warfare medieval scotland warfare medieval scotland includes military activity modern borders scotland forces originating region departure romans fifth century adoption innovations renaissance early sixteenth century period conflict developed minor raids major conflicts incorporating innovations continental warfare early middle ages war land characterised use small war bands household troops engaging raids low level warfare arrival brought new scale naval warfare rapid movement based viking developed major factor warfare highlands islands kings scotland command forces tens thousands men short periods common army mainly poorly armoured revolution twelfth century introduced elements scotland forces augmented small numbers mounted heavily armoured knights introduced castles country originally simple wooden bailey constructions replaced thirteenth century formidable stone castles high walls thirteenth century threat scandinavian naval power subsided kings scotland able use naval forces help subdue highlands islands scottish field armies rarely managed stand usually larger professional armies produced england good effect robert scotland secure scottish independence adopted policy castles use naval power support forces beginning develop royal scottish naval force late middle ages stewart kings forces augmented specialist troops particularly men arms hired bonds similar english period new maintenance castles built house troops castles began adapted accommodate gunpowder weapons adopted major innovations continental warfare longer extensive use artillery built formidable navy best armed largest scottish armies assembled met defeat hands english army battle saw destruction large number ordinary troops large section nobility king early middle ages warriors politically divided world early medieval scotland nucleus armed forces leader bodyguard war band british language called war band latin common word period derives latin meaning defend preserve danger peace time war band activity centred great hall celtic cultures drinking forms male bonding kept war band integrity place contemporaneous old english epic poem war band said sleep great hall lord retired adjacent likely war band period exceeded men hall structure having capacity larger found archaeologists northern britain war band core larger armies time time campaigns significant size wider forces depended obligations defend province kingdom land sea early sources indicate attempt define obligation based obligations provide specified number men ships based land held individual stones like angus warriors swords spears bows helmets shields images infantry formation gathered protection mounted troops heavily armoured suggesting mounted warrior elite hill forts early fortifications scotland particularly north west included modest stone built towers known particularly south east larger hill forts evidence iron age scotland located clyde forth line appear largely abandoned roman period departure circular single enclosure forts early medieval era smaller compact constructions major geographical features large number hill forts scotland open battle important contemporaneous relatively high proportion kings recorded dying fires suggest important warfare ships sea power important irish annals record attack necessitated large naval force lost ships disaster ships vital amphibious warfare highlands islands seventh century indicates ship muster system obliged groups households produce total ships men source mentions recorded naval battle british isles naval expeditions vessels survive form period images period suggest skin boats similar irish larger vessels viking raids invasions british isles based superior sea power enabled creation sea based north west long ship key success graceful long narrow light wooden boat shallow draft hull designed speed shallow draft allowed navigation waters feet deep permitted beach landings light weight enabled carried double ended symmetrical bow stern allowing ship reverse direction quickly having turn high middle ages land forces twelfth century ability wider bodies men major campaigns common scottish army based universal obligation linked holding variously named units land produce regional army future robert earl raised army national scottish army later wars independence later indicated common army levy able bodied aged days warning produced relatively large numbers men serving limited period usually poorly armoured period continued mustered led men battle case continue provide vast majority scottish national armies potentially producing tens thousands men short periods conflict early modern era developed obligations produced smaller numbers feudal troops introduction scotland usually attributed revolution twelfth century david scottish throne spending life living baron england brought number distributed lands titles borders later zones north west wrote changes brought fundamental innovations military organization included knight fee homage castle building regular use professional cavalry knights held castles estates exchange service providing troops day basis david norman followers able provide force mounted armoured knights vast majority forces common army poorly armed infantry capable performing raiding guerrilla warfare able stand english field managed critically wars independence bridge castles castles sense fortified residence lord noble arrived scotland david encouragement norman french nobles settle feudal particularly south east way controlling contested primarily wooden bailey constructions raised mount wooden tower larger adjacent enclosure bailey usually surrounded ditch connected wooden bridge varied size large modest designs like england constructions converted stone bailey castles twelfth century scotland continued occupation stone castles high curtain wall addition castles royal castles larger providing defence lodging scottish court local administrative centre included fortifications wars scottish independence robert adopted policy castle destruction allow fortresses easily taken english held beginning castles including edinburgh marine forces highlands islands gradually succeeded ascending order size highland built ships usually centrally stepped mast allowed rowed like high stem stern small light dragged replaced steering board stern rudder late twelfth century fight sea rarely able match armed ships scottish english navies usually larger vessels extremely useful quick raids aiding escape forces ships raised obligations ship levy system argued date muster system probably introduced scandinavian settlers later evidence suggests supply ships war linked feudal obligations celtic scandinavian lords previously contributed result general levy coming hold lands exchange specified numbers sizes ships supplied king process probably began thirteenth century intensified importance ships common depictions grave markers highlands islands mentions medieval records fleets commanded scottish kings including took personal command large naval force sailed anchored island intended transport army campaign died campaign begin viking naval power disrupted conflicts scandinavian kingdoms entered period resurgence thirteenth century norwegian kings began build largest ships seen northern european waters included king built bergen feet long rooms responded designs personally leading major fleet vessels including islands local allies ships records indicate alexander large ships built avoided sea battle defeat land battle winter storms forced norwegian fleet return home leaving scottish crown major power region leading western isles alexander late middle ages armies scottish victories late thirteenth early fourteenth centuries seen wider infantry revolution saw decline mounted knight battlefield pointed scottish medieval armies probably dependent infantry forces late medieval period scottish men arms fight infantry small mounted reserve suggested tactics copied refined english leading successes years war like english scots deployed mounted particularly useful mobile raids characterised border warfare like english fought foot second half fourteenth century addition forces raised basis common service feudal obligations money contracts bonds bands similar english period retain professional troops particular men arms practice forms service tended overlap major scottish lords brought contingents systems produced relatively large numbers poorly armoured infantry usually armed foot spears formed large close order defensive formations able counter mounted knights infantry assault vulnerable arrows later artillery fire relatively proved hill attempts replace spears longer feet feet later fifteenth century successes mounted troops netherlands switzerland appear successful eve campaign early sixteenth century smaller numbers men arms outnumbered facing english battlefield scottish mainly drawn border regions gaining particularly reputation sought mercenaries french armies fifteenth century order help counter english superiority arm major element french royal guards fortification wars independence new castles began built scale maintenance castles house retained troops like near rebuilt duke albany fourteenth century largest number late medieval fortifications scotland built nobles tower house design smaller versions tower houses southern scotland known towers houses defences tower houses primarily aimed provide protection smaller raiding parties intended significant opposition organised military assault leading historian defensive typically tall square stone built building surrounded walled courtyard designed hold valuable animals necessarily intended defence built extensively sides border england isles led immediate burst castle building region gunpowder weaponry fundamentally altered nature castle architecture existing castles adapted allow use gunpowder weapons incorporation gun ports platforms mount guns walls adapted resist bombardment begun probably castle british isles built artillery fort incorporating shape better resist cannon fire artillery mounted end period royal builders scotland adopted styles castle design buildings type royal palaces style castle begun strong influence france low countries seen fashionable design court turrets corner adapted scottish materials particularly stone siege engines artillery wars independence brought recorded instances major mechanical artillery scotland edward range siege engines carefully constructed transported deployed dismantled stored reuse began siege failure initial assault small rock throwing engine employed large engines probably counter weight mechanism constructed destruction walls garrison forced surrender edward armies deployed engines named capture castle best known deployed lighter bolt shooting siege towers occasion covered supplied future robert present english scottish armies limited resources expertise tended rely assault blockade siege tactics robert known employed siege engines english little success siege tower mud siege technology seen resulting policy castle destruction major ingredients gunpowder shipped probably produce form greek fire shot town siege engines english probably gunpowder artillery scots decade clear recorded use britain besieged alongside mechanical siege engines use scots probably castle gunpowder artillery began fully replace mechanical engines late fourteenth century attempted follow french english crowns building artillery train abortive siege james probably conflict scots use artillery royal gunner received gifts artillery continent including giant philip good duke survives probably outdated continent represented impressive military technology reached scotland enthusiasm artillery cost life demonstrated dangers early artillery gun exploded siege experienced ill fortune artillery sent sank storm route scotland brought experts france germany netherlands established house artillery visitors cannon cast formidable train allowing send cannon france ireland quickly subdue campaign heavy artillery pieces drawn slowed advancing scots army proving ineffective longer range smaller calibre english guns battle navy english naval power vital edward successful campaigns scotland largely merchant ships england ireland allies islands transport supply armies reason robert success ability naval forces islands result expulsion england gained support major naval power north_sea development naval power allowed robert successfully defeat english attempts capture highlands islands blockade major english controlled fortresses perth forcing attempt relief resulted english defeat scottish naval forces allowed invasions ireland crucial blockade led fall establishment scottish independence robert turned attention building scottish naval capacity largely focused west coast rolls recording feudal duties region aid vessels crews end reign supervised building royal man war near palace river clyde late fourteenth century naval warfare england conducted largely hired scots flemish french james took greater interest naval power return scotland established yard house marine stores workshop king ships built equipped trade war accompanied expedition islands office lord high admiral probably founded period struggles nobles received assistance warships flower known enterprise new founding harbour years later ordering construction dockyard upper reaches forth protected new fortifications king acquired total ships including margaret michael great michael built great expense launched feet length weighed tons cannon time largest ship europe scottish ships success accompanied king expeditions islands intervened conflicts scandinavia baltic campaign fleet consisted large smaller craft raid ireland joined french little impact war disaster great michael ships sold french king ships disappeared royal records
Warfare in Medieval Scotland