Battle of Inverurie (Battle of Barra)

Background

After King Edward I of England died in 1307, Robert the Bruce exploited Edward II's distraction by moving against his own Scottish enemies.

Bruce consolidated authority by moving north through the English-held Scottish lowlands. Despite illness and a force of about 700, he advanced toward Inverurie after skirmishes at Slioch.

John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan, gathered troops at Meldrum to launch a surprise attack on Bruce's camp.

At dawn, David, Lord of Brechin, led a surprise attack on a Bruce outpost, killing many but not affecting the main battle. Those in the outpost that were not killed, escaped to return to the main army supporting Robert the Bruce.

Battle

Comyn deployed his forces along the road to Inverurie, positioning knights in front and unreliable levies behind. The rear ranks were reassured that Bruce was too ill to fight. Despite this, Bruce rose from his bed and led a counterattack. As he advanced, Comyn's men lost morale, panicked, and scattered. Comyn tried to rally them but soon retreated, pursued as far as Fyvie.

John Barbour described what happened in his rhyming narrative:

The king came on in fine array
With much display his foes stood set
Until the ranks were ne[a]rly met.
But when his foemen saw the king
Advancing without lingering,
A little on their reins they drew.
The king by this time right well knew
That in their hearts they were distressed,
And with his banners forward pressed.
Thus they retreated more and more.
And when the small folk with them saw
Their leaders all retreating so,
They quickly turned their backs to go,
And fled and scattered far and wide.
Their lords, that still were side by side,
When they beheld the small folk flee,
And the king advancing steadily,
Themselves became disheartened so
That they, too, turned their backs to go.
A short while stayed they side by side,
And then they scattered far and wide.

Aftermath

John Comyn escaped and remained influential, keeping Bruce from controlling northeastern Scotland. Bruce faced further challenges to eliminate his opponents.