 90 Scots killed, two give 900, and a fourth 1,000.[14] One chronicle, the Brut, reports that Fife was "full of shame" at being defeated by such a small force.[15] Five or six nobles were among the dead, including Sir Alexander Seton. There is no record of the casualties suffered by Balliol's men. Buoyed by this victory, Balliol and Beaumont's force completed their disembarkation and marched to Dunfermline, where they looted a Scottish armoury. Mar withdrew to the capital, Perth, amalgamated the survivors of Kinghorn and sent out a general call for reinforcements.[16]

On 11 August Balliol's force met Mar's army at the Battle of Dupplin Moor,[9] where the Scots vastly outnumbered the invaders; by ten to one according to Rogers' estimate.[17] Despite this the Scots suffered a serious defeat, with thousands killed,[18] including much of the nobility.[19] Balliol was crowned king of Scotland at Scone – the traditional place of coronation for Scottish monarchs[20] – on 24 September.[3] Balliol's support within Scotland was limited and within six months it had collapsed. He was ambushed by supporters of David II at the Battle of Annan a few months after his coronation. Balliol fled to England half-dressed and riding bareback. He appealed to Edward III for assistance.[21][22] Edward supported him, inflicted a defeat on the Scots at the Battle of Halidon Hill in July 1333 and put Balliol back on the Scottish throne.[23] Balliol was deposed again in 1334, restored again in 1335 and finally deposed in 1336, by those loyal to David II.[24]