Siege of Carlisle (1315)

The Siege of Carlisle was a siege in the First War of Scottish Independence. Robert the Bruce, after his victory at the Battle of Bannockburn, had led a raid into England, and went to besiege Carlisle. He used all methods he could, including ladders and a siege tower to get his troops up. Many ladders were knocked down and the siege tower got stuck in mud on the banks of the River Eden which surrounded all of the castle that was not enclosed within the city walls (the course of the river was changed at some point in the 19th century). The Castle's keeper was Andrew Harclay, 1st Earl of Carlisle who was a brilliant commander. Robert was eventually driven off with heavy casualties.