[MR] Wikipedia: Battle of Largs, 1263

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots,

On this date in 1263, a small battle between Norway and Scotland had major
consequences.

Ever since the Viking conquest in the 9th and 10th centuries, Norway had
controlled the Hebrides Island off Scotland's west coast, and parts of the
Scottish mainland. As Alba consolidated into Scotland, Kings Alexander II
and Alexander III asserted their right to control of these lands. Attempts
to buy the Norse-controlled territories were rebuffed, so the Scots went to
war, attacking Norse vassals on Skye.

In 1263 Norse King Haakon IV responded with a mighty fleet, thought to
number thousands of ships. The Norse centered their attacks on the Clyde
estuary, and ravaged Scottish territory around Loch Lomond and the Lennox.
The Scots, knowing they could not defeat such a huge force, began
negotiations. They had no intention of compromise, but were playing for
time, hoping the fall weather would force Haakon to withdraw.

On October 1 a massive storm drove a number of Haakon's ships onto the
beach at Largs in Ayrshire. As the Norse worked to salvage their ships, a
small local Scottish militia attacked, but were driven off. The next day
Scottish cavalry arrived and forced the Norwegians back to their ships.
Attacks and counter-attacks continued throughout the day, with Haakon's men
taking heavy casualties. The Scots withdrew at the end of the day with
minor losses. On October 3, Haakon's men were able to gather their dead and
burn the beached ships before retreating.

Recognizing that he had been played by the Scots, Haakon sailed to the
Orkney Islands to winter over. It was there that fate intervened for the
Scots. King Haakon IV died unexpectedly on 16 December 1263 at Kirkwall.
Fearing reprisals from King Alexander, the Hebredian lords had been
reluctant to support Haakon's invasion anyway. The new King of Norway,
Magnus IV was reluctant to continue his father's expensive war over these
troublesome vassals (who would be a major headache for the Scottish crown
until the late 15th century).

In 1266 Norway and Scotland agreed to the Treaty of Perth, by which the
Hebrides were leased to Scotland (eventually the Scots just stopped
paying), but the Orkney and Shetland islands were recognized as Norse.
These two island chains were pawned to Scotland in lieu of a dowry in 1468
by King Christian I of Denmark (and Norway) when his daughter Margaret was
betrothed to King of Scots James III. Christian, now bankrupt, defaulted on
his payments. The islands passed to Scotland in 1472, thus completing
Scottish territory as we know it today.

You can read about the Battle of Largs at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Largs .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆