Everything about The Battle Of Dunnichen totally explained
The
Battle of Dunnichen or
Battle of Nechtansmere (
Scottish Gaelic:
Dúin Nechaín,
Welsh:
Linn garan) was fought between the
Picts and
Northumbrians on
May 20,
685 at Nechtansmere. The battle ended with a decisive Pictish victory which severely weakened Northumbria's power in northern
Britain.
The Northumbrians had been gradually extending their territory to the north, their constituent kingdom of
Bernicia having captured
Edinburgh from the
Gododdin around
638. For the next thirty years they established political dominance over the Kingdoms of
Strathclyde and
Dál Riata, as well as Pictish
Fortriu.
King
Ecgfrith of Northumbria invaded lands held by the Picts in 685, apparently to stop them from raiding to the south. They met in battle on May 20 near Dunnichen; the Picts pretended to retreat, drawing the Northumbrians into the
swamp of Dunnichen. The Pictish King
Bridei III killed Ecgfrith, destroyed his army and enslaved many of the survivors. After the battle, Northumbria's influence never again extended past the
Firth of Forth.
Little is known about the actual battle; it was briefly described by the Venerable
Bede in the
8th century, as well as in the
Annals of Ulster and Tigernash. An 8th century Pictish carved symbol stone in
Aberlemno churchyard about 4 miles north of Dunnichen is often cited as commemorating or showing scenes based on the battle. The carving shows the Northumbrian warriors wearing helmets with long nose guards, whilst the Picts are bare-headed.
Location
The Venerable Bede recorded the location of the battle as Nechtansmere. Scholars have generally located the site in
Letham, Angus near
Dunnichen. Recent research by
Alex Woolf of St. Andrews University suggests another possible site to be Dunachton in
Badenoch, on the western shore of Loch Insh.
Further Information
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