page_title: Warfare in Medieval Scotland
section_title: Navy
hierarchical_section_title: Warfare in Medieval Scotland / Late Middle Ages / Navy
caption_attribution_description: English: A model of James IV's flagship, the 'Great Michael', in the primary school at Newhaven, the port where she was built. It was made by a local man, George Scammell, in the mid-1980s. Pitscottie's description of the ship conveys the sense of pride and awe she instilled. In the same yeir [1512] the king of Scottland bigit [built] ane great scheip callit the Great Michell quhilk was the greattest scheip and maist of strength that ewer saillit in Ingland or France. For this scheip was of so greit statur and tuik so mekill [much] timber that scho waistit all the wodis in Fyfe except Falkland wode, by [besidesl all the tymmer that was gottin out of Noraway. Scho was so strang and wyde of length and breid that all the wryghtis [carpenters] of Scottland ye and money wther strangeris was at hir devyse be the kingis commandement quho wroght werie bessielie [very busily] on hir, bot it was yeir and day or [ere] scho was compleit. To wit, scho was xij scoir of futtis of length [12 score foot long] and xxxv futte withtin the wallis; scho was ten fute thik in the waill, cuttit jeastis of aik [joists of oak] witht hir wallis and burdis [strakes] on ewerie syde sa stark and thik that na canon could gang throw hir. This great schipe cummerit [troubled] Scottland to get hir to the sie; from tyme scho was aflott and all hir mastis and saillis compleit, witht towis and ankeris effeirand [belonging] thairto scho was comptit [calculated] to the king to be xxx thowsand pund of expenssis by [besides] hir artaillye quhilk was werie great and costlie to the king by [besides] all the laif [rest] of hir order. To wit, scho buire mony cannons sex on everie syde witht thrie great basselis [basilisks], tua behind in hir dock and ane befoir, witht iijc [300] schott of small artaillyie, that is to say moyen and batterit facouns [falcons] and quarter fallcouns, slingis, pestelent serpitantis [serpentines], and doubill doggis witht hagbut and cullvering, corsebowis [crossbows] and handbowis. Scho had iijc [300] marienaris to saill hir, sex scoir of gounnaris [but see note] to wse hir artaillye for this scho had ane thouwsand men of weir by [besides] hir captans skipiris and quarter maisteris. Quhen this scheip past to the sie and was lyand in the rade [roadstead], the king gart [had] schot ane cannon at hir to say hir gif scho was wicht [strong], bot I hard say [from his sources, Wood and Barton] it deirit [damaged] hir nocht and did her lyttill skaith [harm]. [Note: The Treasurer's Accounts list 295 "mariners of the great ship", but only 14 gunners and 4 "men" for the artillery.]
context_page_description: Warfare in Medieval Scotland includes all military activity in the modern borders of Scotland, or by forces originating in the region, between the departure of the Romans in the fifth century and the adoption of the innovations of the Renaissance in the early sixteenth century. In this period conflict developed from minor raids to major conflicts, incorporating many of the innovations of continental warfare.
  In the Early Middle Ages war on land was characterised by the use of small war-bands of household troops often engaging in raids and low level warfare. The arrival of the Vikings brought a new scale of naval warfare, with rapid movement based around the Viking longship. The birlinn, which developed from the longship, became a major factor in warfare in the Highlands and Islands. By the High Middle Ages, the kings of Scotland could command forces of tens of thousands of men for short periods as part of the "common army", mainly of poorly armoured spearmen and bowmen. After the "Davidian Revolution" of the twelfth century, which introduced elements of feudalism to Scotland, these forces were augmented by small numbers of mounted and heavily armoured knights.
context_section_description: English naval power was vital to Edward I's successful campaigns in Scotland from 1296, using largely merchant ships from England, Ireland and his allies in the Islands to transport and supply his armies. Part of the reason for Robert I's success was his ability to call on naval forces from the Islands. As a result of the expulsion of the Flemings from England in 1303, he gained the support of a major naval power in the North Sea. The development of naval power allowed Robert to successfully defeat English attempts to capture him in the Highlands and Islands and to blockade major English controlled fortresses at Perth and Stirling, the last forcing Edward II to attempt the relief that resulted at English defeat at Bannockburn in 1314. Scottish naval forces allowed invasions of the Isle of Man in 1313 and 1317 and Ireland in 1315. They were also crucial in the blockade of Berwick, which led to its fall in 1318.
  After the establishment of Scottish independence, Robert I turned his attention to building up a Scottish naval capacity. This was largely focused on the west coast, with the Exchequer Rolls of 1326 recording the feudal duties of his vassals in that region to aid him with their vessels and crews. Towards the end of his reign he supervised the building of at least one royal man-of-war near his palace at Cardross on the River Clyde. In the late fourteenth century naval warfare with England was conducted largely by hired Scots, Flemish and French merchantmen and privateers. James I took a greater interest in naval power. After his return to Scotland in 1424, he established a shipbuilding yard at Leith, a house for marine stores, and a workshop. King's ships were built and equipped there to be used for trade as well as war, one of which accompanied him on his expedition to the Islands in 1429. The office of Lord High Admiral was probably founded in this period. In his struggles with his nobles in 1488 James III received assistance from his two warships the Flower and the King's Carvel also known as the Yellow Carvel.
  
  James IV put the enterprise on a new footing, founding a harbour at Newhaven in May 1504, and two years later ordering the construction of a dockyard at the Pools of Airth. The upper reaches of the Forth were protected by new fortifications on Inchgarvie. The king acquired a total of 38 ships for the Royal Scottish Navy, including the Margaret, and the carrack Michael or Great Michael. The latter, built at great expense at Newhaven and launched in 1511, was 240 feet (73 m) in length, weighed 1,000 tons, had 24 cannon, and was, at that time, the largest ship in Europe. Scottish ships had some success against privateers, accompanied the king in his expeditions in the islands and intervened in conflicts Scandinavia and the Baltic. In the Flodden campaign the fleet consisted of 16 large and 10 smaller craft. After a raid on Carrickfergus in Ireland, it joined up with the French and had little impact on the war. After the disaster at Flodden the Great Michael, and perhaps other ships, were sold to the French and the king's ships disappeared from royal records after 1516.
caption: A model of the Great Michael, the largest ship in the world when launched in 1511
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