# List of wars involving Scotland

This is a list of wars involving the Kingdom of Scotland before the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain by the Acts of Union 1707, including clan conflicts, civil wars, and rebellions. For dates after 1708, see List of wars involving the United Kingdom.
*e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum, result unknown or indecisive, inconclusive

## 10th and 11th centuries

| Conflict | Scotland & allies | Scotland's opposition | Result |
| Athelstan's invasion of Scotland (934–937) Location: Whole of ScotlandPortrait of Constantine II, leader of the Scottish forces against Athelstan's invading army | Kingdom of Scotland Norse–Gaels Kingdom of Strathclyde Kingdom of Dublin | Kingdom of England Kingdom of Deheubarth Kingdom of Gwynedd | Partial Scottish victory Defeat in final battle at Brunanburh However, end of Athelstan's plans to annex Scotland and Strathclyde |
| Annexation of Strathclyde (c. 1034) Location: Strathclyde Dumbarton Rock, chief fortress of the old Kingdom of Strathclyde | Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England | Kingdom of Strathclyde | Scottish victory |
| Invasion of Northumbria (1039) Location: Northumbria17th century portrait of Duncan I, leader of the Scottish forces who would die a year later in battle with Macbeth | Kingdom of Scotland | Kingdom of England | Scottish defeat at Siege of Durham |
| Norman invasion of Scotland (1072) Part of the Norman conquest of Britain Location: Scottish Borders and NorthumbriaAbernethy village, where the peace treaty declaring William I Scotland's overlord was signed | Kingdom of Scotland | Kingdom of England | Treaty of Abernethy Scottish defeat with Scottish attacks on Northumbria repelled Malcolm III forced to submit to William the Conqueror, though makes subsequent raids once the Norman king returns south |

## 12th century

| Conflict | Scotland & allies | Scotland's opposition | Result |
| Óengus's invasion of Scotland (1130) Location: AngusDavid I, King of Scotland in 1130. At the time of Óengus the pretender's invasion, he was serving as a judge at Henry I's court in England | Kingdom of Scotland | Kingdom of Moray Kingdom of Ross | Scottish victory King Óengus of Moray killed in battle, while Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair (King of Ross) imprisoned for life |
| Somairle's invasion of Scotland (1164) Location: RenfrewshireStained glass window in Glasgow Bute Hall depicting Saint Kentigern, who supposedly led the Scots to divine victory over the Islemen | Kingdom of Scotland | Kingdom of the Isles Kingdom of Dublin | Scottish victory King Somairle of the Isles killed in battle, leading to mass destabilisation and war in his kingdom |
| Revolt of 1173–74 Location: England, Normandy, Scottish Borders, Brittany, and FlandersAlnwick, market town in Northumberland where William I of Scotland was captured by supposed 'divine providence' | English Rebels under Eleanor of Aquitaine Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of France Duchy of Brittany County of Flanders County of Boulogne | English Royalists loyal to Henry II | Scottish defeat Decisive defeat of rebel forces at Battle of Alnwick Scottish King William the Lion taken as prisoner of war in England |

## 13th century

| Conflict | Scotland & allies | Scotland's opposition | Result |
| Scottish–Norwegian War (1262–1266) Location: Hebrides and the Scottish West Coast Coronation of Alexander III, who revived his father (Alexander II)'s ambitions to conquer the Western Isles - beginning the Scottish-Norwegian War | Kingdom of Scotland | Kingdom of Norway Kingdom of the Isles Earldom of Orkney | Treaty of Perth Favourable outcome for Scotland Hebrides and Isle of Man bought from Norway for 4,000 marks to become part of Scotland Norwegian sovereignty recognised over Orkney and Shetland |
| First War of Scottish Independence (1296–1328) Location: Scotland, England, and IrelandRobert the Bruce addressing his troops before Bannockburn (drawing from c. 1900) | Kingdom of Scotland Supported by: Kingdom of France Kingdom of Thomond Kingdom of Uí Maine Kingdom of Tyrconnell Kingdom of West Breifne Kingdom of Desmond Kingdom of Magh Luirg Kingdom of Oriel | Kingdom of England Lordship of Ireland | Scottish victory, ending English military occupation in the country De facto independence won in 1314 at Battle of Bannockburn Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton Peace treaty signed and ratified by Scottish and English Parliaments in 1328 Bruce family established as the new Scottish royal line Border re-established roughly where it is today Humiliation to English nobles and families prompting Second War of Independence only 5 years later |

## 14th century

| Conflict | Scotland & allies | Scotland's opposition | Result |
| Second War of Scottish Independence (1332–1357) Location: ScotlandThe Battle of Neville's Cross, a heavy defeat for invading Scottish forces in which King David II was captured and held hostage for 11 years | Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of France | Kingdom of England Supporters of Edward Balliol | Scottish victory with end of English claims to the country's sovereignty Treaty of Berwick (1357) Scotland forced to pay 20,000 marks in ransom fees to reclaim David II (captive in England) 14-year truce established between Scotland and England |
| Hundred Years' War (1296–1328) Location: France, the Low Countries, Great Britain, and the Iberian Peninsula19th-century painting of the Battle of Poitiers, in which Scottish troops were led by William,1st Earl of Douglas | Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of France Crown of Castile Republic of Genoa Kingdom of Bohemia Crown of Aragon | Kingdom of England Duchy of Burgundy Duchy of Brittany (Montfort) Kingdom of Portugal Kingdom of Navarre Flanders Hainaut Luxembourg | Scottish victory Scots played a key role in this conflict after the battle of Agincourt, forming a large part of French armies in this period that changed the course of the war Battle of Homildon Hill ends in decisive English victory Battle of Sark Ends in decisive Scottish victory in the north, coinciding with victory on the continent in France English victory in the Edwardian War French victory in the Caroline War and the Lancastrian War |
| Anglo-Scottish Wars (1377–1575) Location: Scottish Borders and Northern EnglandA 14th-century illustration depicting an English herald arriving on Scottish troops | Kingdom of Scotland | Kingdom of England | Series of border skirmishes resulting in stalemate |

## 15th century

Scotland's involvement in the Hundred Years' War and low-level conflict over the border with England continued into the 15th century (see above), but Scotland was not involved in any wars that began in the 15th century.

## 16th century

| Conflict | Scotland & allies | Scotland's opposition | Result |
| War of the League of Cambrai (1511–1513) Location: Scottish Borders16th century depiction of Battle of Flodden, showing Scottish pikeman battling with English halberdiers | Kingdom of Scotland France Duchy of Ferrara | Kingdom of England Papal States Venice Holy Roman Empire Spain Swiss mercenaries | Scottish defeat Decisive loss at the Battle of Flodden with the death of James IV of Scotland However, French and Venetian victory overall |
| The Rough Wooing (1543–1550) Location: Scottish BordersRiver Esk, site of the Battle of Solway Moss, a heavy loss for Scottish troops during which thousands drowned after an English ambush | Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of France | Kingdom of England | Scottish victory Treaty of Norham ends English military occupation in border regions, as well as returns hostages and grants Scotland full fishing rights to the River Tweed |

## Civil wars and revolutions

| Conflict | Scottish Government | Rebels | Result |
| Invasion of Moray (1040) Location: MorayFields at Pitgaveny (then known as Bothnagowan), near Elgin, where King Duncan was slain | Kingdom of Scotland | Supporters of Macbeth Kingdom of Moray | Civil war, victory of Macbeth Death of Duncan I at Battle of Bothnagowan |
| Dubh's First Rebellion (1501–1505) Location: Scottish HebridesAchnashellach Forest, site of the final Battle of Achnashellach, where Clan Cameron, loyal to the Lord of the Isles won, before Domnall Dubh was captured by royal forces | Kingdom of Scotland | Lord of the Isles Clan Donald | Civil war, Royalist victory |
| Dubh's Second Rebellion (1545) Location: Scottish HebridesDrogheda, Ireland, where the rebellion's leader Domhnall Dubh died, destroying the Hebrides' final hopes of independence | Kingdom of Scotland | Lord of the Isles Clan Donald Kingdom of England | Civil war, Royalist victory |
| Marian Civil War (1568–1573) Location: Scotland16th century illustration of the "Lang Siege" of Edinburgh, lasting from 1571 to 1573 and ending with supporters of James VI taking the castle | Supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots | Supporters of James VI, Mary's son Kingdom of England | Civil war, victory of James VI Imprisonment of Mary before her flight to England |
| Bishops' Wars (1639–1640) Location: Scottish LowlandsSigning of the National Covenant in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, prompting a religious civil war and rebellion in Scotland | Scottish Royalists Kingdom of England | Scottish Covenanters | Civil war, Covenanter victory |
| Second English Civil War (1648) Location: Northern EnglandSchematics of the Battle of Preston, a decisive Scottish loss under the Duke of Hamilton which brought an end to the Second English Civil War | Scottish Royalists Scottish Engagers | Parliamentarians | Civil war, Parliamentarian victory Decisive loss at the Battle of Preston (1648) Execution of Charles I |
| Third English Civil War (1649–1651) Location: Scottish Lowlands and Northern EnglandModern re-enactment of musketeers at the Battle of Inverkeithing, during Oliver Cromwell's invasion of Scotland | Scottish Royalists Scottish Covenanters | Parliamentarians | Civil war, Parliamentarian victory Exile of Charles II Establishment of the republican Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell |
| Glorious Revolution (1688–1689) The Prince of Orange landing at Torbay as depicted in an illustration by Jan Hoynck van Papendrecht | James VII | William of Orange Dutch military forces British military forces | Internal conflict James VII replaced as king by his daughter Mary II and her husband William III |
| Jacobite rebellions (1689–1746) Location: Scotland, England, and IrelandModern depiction of the Battle of Dunkeld, fought between Highland Jacobites in support of James II and Covenanters in support of William III | Scottish Williamites Scotland (until 1707) Great Britain (from 1707) | Scottish Jacobites | Civil war, Williamite victory Williamite War in Ireland (1688–91) – The Battle of the Boyne saw the last battle between two rival claimants for the throne Jacobite rising of 1689 (1689-92) - resulting in Massacre of Glencoe Jacobite rising of 1715 (1715–16) Jacobite rising of 1719 (1719) Jacobite rising of 1745 (1741–1746) – Jacobite restoration attempt defeated |

### Clan conflicts

| Conflict | Clan 1 | Clan 2 | Result |
| Clan MacDougall-Clan Campbell feud Part of the First War of Scottish Independence (c. 1294) Location: Loch AweLoch Awe, site of the decisive clan battle, with Kilchurn Castle (seat of Clan Campbell) on the left | Clan MacDougall | Clan Campbell | Clan conflict Clan MacDougall victory at the Battle of Red Ford, with heavy casualties on either side Ford ran "red with blood" |
| Clan Cameron-Clan Mackintosh feud (c. 1330–1688) Location: Lochaber and Southeastern HighlandsDruim Gleann Laoigh, likely site of clan's first battle - fought over rival land claims | Clan Cameron | Clan Mackintosh | Clan Conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner Ended in Battle of Mulroy, a Clan Cameron victory (allied with Clan MacDonald of Keppoch), after which clan warfare largely ceased in Scotland |
| Wolf of Badenoch feuds (1391) Location: AngusGlen Brierachan, site of the final stand-off between the Stewarts' raiding party and the Sheriff of Angus | Clan Stewart of Buchan Clan Robertson Clan Mackay | Clan Ogilvy Clan Lindsay Clan Gray | Clan conflict, Clan Stewart victory Lands of Angus burnt, homes sacked and civilians slaughtered Elgin Cathedral burnt to the ground |
| Clan Mackay-Clan Gunn feud (1426–1517) Location: Caithness and SutherlandStrath of Harpsdale, site of the first clan battle between Mackay and Gunn and a "great slaughter on either side" | Clan Mackay Supported by: Clan Keith Clan Ross | Clan Gunn Supported by: Clan Matheson | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes throughout the 15th century, with no overall winner Ended in Battle of Torran Dubh, a Gunn victory, after which the two feuding clans allied against Clan Sinclair |
| Royal-Black Douglas feud (1440–1526) Location: Galloway, Scottish Borders, and West LothianKing James II of Scotland, who spent his early adulthood and reign in an intense power struggle with the Earls of Douglas | Royalists loyal to House of Stewart | Rebels allied to Black Douglases | Clan conflict, victory for House of Stewart Eventual exile of the leaders of Clan Douglas after the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge |
| Clan Gordon-Clan Lindsay feud (1445–1452) Location: AngusArbroath Abbey, site of the first battle between Clans Gordon and Lindsay, which later tied into the Royal-Black Douglas feud | Clan Gordon Supported by: Clan Ogilvy | Clan Lindsay | Clan conflict Two clan battles: the first won by Clan Lindsay, the second, as part of the Royal-Black Douglas Civil War, Clan Gordon |
| Clan Munro-Clan Mackenzie feud (1452–1715) Location: RossBen Wyvis, below which the first battle between Clans Munro and Mackenzie took place to determine control over Ross | Clan Munro Supported by: Clan Fraser of Lovat | Clan Mackenzie | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner Ended in Siege of Brahan during the Jacobite rising of 1715, when Clan Munro, loyal to the British Government, forced the Jacobite Mackenzies to surrender. Clan warfare largely ceased after this period |
| Clan Fraser of Lovat-Clan Mackenzie feud (1452–1715) Location: RossBeauly Priory, the lands of which saw many border disputes between Clans Fraser of Lovat and Mackenzie | Clan Fraser of Lovat Supported by: Clan Munro | Clan Mackenzie | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner Ended in Siege of Brahan during the Jacobite rising of 1715, when Clan Fraser, loyal to the British Government, forced the Jacobite Mackenzies to surrender. Clan warfare largely ceased after this period |
| Clan Munro-Clan Mackintosh feud (1454–1719) Location: Inverness-shireMonument in Clachnaharry to the first battle between Clans Munro and Mackintosh after a dispute between the two over a "road collop" (passage money) | Clan Munro | Clan Mackintosh | Clan conflict Two clan battles and a perpetuated rivalry, ending after the Battle of Glen Shiel when Clan Mackintosh sided with the British Government, and Clan Munro the losing Jacobites |
| Clan Gunn-Clan Keith feud (1464–c. 1478) Location: CaithnessCoast north of Wick, on which a trial by combat took place in 1478 deciding the Gunn-Keith feud once and for all | Clan Gunn | Clan Keith | Clan conflict Two clan battles ending in a Keith victory at the Battle of Champions A treaty of friendship was signed by the clans in 1978, after 300 years of peace |
| Clan Mackay-Clan Ross feud (c. 1480–1550) Location: Ross and SutherlandTarbat Old Church, built on the ruins of the church Clan Ross burnt with members of Clan Mackay sheltering inside | Clan Mackay | Clan Ross | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 1480s, with no overall winner Ended in a 1550 raid (and massacre) by Clan Mackay on Clan Ross |
| Clan MacDonald-Clan Maclean feud (c. 1480–1598) Location: Lochaber and Inner HebridesBloody Bay, site of a father-son battle within Clan Donald of which Clan Maclean took the father's side | Various branches of Clan Donald | Clan Maclean | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 16th century, with no overall winner Ended in Battle of Benbigrie, a Clan Maclean victory |
| Clan MacDonald-Clan Mackenzie feud (c. 1480–1602) Location: RossFive Sisters of Kintail, one of several sites in Ross where Clans Donald and Mackenzie clashed | Clan Donald | Clan Mackenzie Supported by: Clan Mackay Clan Fraser of Lovat Clan Ross | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 1480s, with no overall winner Ended in a tactical draw at Battle of Morar, after which both families agreed a peace |
| Clan Cunningham-Clan Montgomery feud (1488–1586) Location: AyrshireKerelaw Castle, seat of Clan Cunningham; sacked and burned by Clan Montgomery in 1488 | Clan Cunningham | Clan Montgomery | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes, as well as several high-profile murders, with no overall winner |
| Clan Mackay-Clan Sutherland feud (1517–1590) Location: SutherlandTorran Dubh, the site of the first battle between Clan Mackay and Sutherland | Clan Mackay | Clan Sutherland Clan Gordon | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes throughout the 16th century, with no overall winner Ended in Battle of Clynetradwell, after which Clan Sutherland turned their attentions on Clan Sinclair |
| Clan Sutherland-Clan Sinclair feud (1570–1601) Location: SutherlandDornoch Castle, besieged by supporters of Clan Sinclair in 1570, three members of Clan Murray (supporters of Clan Sutherland) being beheaded after surrendering a week later | Clan Sutherland | Clan Sinclair | Clan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes resulting in Clan Sinclair surrendering in the Stand-off at Bengrime |