Zola, Battle of Widdel.

The First Scottish War of Independence: the Battle of Zola Fordel.

The Battle of Fordel was part of the first Scottish War of Independence, which took place in Fordel in July and August of 1327. A Scottish army led by James, Lord Douglas, Earl of Mali and Earl of Mar faced an English army led by Roger Mortimer, Lord Weimar and newly crowned Edward III.

1326, King Edward II of England was deposed by a rebellion led by his wife Isabella and his lover Mortimer. England and Scotland have been at war for 30 years, and the Scots took advantage of the chaos to launch a large-scale attack on England. Isabella and Mortimer regarded opposing Scots as a way to legalize their identity, and they prepared a huge army to oppose them.

1327 In July, this team set out from York to trap the Scots and force them to participate in the war. After two weeks of lack of materials and bad weather, when the Scots deliberately exposed their position, the English and Scots clashed. The Scots occupied an impeccable position in the north of the weir.

The English refused to attack, and the Scots refused to fight openly. Three days later, the Scots occupied a stronger position overnight. The British followed them. That night, a Scottish army crossed the river, successfully attacked the English camp and infiltrated the royal pavilion.

The English thought they had surrounded the Scots and were starving them away, but on the night of August 6, the Scottish army escaped and returned to Scotland. This battle is extremely expensive for the British. Isabella and Mortimer were forced to negotiate with the Scots and signed the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328, which recognized the sovereignty of Scotland.

background

The first Scottish War of Independence between England and Scotland began in1March 296, when Edward I of England of England raided and looted the Scottish border town of Beric as a prelude to the invasion of Scotland.

By 1323, the English now ruled by Edward II had been completely expelled from Scotland. Roibert Briuis firmly occupied the Scottish throne and launched many large-scale attacks in England.

A 13 ceasefire agreement was reached in May. Despite this, the attacks in Scotland continue, and the piracy of Scottish ships in England continues. What is even more embarrassing for Edward II is that 1323, the war between Britain and France broke out in aquitaine, and Britain was defeated, so it was forced to reach a humiliating peace treaty in 1325.

By February of 1326, Isabella, the wife of Edward II, had obviously taken Roger Mortimer in exile as her lover. They lived in Paris and were encouraged by French courts to become the center of British opposition to Edward II. In April, Scots agreed to form a military alliance with the French.

In September, Isabella, Mortimer and 13-year-old heir to the throne Prince Edward landed in Suffolk. Edward II's authority collapsed, Isabella faction took over the political power with the support of the church, and Edward II was captured in 165438+ 10.

Walter de Stapleton, treasurer of Edward II, was killed by thugs in St Paul's Cathedral; His chief adviser, Hugh Depens, was declared a traitor and was hanged, disembowelled, castrated and dismembered-his head was displayed at a gate in London; His minister, Robert Baldock, died in prison; Count arundel was beheaded.

Under the threat that his son was disinherited, 1327 A few days after Edward II abdicated in June, Prince Edward was crowned Edward III. It is understood that his mother and her lover intend that young Edward is their puppet. With Edward II deposed, Isabella and Mortimer lost their legitimacy and public support.

Scots saw an opportunity in the chaos south of the border; When Edward III was crowned, a Scottish army was besieging the English-controlled border castle Norem.

Edward II refused to recognize Robert Bliss as king of Scotland. The purpose of the Scottish raid was to put pressure on the English people to recognize his kingship.

Ending the devastating Scottish attack by defeating the Scots in battle will help to legalize the de facto rule of Isabella and Mortimer. For Bruce, proving that the English could not end the raid might put the king of Scotland in a position of demanding peace. Under these pressures, the truce broke down and the two sides prepared for a full-scale war.

preface

Bruce was trapped by an unknown disease at 1327. This did not stop the Scots from continuing to put pressure on England. On June 15, a huge Scottish army crossed the border and launched a surprise attack.

In July, a Scottish army entered England again. It is reported that it is composed of 10000 cavalry, led by Donald, Earl of Mar, Earl of Thomas, Earl of Mali and Lord james douglas.

It has few supplies or baggage trains, but is scattered in a vast area looking for food. This runs counter to the normal military practice that emphasized the benefits of concentration at that time.

These factors give Scots extraordinary mobility. Their scattered formation enables them to advance on the front line of 70 miles or more, and it is difficult for opponents to identify their number, battle center and even direction. They plundered and burned all the way south, and by July 5th, they had gone deep into Appleby.

The English assembled a stronger and better-equipped army in York than the Scots, including 780 Heino mercenaries. During the rally, the Heinots clashed with the British infantry and fought fiercely in York City. Both companies suffered heavy losses.

England deployed a strong Welsh army in Carlisle and a strong armed force in Newcastle upon Tyne. It is believed that the presence of these troops on the flank and the difficult terrain will hinder any attempt by the Scots to retreat, which is enough for the main force of England to force the Scots into battle.

British troops stationed in York set out on July 1327 and arrived in Durham on July 15. Edward III accompanied the army as a nominal commander, but did not exercise any power; That's for mortimer. Isabella stayed in York. Smoke from the burning farm in Durham suggests that at least some Scots are nearby.