Battle at Neville’s Cross

The Battle at Neville’s Cross was named for Lord Neville, who placed a cross at the sight of the remarkable victory by the English after the battle. The battle itself was rooted in the Hundred Year’s War between England and France, which lasted from 1338 to 1453. In the summer of 1346, King Edward III and his son, Edward the Black Prince, commanded an English army that defeated the French at the Battle of Crecy. The French king turned to his friend and ally King David II of Scotland in desperation, asking him to create a diversion by launching attacks in Northern England. King David, son of Robert the Bruce, marched south from Perth commanding an army of over 12,000 to capture Durham. The English army led by the Archbishop of York mobilized 5,000 reinforcements, chose the terrain carefully, and combined with their longbows and archers overwhelmed the Scottish warriors completely. King David survived the battle, but spent the next 15 years in the Tower of London.