The medieval period was dominated by conflict, especially the long-running struggles between England and Scotland. Carlisle, situated just a few miles from the border, was often on the front line of these wars.

Throughout the 12th to 15th centuries, the city was repeatedly attacked, besieged, and sometimes captured by Scottish forces. The castle played a crucial defensive role in these conflicts. Its walls withstood numerous sieges, and its garrison often served as the last bastion of English authority in the region.

One of the most famous episodes was the Scottish siege of Carlisle in 1315 during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Robert the Bruce’s forces attempted to take the castle, but it held firm. Later, in 1644, during the English Civil War, Carlisle was also besieged and changed hands between Royalists and Parliamentarians.

Despite the wars, Carlisle grew in importance as a market town and administrative center. Its status as a county town of Cumberland made it a hub for trade, governance, and justice. The city developed medieval walls and gates, parts of which survive today as a reminder of its defensive past.

The Border Reivers and Turbulent Times

The Anglo-Scottish border region was notorious for its lawlessness and clan feuds from the late medieval period into the early modern era. The Border Reivers were families and clans who raided across the border, engaging in cattle rustling, theft, and violence.

Carlisle was both a target and a base for reivers. The city’s castle and walls were essential to protect its inhabitants from raids. The border laws and policies to control the reivers shaped much of Carlisle’s social and political life in this period.

The Union of the Crowns in 1603, when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England, marked a turning point. With the English and Scottish thrones united, the border conflicts diminished, and Carlisle gradually became more peaceful and prosperous. shutdown123