Siege of Wark (1138)

Siege of Wark 1138
Part of the Anarchy
The ruins of Wark on Tweed Castle
Date May–November 1138 Location Wark on Tweed Castle 55°38′30″N 2°16′55″W / 55.64162°N 2.28196°W / 55.64162; -2.28196 Result Scottish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
King David I	Unknown
class=notpageimage| Location of Wark on Tweed Castle within Northumberland Show map of Northumberland class=notpageimage| Location of Wark on Tweed Castle relative to modern Scotland Show map of Scotland

The siege of Wark is a 1138 siege of Wark on Tweed Castle (Wark castle) conducted from May–November by Scottish forces under David I against the defending English garrison. The siege was part of a campaign launched by David in support of his niece, the Empress Matilda, and her claim to the English throne over that of Stephen of Blois who had seized the throne in 1135. The invasion followed a similar campaign in 1136 when David had succeeded in gaining control of Cumberland, and raids launched in 1137 and earlier in 1138.

Despite David's defeat at the battle of the Standard in August 1138, the siege continued and the castle fell in November after the abbot of Rievaulx negotiated a surrender allowing the starved defenders to leave honourably with their arms. The fall of Wark contributed to Stephen being forced to cede control of Northumberland to David in 1139. Cumberland and Northumberland would both remain under Scottish control until after David's death in 1153.