Halidon Hill, battle of

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Halidon Hill, battle of, 1333. For years after the great victory of Bannockburn in 1314 Scotland was in a powerful position, confirmed by the treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328. But the death of Robert Bruce in 1329, leaving a young son David II, encouraged Edward III to intervene once more, supporting the claims of Edward Balliol. In the spring of 1333 Edward besieged Berwick in person. Sir Archibald Douglas led a large Scottish army to the rescue. At Halidon Hill, just north-west of Berwick, the armies met on 19 July. The Scots had to attack up the hill and suffered severely from English arrows. Their heavy losses included Douglas. Balliol was reinstated as king of Scotland and Berwick passed into English possession permanently.

J. A. Cannon