Battle of Solway Moss

Battle of Solway Moss
Part of Anglo-Scottish Wars
River Esk at Arthuret, near the location of the Battle of Solway Moss
Date 24 November 1542 Location Solway Moss, Cumberland, England 55°00′40″N 3°01′34″W / 55.011°N 3.026°W / 55.011; -3.026 Result English victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Robert, Lord Maxwell, Sir Oliver Sinclair (POW)	Thomas, Lord Wharton, Sir William Musgrave, John Musgrave
Strength
15,000–18,000	3,000
Casualties and losses
c. 20 killed; c. 1,200 prisoners; hundreds drowned[1]	c. 7 killed[2]

The Battle of Solway Moss took place on Solway Moss near the River Esk on the English side of the Anglo-Scottish border in November 1542 between English and Scottish forces.

The Scottish King James V had refused to break from the Catholic Church, as urged by his uncle King Henry VIII, who then launched a major raid into south-west Scotland. The Scottish army that marched against them was poorly led and organised, and many Scots were either captured or drowned in the river. News of the defeat is believed to have hastened the early death of James V.