First War of Scottish Independence

1296–1328 war between England and Scotland

War & ConflictPolitics & Government

First War of Scottish Independence — Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

What happened

1308: Robert the Bruce defeats John Comyn in Inverurie, Scotland, securing a crucial victory with no reported death toll, in the First War of Scottish I...

Date

May 23, 1308

Location

Dumfries, Scotland

Key people

Robert the Bruce, John Comyn

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed and nuanced account of the Battle of Inverurie, drawing on primary sources such as the Lanercost Chronicle and the works of John Barbour and Walter B...

What was First War of Scottish Independence?

The First War of Scottish Independence was the first of a series of different wars between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. It lasted from the English invasion of Scotland in 1296 until the de jure restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328. De facto independence was established in 1314 AD following an English defeat at the Battle of Bannockburn. The wars were caused by the attempts of the English kings to seize territory by claiming sovereignty over Scotland, while the Scots fought to keep both English rule and authority out of Scotland.

Wallace statue by D. W. Stevenson in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

Background and consequences

The First War of Scottish Independence should not be viewed in isolation from the Gascon War and Franco-Flemish War since Philip IV of France and Edward I of England sought allies in Scotland and Flanders as part of their initial conflict. John Balliol of Scotland allied himself with Philip IV of France in 1295 whilst Guy, Count of Flanders allied himself with Edward I of England. When King Alexander III ruled Scotland, the realm saw a period of peace and economic stability. On 19 March 1286, however, Alexander died after falling from his horse.

Related on thisDay

Robert the Bruce's Victory at Inverurie — May 23, 1308

1308: Robert the Bruce defeats John Comyn in Inverurie, Scotland, securing a crucial victory with no reported death toll, in the First War of Scottish I...

Sources and further reading

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Robert the Bruce's Victory at Inverurie — May 23, 1308 Wikipedia source

Cite this page

MLA

“First War of Scottish Independence.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/first-war-of-scottish-independence/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

First War of Scottish Independence. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/first-war-of-scottish-independence/

Chicago

“First War of Scottish Independence.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/first-war-of-scottish-independence/.

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