Discover one of Scotland’s most significant – and tragic – battles.
The Conflict
In the summer of 1650, Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland with a veteran army in the name of the English Parliament. The campaign turned old allies into new enemies, and opened the final bloody chapter of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
The Armies
The Scots resisted Cromwell’s invasion with an army levied across the length and breadth of the country. Despite political turmoil and conflicted consciences, a huge national effort assembled a host which faced down the enemy for six weeks before Dunbar.
The Battle
Before the dawn on 3 September 1650, the English army launched a surprise attack on the Scottish forces outside Dunbar. Defeat turned to disaster for the Scots as Cromwell secured his finest victory. Thousands of lives were lost; others changed forever.