Border Fury

"A fascinating history ... in which the author transports readers back to the events of the day, giving a feel of what it was like to participate in combat then." The Scots Magazine

"Written for a popular audience, the narrative is always lively and entertaining." The Journal of Military History

For almost 3 centuries, a bitter war was waged along the Anglo-Scottish border. The conflict was bloody, acrimonious and continued, unabated, from the Edwardian invasions of 1296 until the Union of the Crowns under James VI of Scotland, James I of England in 1603.

Four hundred years later, the legacy of the Border Wars lives with us still, manifested in the character of the Scots and the English, and the residual resentment over any English attempt at domination, whether actual or perceived.

Border Fury is the first total overview of this long history.  In this single volume, John Sadler has created a fascinating account using existing historical sources, his own personal knowledge of the battlefields and his access to private collections of arms and armour.

The book covers all aspects of the major campaigns and battles, including details of the terrain, commanders, weaponry, tactics and outcomes in each case. It also looks at the impact of prolonged warfare on social and economic conditions, the manner in which the rule of law was upheld and how the infamous Steel Bonnets lived and fought. John Sadler conveys what is was actually like for those combatants engaged in the fighting, and demonstrates how the distinctive styles of defensive architecture developed on both sides of the border. He introduces a colourful cast of historical characters, from Edward the I of England, who rightly demanded fealty from the Scottish rulers, through William Wallace, Rob Roy and Robert the Bruce whose reputations and exploits have become the stuff of legend.

John Sadler has spent a lifetime studying the military aspects of the Anglo-Scottish Border conflicts. He possesses an extensive knowledge of the geography and typology of the Anglo-Scottish Border region and has made detailed field studies of all the battles which are described in the book. He has written widely on the Anglo-Scottish wars, including Battle for Northumbria (1988), Scottish Battles (1996), War in the North 1461-1464 (2000), Clan Donald's Greatest Defeat, the Battle of Harlaw 1411 (2005), Raiders & Reivers (2006) and Flodden 1513 (2006) and is a regular contributor to local and military historical journals.