The Battle of Dunbar (also known as the Battle of Spottsmuir) was the first and last significant field action in the campaign of 1296. King Edward I of England had invaded Scotland in 1296 to punish John Balliol for his refusal to support English military action in France.
After the sack of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edward, in no hurry to complete the conquest of Scotland, remained in the town for a month, supervising the strengthening of its defences....
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The Battle of Dunbar (also known as the Battle of Spottsmuir) was the first and last significant field action in the campaign of 1296. King Edward I of England had invaded Scotland in 1296 to punish John Balliol for his refusal to support English military action in France.
After the sack of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edward, in no hurry to complete the conquest of Scotland, remained in the town for a month, supervising the strengthening of its defences. On April 5, he received a message from King John renouncing his homage, to which he remarked, more in contempt than anger, O foolish knave! What folly he commits. If he will not come to us we will go to him."
The next objective in the campaign was the Earl of March's castle at Dunbar, a few miles up the coast from Berwick. March was with the English, but his wife, Marjory Comyn, sister of the Earl of Buchan, did not share her husband's political loyalties and allowed her fellow Scots to occupy the castle. Edward sent one of his chief...
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