Capture of Roxburgh (1460)

Capture of Roxburgh
Part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars
1830 engraving of the remains of Roxburgh Castle
Date July – 5 August 1460 Location Roxburgh Castle, Anglo-Scottish Border 55°35′48″N 2°27′24″W / 55.5966°N 2.4566°W / 55.5966; -2.4566 Result Scottish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
King James II † Queen Mary	Unknown
James II was killed when his own cannon exploded.
class=notpageimage| Location within Scottish Borders

The capture of Roxburgh was a siege that took place during the Anglo-Scottish Wars. Following the Second War of Scottish Independence intermittent conflict continued along the Anglo-Scottish border with Roxburgh Castle being held by the English since 1346 and by the 1380s was one of the last English held strongholds in Scotland. In July 1460 James II of Scotland began a campaign to reclaim Roxburgh, aiming to take advantage of the fact that the Wars of the Roses were raging in England.

During the siege James was mortally wounded when one of his own cannons exploded and the siege was continued by his wife, Mary of Guelders. The castle surrendered on 5 August and was subsequently destroyed by the attackers.