Historic Scotland Celebrates Battle of Flodden 500th Anniversary at Stirling Castle

A month of events at Stirling Castle to mark the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden and the subsequent coronation of the infant King James V will culminate in a weekend of commemoration on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September.

After Flodden – Commemoration and Coronation will transport visitors back to the sixteenth century, giving them a glimpse into royal life in the period, as costumed interpreters help to bring to life the events of 1513, its aftermath and its impact on castle life.

Visitors can witness James IV’s wife Margaret Tudor receiving word of her husband’s death, discussing her son, the new king, and reflecting on her ambitious brother Henry VIII.

They will also have the opportunity to learn more about the fashions of the period, hear about life in the royal nursery of James V and meet the castle guards and learn how they have been charged with the defence of the young king and Stirling Castle.

Visitors will also be able to witness the crowning of one of Scotland’s most celebrated monarchs, as the coronation of James V is re-enacted.

On the evening of 22 September, the Scottish Chamber Choir will perform a unique ticketed concert in the Castle’s Great Hall, a building commissioned by James IV. The choir will perform music by the 16th-century Scottish composers David Peebles, Andro Kemp and Robert Johnson, alongside the work of Scotland’s most prominent living composer, James MacMillan. Tickets are available on-site or on the Historic Scotland website.

The Battle of Flodden took place on 9 September 1513, when James IV led a Scottish army into Northumberland, where they were met by an English force. The Scots suffered a heavy defeat, and James became the last king in European history to die in battle. He was succeeded by his one-year-old son, who was crowned James V at Stirling.

Kit Reid, Interpretation Manager at Historic Scotland said: “The repercussions of the Battle of Flodden were felt throughout Scotland, particularly at Stirling, where James IV’s noblemen re-grouped after the defeat and where the King’s successor was crowned.

“To mark the 500th anniversary of the battle, and the subsequent coronation of James V, this weekend of informative events at Stirling Castle will allow visitors to step back in time to learn more about castle life and to reflect on the impact the events of 1513 had on the royal court.”