The Auld Enemies Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Macbeth had claimed the throne after defeating Duncan and Malcolm had fled to England to live with Siward, Earl of Northumberland, his relative on his mother's side. This took place in 1040, with Macbeth's reign often considered to be a success, but by 1054 the English could see an opportunity to oust him. With the approval of King Edward the Confessor, the Earl of Northumberland and Malcolm attacked and defeated Macbeth at Dunsinane, although Macbeth escaped. He was eventually killed three years later, with Malcolm claiming the Scottish throne.

John Balliol became King of Scotland in 1292, initially swearing allegiance to Edward I, who had effectively picked him for the role. By 1295, Balliol had lost his authority and when a treaty was agreed with France to provide mutual aid, Edward decided to take action. This began the First War of Scottish Independence, with the sacking of Berwick, then part of Scotland, the first major action. By most accounts, the English were brutal, massacring possibly 10,000 residents. Berwick was to change hands between Scotland and England many more times before being classed as belonging to England.

Edward I had declared himself as the ruler of Scotland, but the Scots rebelled led by William Wallace. Edward sent an army, under the command of the Earl of Surrey, to demand that Wallace surrender. The English and Scottish armies met at Stirling Bridge, the Gateway to the Scottish Highlands as it is now known. The battlefield suited the Scots better, being divided by the River Forth which could be crossed only by a narrow bridge and with marshy ground. The heavily armoured English lost many men to drowning as well as those killed by the Scots, who held the high ground. The English retreated, having suffered a humiliating defeat, while Wallace was given a knighthood and became Guardian of Scotland.

By 1314, Edward I had died and been succeeded by Edward II while Robert I, better known as Robert the Bruce, was the Scottish king. The English had lost control of most of Scotland, although they still held Stirling Castle, which was under siege. Edwards' army, which included many Welsh archers, attacked the Scots with the aim of lifting the siege. Over two days, the Scots succeeded in routing the larger English army and the Battle of Bannockburn became the decisive battle of the Scottish Wars for Independence.

The death of Robert I in 1329 left his five year old son as the next King of Scotland and the English spotted an opportunity. Edward Balliol, son of the former King John, put forward his claim to the throne and was supported by King Edward III. Once again, Berwick was the target and was soon under siege. The Scottish forces attempted to relieve Berwick but were defeated at the Battle of Halidon Hill. Berwick surrendered and became English once more while Edward Balliol claimed the throne, although only temporarily.

With the Hundred Years War, which lasted from 1337 until 1453, England was rather occupied with trying to claim the French throne. Scotland had an alliance with France so did sent troops to fight against England, and there were several battles during this period, including two further sieges of Berwick. The next major battle took place in 1513 on English soil when James IV invaded the county of Northumberland. Henry VIII was the English king and had reneged on a treaty negotiated by his father and known as the Treaty of Perpetual Peace. James was infuriated and the English and Scottish armies met at Flodden, with the English prevailing and around 10,000 Scots killed, including King James.

By 1542, Henry VIII had split from Rome and wanted Scotland, now ruled by James V, to follow suit. James refused to even discuss the matter and Henry retaliated by attacking various border towns in Scotland. The Battle of Solway Moss was James's attempt to return the favour, and his army vastly outnumbered the English forces. The armies met near Carlisle, just over the border on the English side and the superior battle tactics of the English commanders gave them a quick and decisive victory. The humiliation was too much for James, who died soon after leaving his baby daughter, Mary, as the new queen.

The death of the childless Queen Elizabeth I in 1603 meant that the Scottish Stuarts had inherited the English throne as well. The English Civil War, notably the execution of King Charles I, changed matters and England was now a republic. Scotland, understandably, continued to recognise Charles II as the rightful monarch leading Cromwell to invade. The English were struggling with a lack of food and illness and, having failed to capture Edinburgh, withdrew to Dunbar. The Scots again outnumbered the English, but Cromwell staged a surprise attack and won the Battle of Dunbar.

If you know your history, you will remember that the monarchy was restored but problems arose when James II succeeded Charles II. James's leanings to Catholicism led to the Glorious Revolution in 1688 when James was forced into exile with the throne passing to his daughter, Mary II and her Dutch husband William of Orange (William III) himself descended from Charles I via his mother. These events led to the Scots supporting the restoration of the Stuart line in the Jacobite rebellions. The battles in the quiz both relate to Jacobitism. The Battle of Glen Shiel took place in 1719 with the Scots being supported by Spain. The battlefield was in the far north of Scotland and ended in defeat for the rebels.

The 1745 Jacobite rising was an attempt to put Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), the son of James II, on the British throne. The decisive Battle of Culloden, which took place near Inverness, brought a bloody end to the rising. The British, led by the Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II. The battle itself was relatively short, as the Scots had no answer to their opponents' artillery, but the aftermath was brutal with widespread slaughter earning Cumberland the nickname of 'Butcher'. Charles Stuart escaped to France, and his cause was lost.