The siege of Wark is a 1138 siege of Wark on Tweed Castle (Wark castle) conducted from May–November by Scottish forces under David I against the defending English garrison. The siege was part of a campaign launched by David in support of his niece, the Empress Matilda, and her claim to the English throne over that of Stephen of Blois who had seized the throne in 1135. The invasion followed a similar campaign in 1136 when David had succeeded in gaining control of Cumberland, and raids launched in 1137 and earlier in 1138.
Despite David's defeat at the battle of the Standard in August 1138, the siege continued and the castle fell in November after the abbot of Rievaulx negotiated a surrender allowing the starved defenders to leave honourably with their arms. The fall of Wark contributed to Stephen being forced to cede control of Northumberland to David in 1139. Cumberland and Northumberland would both remain under Scottish control until after David's death in 1153.
Background
Anglo-Scottish relations
While Henry I ruled England relations between the England and Scotland had been peaceful. David I of Scotland had a good personal relationship with Henry and fully supported Henry's intention to have his daughter, the Empress Matilda, named as his heir. David was Matilda's maternal uncle and would become one of her most powerful supporters. Following Henry's death in 1135 his nephew, Stephen of Blois, seized the throne. David responded by seizing Cumberland and Northumberland.
A treaty was signed in February 1136 by which David retained Cumberland, relinquished lands in Northumberland, and had his son, another Henry, recognised as lord of Huntingdon, for which he did homage to Stephen. Stephen also promised to address Henry's claim to Northumberland. The peace did not last and in 1137 and early 1138, David had launched raids into England planned to coincide with rebellions in southern England by Matilda's supporters. Wark was besieged during this time for three weeks, starting on 10 January. After this, David let loose his army to raid and pillage through Northumberland, before being driven back by the English under Count Waleran by mid February. Stephen responded in kind with a raid upon coastal Lothian. In contrast to the campaigns of 1136 and 1137, no attempt was made to contact David or attempt diplomacy. Stephen then returned to England so abruptly that the chronicler John of Hexham speculated he may have doubted the loyalty of some within his army.
English rebellion
After Easter 1138 there was a series of rebellions against Stephen across the west of England, with the key defector being Robert of Gloucester, who renounced his fealty to Stephen and declared his support for Matilda's claim to the throne. One defector was Eustace fitz John who reached David as the King was again raiding into England. Eustace's brother, William fitz John, joined Robert's southern campaign, providing a link between the two forces. The Gesta Stephani mentions a letter sent by Matilda to David seeking his support. David responded by reopening his campaign in Northumberland on 8 April. David's army had retreated to Roxburgh while Stephen raided Lothian and now crossed the border with the intention of devastating coastal Northumberland and County Durham.
Siege
Siege begins
The siege began in May 1138 after David's attention was drawn by the garrison of Wark raiding the Scottish supply lines. This was the only known raid by a castle garrison behind enemy lines in the Scottish invasions of England of 1138 and 1173-1174, and it succeeded in taking hostages for ransom. Richard of Hexham, the closest chronicler, reports that the initial phase of the siege was a sharp fight, with the Scottish employing battering rams and other siege engines. Casualties were high among the attackers, and David left in search of a more decisive victory. Two barons were assigned to continue the blockade of the castle. It was during this time that Eustace fitz John joined David and pushed for the king to assault Bamburgh castle, custody of which Eustace had lost earlier in the year. David instead chose to march south, perhaps intending to put pressure on Stephen.