Capitulation of Irvine
Encyclopedia
The Capitulation of Irvine was the first military stand-off of the Wars of Scottish Independence
.
between Irvine
and Bourtreehill House
. They were prepared to go into battle against the approaching English forces and had made camp on the north side of the loch. When the English arrived, they too camped on the side of the loch but on the opposite banks to the south. Both armies could see and hear each other.
The English soldiers watched on as the Scottish nobles began to fight among themselves. Robert the Bruce, Robert Wishart
and various other notables were present. It was once thought that William Wallace
also attended but there is no evidence one way or another.
The infighting and bickering became so intolerable to the English soldiers that they left the field. The event has subsequently become known as "The Capitulation of Irvine".
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
.
Event
In 1297, the nobles of Scotland gathered on the banks of a lochLoch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
between Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
and Bourtreehill House
Bourtreehill House
Bourtreehill House and the enclosed land on which it was built form the original estate of Bourtreehill. The wooded hill-top, a distinctive feature of the estate, is now a landmark that sits at the centre of modern North Bourtreehill in the district of North Ayrshire on the west coast of...
. They were prepared to go into battle against the approaching English forces and had made camp on the north side of the loch. When the English arrived, they too camped on the side of the loch but on the opposite banks to the south. Both armies could see and hear each other.
The English soldiers watched on as the Scottish nobles began to fight among themselves. Robert the Bruce, Robert Wishart
Robert Wishart
Robert Wishart was Bishop of Glasgow during the Wars of Scottish Independence and a leading supporter of Robert Bruce. For Wishart and many of his fellow churchmen the freedom of Scotland and the freedom of the Scottish church were one and the same thing...
and various other notables were present. It was once thought that William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
also attended but there is no evidence one way or another.
The infighting and bickering became so intolerable to the English soldiers that they left the field. The event has subsequently become known as "The Capitulation of Irvine".