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Battle of Northallerton
Battle of Northallerton
22nd August 1138
Name: Battle of Northallerton
Date: 22 August 1138
War period: Medieval
Start time and duration: early morning, lasting less than two hours
Outcome: English victory
Armies: Scottish under King David I; English possibly under Walter d’Espec, Sheriff of York withu nlikely suggestions of up to 16,000 Scottish and 10,000 English engaged. Losses: uncertain
Location: probably accurately located north of Northallerton and fought across moorland or open field?
Map details: Grid Reference: SE362979 (436200,497990); OS Landranger: 99; OS Explorer: 302
An English army rallied by the Archbishop of York and helped by the effectiveness of the longbow, defeated a Scottish invasion force under King David I.
The battle of Northallerton, better known as the Battle of the Standard, was the first major engagement between English and Scots since the Norman Conquest. It was one of just two major battles during the Civil War of Stephen and Matilda. In most cases in the 12th century the weaker side would avoid pitched battle and concentrate on small scale action and the control of territory through garrisons and their reduction by siege. But at Northallerton, for reasons that are not clear, King David forced a battle and the English met that challenge.
The English army chose the ground, deploying across the Great North Road two miles north of Northallerton, blocking the southward advance of King David I’s Scottish army. David probably was confident in his superiority in numbers and may have attempted to advance and strike the English by surprise but, despite the early morning fog, he found the English ready for him. Although outnumbered, the English forces repulsed a series of Scottish attacks. The unarmoured and supposedly ‘wild’ Galwegian infantry, who insisted on spearheading the Scottish attack in place of the well armoured knights, fell in large numbers to the English arrow storm. When they did reach the English lines they were generally cut down in hand to hand fighting with the local levies and the well armed and armoured English men at arms.
The English first line was at times hard pressed, but they were very effectively seconded and any breach that the enemy forced was rapidly closed. Late in the battle the Scots did mount one successful attack, when Prince Henry’s small detachment of cavalry punched a hole right through the English battle formation. However this opportunity could not be exploited by the infantry that seconded the charge who, just like the Galwegians, were forced to retreat. The retreat soon turned into a rout.
After perhaps no more than two hours of fighting, the Scots began to flee, leaving many of their number dead on the field. But the victorious English were unwilling or unable to follow up with an effective pursuit and execution of the broken enemy forces. If they had, then the destruction of the Scottish army would surely have been far more complete.
- Historic England Battlefields Register CLICK HERE
- Historic England battlefield report for Battle of Northallerton 1138
