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 ConflictScotland & alliesScotland's oppositionResultBattle of Dollar
(875)
Location: Dollar, Scotland Kingdom of ScotlandVikingsScottish defeatAthelstan's invasion of Scotland
(934)
Location: Whole of Scotland Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of Deheubarth
Kingdom of GwyneddInconclusive Militarily inconclusive Constantine acknowledges Æthelstan's overlordshipBattle of Brunanburh
(c. 937)
Location: Unknown; probably Northern England Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of Dublin Kingdom of StrathclydeScottish defeatBattle of Bauds
(c. 962)
Location: Cullen, Scotland Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of NorwayScottish victorySiege of Durham
(c. 1006)
Location: Durham, England Kingdom of ScotlandScottish defeatBattle of Carham
(c. 1010s prob. 1018)
Location: River Tweed Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of StrathclydeScottish victory Lothian and the region north of Berwick integrated fully into ScotlandAnnexation of Strathclyde
(c. 1034)
Location: Strathclyde Kingdom of ScotlandKingdom of StrathclydeScottish victoryInvasion of Northumbria (1039-1040)
Location: Northumbria Kingdom of ScotlandScottish defeat at Siege of Durham (1040)Battle of Dunsinane
(1054)
Location: Dunsinane Hill Kingdom of ScotlandScottish defeatNorman invasion of Scotland
(1072)
Part of the Norman conquest of Britain
Location: Scottish Borders and Northumbria Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of EnglandTreaty 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 southEnglish invasion of Cumbria
(1092)
Location: Cumbria Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England Scottish defeat Cumbria is annexed into the Kingdom of EnglandInvasion of Northumbria
(1093)
Location: Northumbria Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England Scottish defeat at the Battle of Alnwick
12th century ConflictScotland & alliesScotland's oppositionResultÓengus's invasion of Scotland
(1130)
Location: Angus Kingdom of ScotlandKingdom of Moray Kingdom of RossScottish victory King Óengus of Moray killed in battle, while Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair (King of Ross) imprisoned for lifeAnglo-Scottish war
(1136-1139)
Location: Northern England Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of EnglandScottish victory Treaty of Durham (1139) David's son Henry is given the earldom of Northumberland Stephen recognises the independence of ScotlandSomairle's invasion of Scotland
(1164)
Location: Renfrewshire Kingdom of ScotlandKingdom of the Isles Kingdom of DublinScottish victory King Somairle of the Isles killed in battle, leading to mass destabilisation and war in his kingdomRevolt of 1173–74
Location: England, Normandy, Scottish Borders, Brittany, and FlandersEnglish Rebels under Eleanor of Aquitaine Kingdom of Scotland
Duchy of Brittany
County of Flanders
County of Boulogne English Royalists loyal to Henry IIScottish defeat Decisive defeat of rebel forces at Battle of Alnwick Scottish King William the Lion taken as prisoner of war in England
13th century ConflictScotland & alliesScotland's oppositionResultFirst Barons' War
(1215-1217)
Location: England Kingdom of Scotland
Army of God and Holy ChurchScottish defeat Treaty of LambethHaakon Haakonsson's campaign in Scotland
(1230-1231)
Location: Hebrides, scotland and The Minch Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of Norway
Kingdom of the IslesScottish defeat Norwegians attack, lays siege and sack Rothesay CastleBattle of Embo
(1245)
Location: Embo, Sutherland, Scotland Kingdom of Scotland Denmark NorwayScottish victoryScottish–Norwegian War
(1262–1266)
Location: Hebrides and the Scottish West Coast Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of Norway
Kingdom of the Isles
Earldom of OrkneyTreaty 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 ShetlandFirst War of Scottish Independence
(1296–1328)
Location: Scotland, England, and Ireland 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 Lordship of IrelandScottish 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 ConflictScotland & alliesScotland's oppositionResultSecond War of Scottish Independence
(1332–1357)
Location: Scotland Supporters of Edward BalliolScottish 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 EnglandHundred Years' War
(1337–1453)
Location: France, the Low Countries, Great Britain, and the Iberian Peninsula Crown of Castile
Republic of Genoa
Kingdom of Bohemia
Crown of Aragon Duchy of Burgundy
Duchy of Brittany (Montfort)
Kingdom of Portugal
Kingdom of Navarre
Flanders
Hainaut
LuxembourgScottish 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 WarAnglo-Scottish Wars (1377–1575)
Location: Scottish Borders and Northern EnglandSeries of border skirmishes resulting in stalemate
15th century ConflictScotland & alliesScotland's oppositionResultGlyndŵr rebellion Battle of Shrewsbury
(1400–1416)
Location: Wales, England Welsh rebels Percy family Duchy of BrittanyScottish defeat English victory Status quo ante bellum
16th century ConflictScotland & alliesScotland's oppositionResultWar of the League of Cambrai
(1511–1513)
Location: Scottish Borders France
Duchy of Ferrara Papal States
Venice
Holy Roman Empire
Spain
Swiss mercenariesScottish defeat Decisive loss at the Battle of Flodden with the death of James IV of Scotland However, French and Venetian victory overallThe Rough Wooing
(1543–1550)
Location: Scottish Borders Kingdom of FranceScottish 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 ConflictScottish GovernmentRebelsResultInvasion of Moray (1040)
Location: Moray Kingdom of ScotlandSupporters of Macbeth Kingdom of MorayCivil war, victory of Macbeth Death of Duncan I at Battle of BothnagowanDubh's First Rebellion
(1501–1505)
Location: Scottish Hebrides Kingdom of Scotland Lord of the Isles
Clan DonaldCivil war, Royalist victoryDubh's Second Rebellion
(1545)
Location: Scottish Hebrides Kingdom of Scotland Lord of the Isles
Clan Donald
Kingdom of EnglandCivil war, Royalist victoryMarian Civil War
(1568–1573)
Location: Scotland Supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots Supporters of James VI, Mary's son
Kingdom of EnglandCivil war, victory of James VI Imprisonment of Mary before her flight to EnglandBishops' Wars
(1639–1640)
Location: Scottish Lowlands Scottish Royalists
Kingdom of England Scottish CovenantersCivil war, Covenanter victorySecond English Civil War
(1648)
Location: Northern England Scottish Royalists
Scottish Engagers ParliamentariansCivil war, Parliamentarian victory Decisive loss at the Battle of Preston (1648) Execution of Charles IThird English Civil War
(1649–1651)
Location: Scottish Lowlands and Northern England Scottish Royalists
Scottish Covenanters ParliamentariansCivil war, Parliamentarian victory Exile of Charles II Establishment of the republican Commonwealth under Oliver CromwellGlorious Revolution(1688–1689) James VIIWilliam of OrangeDutch military forcesBritish military forcesInternal conflict James VII replaced as king by his daughter Mary II and her husband William IIIJacobite rebellions
(1689–1746)
Location: Scotland, England, and Ireland Scottish Williamites Scotland (until 1707) Great Britain (from 1707) Scottish JacobitesCivil 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
ConflictClan 1Clan 2ResultClan MacDougall-Clan Campbell feud Part of the First War of Scottish Independence
(c. 1294)
Location: Loch Awe Clan MacDougall Clan CampbellClan 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 Highlands Clan Cameron Clan MackintoshClan 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 ScotlandWolf of Badenoch feuds
(1391)
Location: Angus Clan Stewart of Buchan Clan Robertson
Clan Mackay Clan Ogilvy Clan Lindsay
Clan GrayClan conflict, Clan Stewart victory Lands of Angus burnt, homes sacked and civilians slaughtered Elgin Cathedral burnt to the groundClan Mackay-Clan Gunn feud
(1426–1517)
Location: Caithness and Sutherland Clan Mackay
Supported by:
Clan Keith
Clan Ross Clan Gunn
Supported by:
Clan MathesonClan 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 SinclairRoyal-Black Douglas feud
(1440–1526)
Location: Galloway, Scottish Borders, and West Lothian Royalists loyal to House of Stewart Rebels allied to Black DouglasesClan conflict, victory for House of Stewart Eventual exile of the leaders of Clan Douglas after the Battle of Linlithgow BridgeClan Gordon-Clan Lindsay feud
(1445–1452)
Location: Angus Clan Gordon
Supported by:
Clan Ogilvy Clan LindsayClan conflict Two clan battles: the first won by Clan Lindsay, the second, as part of the Royal-Black Douglas Civil War, Clan GordonClan Munro-Clan Mackenzie feud (1452–1715)
Location: Ross Clan Munro
Supported by:
Clan Fraser of Lovat Clan MackenzieClan 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 periodClan Fraser of Lovat-Clan Mackenzie feud
(1452–1715)
Location: Ross Clan Fraser of Lovat
Supported by:
Clan Munro Clan MackenzieClan conflict Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner