The Battle of Neville’s Cross 1346: The Captured King and the Impact on English & Scottish History

In October 1346, an ambitious Scottish invasion of England climaxed in a dramatic twist: the Battle of Neville’s Cross saw the King of Scotland, David II, captured by the English. It’s not every day a medieval king becomes a prisoner of war, and this calamity would send ripples through English and Scottish medieval history for decades. How did this 1346 battle come about, and what happened after King David II of Scotland found himself an unwilling guest in England? Let’s set the stage in the context of the Anglo-Scottish Wars and the Hundred Years’ War and explore the aftermath with a dash of dry humour and plenty of historical insight.

Setting the Stage: Anglo-Scottish Wars and the Hundred Years’ War

By the mid-14th century, England and Scotland had been trading blows for generations. The Anglo-Scottish Wars – including Scotland’s Wars of Independence – meant each kingdom had a long memory of victories and defeats (from Bannockburn in 1314 to Halidon Hill in 1333). In 1337, England also plunged into the continental conflict known as the Hundred Years’ War against France. These two struggles soon became entwined. Scotland and France were bound by the Auld Alliance, a sort of medieval “my enemy’s enemy is my friend” pact. So, when England invaded France, the French promptly called on Scotland for a favour.

In 1346, King Philip VI of France, desperate to divert English troops from Normandy, urged his ally King David II of Scotland to invade northern England. David II – a young, bold king (and son of the legendary Robert the Bruce) – obliged with gusto. After all, England’s King Edward III was busy campaigning in France (he had just won a famous victory at Crécy recently). The Scots figured the north of England would be easy pickings with the English army occupied abroad. It seemed an opportune moment for Scotland to avenge past wrongs and maybe grab some glory, or so David II thought.

The Battle of Crecy

The Neville’s Cross Campaign of 1346

In early October 1346, David II led some 12,000 Scots across the border into England, confident of little resistance. The Scots proceeded to do what medieval armies did best: plunder and pillage. Monasteries and towns in the north of England (including Hexham Abbey and even Lanercost Priory) felt the wrath of the invading army. The Scottish king reportedly believed northern England was “defenceless” in Edward III’s absence. This would prove a grave miscalculation.

England was down but not out. Queen Philippa of Hainault (Edward III’s queen) and local leaders had prepared a warm reception for the Scots. William Zouche, the Archbishop of York, along with veteran northern lords like Ralph de Neville and Henry de Percy, hurriedly mustered an English force of roughly 7,000 men. On 17 October 1346, the two armies clashed just west of Durham, at a place marked by an old stone cross – Neville’s Cross (named for the Neville family on the English side).

The battle itself was a disaster for the Scots. English longbowmen and tough terrain proved devastating. By the end of the day, the Scottish army was in full flight. Thousands of Scots were killed, and many more were taken prisoner. Among the fallen were notable nobles, and among the captured were earls like Fife, Menteith, and Wigtown, plus many knights. Most importantly, King David II himself was captured during the chaos. Wounded and desperate, David reportedly hid under a bridge after the battle, though this seems like fiction, and he was probably captured in battle. According to some accounts, English soldiers spotted his reflection in the water, foiling his escape. A plucky English squire, John de Coupland, apprehended the Scottish king. Capturing a king is thirsty work, but it earned Coupland a knighthood and a hefty pension from Edward III for delivering David II to custody.

The Battle of Neville's Cross

A King in Captivity: David II’s Eleven Years in England

For King David II of Scotland, the defeat at Neville’s Cross meant a lengthy involuntary stay in England. He would spend 11 years as a prisoner of the English, a royal captive moved from one castle to another. England, now holding a king as hostage, intended to milk this situation for all it was worth – quite literally.

Meanwhile, back north, Scotland had to navigate more than a decade without its king. Robert Stewart, the regent, faced the monumental task of ruling a humbled nation. Luckily Stewart and his compatriot Patrick de Dunbar the Earl of March had absconded from the battle of Neville’s Cross in a timely manner, essentially dooming the Scots to defeat. Eventually, in 1357, a deal was struck to bring David home. The Treaty of Berwick formalised David II’s ransom at 100,000 marks, payable over ten years and David was released upon promise of timely payments. The ransom placed an enormous financial strain on Scotland, and David’s efforts to stabilise the realm were complicated by resentment over the heavy taxation needed to pay for his release.

Legacy: Neville’s Cross and its Aftermath in Perspective

The Battle of Neville’s Cross (1346) decisively ended the Second War of Scottish Independence and ushered in a period of relative peace between England and Scotland. England gained breathing room to pursue the Hundred Years’ War, while Scotland struggled to recover from the political and economic fallout of its king’s capture. The battle’s outcome had far-reaching consequences, shaping the fates of both nations for decades.

If this tale piques your interest, you’re in good company – historians and novelists alike have been drawn to its intrigue. For a deeper dive into the Neville’s Cross campaign, for updates and sample chapters from my forthcoming book A King’s Gamble: The Neville’s Cross Campaign, 1346.

A King's Gamble: The Neville's Cross Campaign (cover is for concept only)