URPoint Details
Battle of Otterburn - 1388
Kingdom of Scotland: James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas
Kingdom of England: Henry 'Hotspur' Percy
Scottish victory
Location: 1 mile northwest of Otterburn
The Battle of Otterburn took place according to Scottish sources on 5 August 1388, or 19 August according to English sources as part of the continuing border skirmishes between the Scottish and English. The best remaining record of the battle is from Jean Froissart's Chronicles in which he claims to have interviewed veterans from both sides of the battle. His account is still regarded with some concern as details, such as the distance between Newcastle upon Tyne and Otterburn, are incorrect.
The Scottish Earl of Douglas decided to lead a raid—one of a continuing series on both sides of the border—into English territory. It was timed to take advantage of divisions on the English side between Lord Neville and Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland who had just taken over the defence of the border.
- Type:
- Battlefields