The opening act of the Wars of Independence
On 13 March 1296, Edward I of England attacked Berwick-upon-Tweed, then Scotland's wealthiest trading port and one of the most prosperous towns in Britain. The sack was savage. Edward's soldiers massacred the population over three days — men, women, and children. Estimates of the dead range from 4,000 to 17,000. The Flemish merchant community, who had their own Red Hall in the town, defended themselves until their building was set ablaze.
The attack on Berwick was Edward's response to Scotland's alliance with France — the "Auld Alliance" signed in 1295. King John Balliol, whom Edward had placed on the Scottish throne as a puppet, had renounced his allegiance and sided with France. Edward's response was to invade Scotland and demonstrate what happened to those who defied him.
After Berwick, Edward marched north. The Scottish army was destroyed at the Battle of Dunbar in April. Balliol was captured, stripped of his royal insignia, and humiliated — earning the nickname "Toom Tabard" (empty coat). Edward seized the Stone of Destiny from Scone and installed himself as ruler of Scotland. He declared Scotland a conquered territory and appointed English officials to govern it.
The sack of Berwick set the tone for the Wars of Independence that would consume Scotland for the next 30 years. It also hardened Scottish resistance. Within a year, William Wallace and Andrew Murray had risen in revolt. The savagery at Berwick — and Edward's subsequent cruelty — ensured that Scottish resistance was not just political but deeply personal. The scars lasted for centuries.