Ancient Forth Defences 11 – Disaster at Flodden 1509 – 1542

 
In 1509, relations with England worsened when Henry VIII became King of England. In 1512, war broke out between England and France. James declared war on England, sending the Scottish navy, to join the ships of Louis XII of France, and leading an army south, only to be killed, at the disastrous Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513.

James IV’s son, James V, was crowned three weeks later but was only one year old. In 1528 at the age of 16 he shook off his custodians and assumed the reins of government.

Like his father James V appreciated the value of a strong Scottish Navy, sailing round Scotland and over to France to show his presence. He acquired more ships and in 1540 built a new Royal Dockyard at Burntisland, “with piers, bulwarks and a graving dock”.

Burntisland became a key navy base, and was almost certainly defended by a gun battery.

The gun batteries at North Queensferry, in the fort at Castle Hill and on Carlingnose may have been built at this time, to complement the existing battery on Inchgarvie.

James V also carried out building work at Stirling Castle, Falkland Palace, Linlithgow Palace and Holyrood.

Relations with Henry VIII did not improve, with battles in the Borders culminating in a serious defeat at Solway Moss in 1542 after which James became ill and died at the age of 30.