View source for User:Angusmclellan/Bataille de Dunnichen

{{Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=Battle of Dunnichen
|image=
|caption=
|partof=the Pictish-Northumbrian conflicts
|date=[[May 20]], [[685]]
|place=traditionally near [[Dunnichen]]; alternatively, near Dunachton, Invernessshire.
|result=Pictish victory
|combatant1=[[Picts]]
|combatant2=[[Northumbrian]]s
|commander1=[[Bridei III of the Picts|Bridei III]]
|commander2=[[Ecgfrith of Northumbria|Ecgfrith]]
|strength1=
|strength2=
|casualties1=
|casualties2=
}}
Need infobox.

La '''Bataille de Dunnichen''' ou '''bataille de Nechtansmere''' eut lieu le [[20 Mars]] [[685]] entre les [[Pictes]], sous leur roi [[:fr:Brude III des Pictes]], et les armées d'[[:fr:Ecgrith]], roi de [[Northumbrie]].


The '''Battle of Dunnichen''' (Welsh ''Linn garan'') or '''Battle of Nechtansmere''' was fought between the [[Picts]] and [[Northumbria|Northumbrians]] on [[May 20]], [[685]].  Scholars have generally located the site in [[Forfar]], [[Angus]], but new research by [[Alex Woolf]] of St. Andrews University suggests a more likely site to be Dunachton in [[Badenoch]], on the western shore of Loch Insh. The battle ended with a decisive Pictish victory which severely weakened Northumbria's power in northern [[Great Britain|Britain]].

The Northumbrians had been gradually extending their territory to the north, their constituent kingdom of [[Bernicia]] having captured [[Edinburgh]] from the [[Gododdin]] around [[638]]. For the next thirty years they established political dominance over the Kingdoms of [[Strathclyde]] and [[Dál Riata]], as well as Pictish [[Fortriu]].

King [[Ecgfrith of Northumbria]] invaded lands held by the Picts in 685, apparently to stop them from raiding to the south.  They met in battle on May 20 near [[Dunnichen]]; the Picts pretended to retreat, drawing the Northumbrians into the [[swamp]] of Dunnichen.  The Pictish King [[Bridei III of the Picts|Bridei III]] killed Ecgfrith and destroyed his army and enslaved many of the survivors.  After the battle, Northumbria's influence never again extended past the [[Firth of Forth]].

Little is known about the actual battle; it was briefly described by the Venerable [[Bede]] in the [[8th century]].

==References==
{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}<div class="references-small">
* [[Alex Woolf|Woolf, Alex]], "Dun Nechtain, Fortriu and the Geography of the Picts" (forthcoming).
</div>{{col-end}}


[[de:Schlacht bei Dunnichen Mere]]