May 13 - The Battle of Langside

This Day in History: 13 May 2020

 

13 May 1568

 

452 years ago, today, the Battle of Langside took place, resulting in the defeat of Mary Queen of Scots and her forces. The victor of the battle was a confederacy of Scottish Protestants, led by James Stewart, the regent of King James VI, Mary's son. A cavalry charge had routed her 6,000 Catholic troops, causing them to flee, and three days later, Mary escaped to Cumberland, England, seeking the protection of Queen Elizabeth I. This battle came after Mary escaped captivity and was determined to restore her rights as queen. It is also regarded as the start of the Marian Civil War.

 

Mary had ascended to the throne over 20 years prior, upon the death of her father, King James V. She was the great-niece of Henry VIII, and her claim to the English throne was reinforced with the marriage to her English cousin, Lord Darnley, another Tudor. This angered Queen Elizabeth; however, Mary was still welcomed into England after her defeat. Despite this, she was soon put under house arrest after becoming the focus of many English Catholic and Spanish plots to overthrow Queen Elizabeth. This was again the case in 1586, as a major Catholic plot was uncovered, and Mary was subsequently brought to trial and sentenced to death for complicity. She was beheaded for treason on February 8, 1587, which her son calmly accepted.

 

Want to find out more about the Battle of Langside and Mary Queen of Scots? Click here for more information on the battle, and here for more on the life of Mary.