Copy Book Archive

Black Agnes Dunbar When Edward III sent the Earl of Salisbury to take her absent husband’s castle, Agnes brushed his attack aside - literally.
1338
King Edward III 1327-1377

© Philip Capper, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0. Source

About this picture …

Victoria Harbour and the remains of Dunbar Castle today.

Black Agnes Dunbar
In the 14th century, Patrick, ninth Earl of Dunbar, found himself caught between the warring kings of England and Scotland, and survived by frequently changing sides. His wife was made of sterner stuff...

IN 1338, King Edward III of England saw a chance to put his own man, Edward Balliol, on the Scottish throne. So he sent the Earl of Salisbury to lay siege to Dunbar Castle on the Scottish border, while the Earl of Dunbar, Patrick, was away in France.

But Patrick’s wife Agnes, with her raven-black hair and determined character, proved to be very much her husband’s equal. She contemptuously brushed Salisbury’s attacks aside — literally. Agnes personally led her maids out with brooms to dust the castle walls wherever Salisbury’s latest assault had failed.

So it was that after five long months, Salisbury was compelled to admit defeat, and despite the best efforts of England’s King, Edward Balliol never did ascend the Scottish throne.* Black Agnes Dunbar had seen to that.

Edward was crowned king at Scone in 1332, but never recognised in Scotland, and he was quickly sent back to England. The same happened twice more, in 1333 and 1335, and in 1356 he resigned all claims to the Scottish throne in favour of Edward III of England. During all this time the Scots recognised David II (r. 1324-1371) as their King.

Précis

Hoping to put his own man on the Scottish throne, King Edward III laid siege to Dunbar Castle while the Earl, a potential threat, was away. But the Earl’s wife, Agnes, would not surrender, defiantly dusting down the battlements after each assault. After five months Edward’s men admitted defeat, and the King’s hopes never came to fruition. (57 / 60 words)

Related Posts

for Black Agnes Dunbar

The Hundred Years’ War

The Hundred Years’ War

King John had already lost most of the Crown’s lands in France, but when Aquitaine was threatened Edward III knew he must act fast.

Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary Queen of Scots

Henry VII’s great-granddaughter Mary never grasped that even royalty must win the people’s respect.

Mediaeval History

Flodden Edge

The Scots paid a heavy price for honouring their ‘Auld Alliance’ with France.

Mediaeval History

The Kings of Northumbria

Out of a restless alliance between two 6th century kingdoms came a civilisation that defined Englishness.

Mediaeval History (169)
All Stories (1522)
Worksheets (14)
Word Games (5)