Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence 1296–1357

by Beth Reid

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Scotland

224 pages, Hardcover

Published August 28, 2025

Reviews

[Melisende · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, Reid's book is a very detailed history of the period commonly known as the Scottish Wars of Independence - the era dominating the political landscape of Scotland from the death of the little Maid of Norway to the Treaty of Berwick which formally ended the wars and secured the release of King David II of Scotland from English captivity. On the other hand, it is an attempt to give to a small cohort of women a more visual role on the political chessboard than they may have previously been given.

To give the author, Beth Reid, their due, the book is well researched, providing a good background and context of the politics of the day; it accessible (conversational even) to the lay reader, thus not a dry, academic tome; and provides a good launching pad for further research.

Read more here @ Melisende's Library

[Acantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absorbing read about some of the women who changed the course of Scottish and English history.

The struggle between the Edwards (I, II & III) of England and the Scottish after the death of Alexander III of Scotland has been told time and time again. From Edward I, the 'Hammer of the Scots' to William Wallace and Robert I (aka 'the Bruce'), these figures loom large in history. But what about the women who lived during those turbulent times? Often forgotten and overlooked, Beth Reid has tried to address that imbalance and bring to the forefront some of the characters who took part.

From people such as Isabella MacDuff who crowned Robert the Bruce, to Robert's daughter Marjorie, from whom all the later Kings of Scotland - and after 1603 England - are descended, to Agnes Randolph, Countess of Dunbar and March who defended her home against a siege from the English, this book celebrates these heroic women and restores them to their rightful places, front and centre of Scottish history.

Lesser known figures however are also explored which is fantastic, looking at the fate and lives of Robert's sisters, and of other women who were forced into war, who had to endure sieges and protect their loved ones, sometimes at unimaginable costs.

Without the contributions of these women, it is hard to imagine Scotland surviving in the 1300's as an independent state - Isabella's actions for example were crucial to legitimize Robert. It is a great tragedy that so many historical records have been lost from this time, but this very readable account goes some way to showing their lives and fates. Entertaining, horrific and sympathetic in equal measures, this book is well worth a read if you have any interest in the period, or just want to challenge the tired assumption that women did nothing but bear children in those days.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Reid's Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence 1296–1357 successfully fills a significant gap in medieval Scottish history by spotlighting the noblewomen who shaped Scotland's fight for independence. Rather than focusing on the familiar male figures like Edward I, William Wallace, and Robert the Bruce, Reid brings forward the stories of remarkable women such as Isabella MacDuff (who crowned Robert the Bruce), Agnes Randolph (who defended Dunbar Castle), and Robert's own sisters and daughter Marjorie.

The book is well-researched yet refreshingly accessible—conversational rather than academic in tone—making it perfect for general readers interested in the period. Reid skillfully contextualizes the complex politics of the era while highlighting how these women's contributions were absolutely crucial to Scotland's survival as an independent state. From legitimizing kings to defending castles during sieges, these noblewomen demonstrated that their roles extended far beyond the household.

While the book is relatively short due to the scarcity of primary sources from this turbulent period (many documents were destroyed or removed from Scotland), Reid makes excellent use of available chronicles, royal charters, and material culture. The result is an entertaining and sympathetic account that's both horrific and inspiring in equal measure.

This is essential reading for anyone interested in medieval Scottish history or those wanting to challenge assumptions about women's roles in the Middle Ages. Reid has created an excellent launching pad for further research while restoring these heroic women to their rightful place at the center of Scottish history.

Recommended for readers of medieval history, women's history, and Scottish studies.

Thank you to NetGalley & Pen & Sword for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kavanand (Reading for Two) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating look at the role of women in the two Scottish Wars of Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries. Women may not have been in charge, but they had a significant role in the wars.

I’m familiar with the first Scottish War of Independence when King Robert the Bruce fought against King Edward I of England to keep Scotland independent. During the reign of Bruce’s son King David II, the English once again tried to take control of Scotland by installing a rival king.

During the first war, Bruce’s wife Elizabeth de Burgh, his daughter Marjory, his sisters Mary and Christina, and a noblewoman named Isabella MacDuff were captured and taken to England as hostages. The author spins the tale of their imprisonment and it’s really gripping. Mary and Isabella were kept in room-sized cages for much of their captivity. Marjory, who was just 10 at the time, was initially kept in a cage, but was later moved to a nunnery, as was her aunt Christina. Queen Elizabeth’s confinement was much less horrific than the others, not because she was a queen (Edward I didn’t regard her as queen) but because her father was a powerful ally to England and Edward didn’t want to antagonize him.

The author also delves into the stories of several noblewomen who defended their homes from sieges during the wars. The author notes that their role as the head of large households made them more than capable of keeping an estate safe and running during a siege.

The lack of primary sources for this time period (a lot of documents have been destroyed or taken from Scotland), so the book is relatively short. Despite that, it’s a really interesting look at the role women played in two devastating wars.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this brilliant new book about medieval Scotland and women’s roles in the Scottish Wars of Independence, Beth Reid introduces readers to a wide variety of women whose contributions to Scotland’s history have been overlooked. Including the stories of noble and royal women like Isabella MacDuff, Agnes Randolph, Agnes Comyn, and the women of the Bruce family and stories of untitled landowners, this book covers a wide variety of lives, women, and experiences that contextualize women’s roles in the conflict. The book balances these many narratives and women perfectly and identifies their unique experiences and how they reflect larger ideas about medieval womanhood. Reid’s depth of historical research and detail is absolutely fantastic and brings these stories to life in incredible detail, and readers will be immersed in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Entertaining, brilliantly written, and detailed, this book is a fantastic addition to women’s history and Scottish history because it emphasizes women’s critical roles during conflict and how they coexist with these larger historical events and issues. The ways in which the historical figures are brought to life is absolutely fantastic, and readers will love the variety of stories and women that Beth Reid has brought to life in this brilliant new book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Pen & Sword, and Pen & Sword History for the advance copy.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. This is focused on noblewomen rather than the lives of ordinary women, but it was hard enough to find material for the noblewomen, the roles of individual ordinary women would have been next to impossible. However, it still offers an important part of history that has been often overlooked. The author obvious did a lot of research.

It was very interesting to read and I found out a lot of information that I had no knowledge of. The part about the young royal queen I felt was a little stretched. Yes, her death had a profound impact but is harder to see how her life, for a little she lived it and most of it not in Scotland, is more passive than the way she portrays the active role the other women had.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed 'Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence', I am still reading it, but I am finding it fascinating. The author has researched it really well and it is clear that they have put a lot of effort into this book. I like how the book is separated into three parts, I think this is a good way of formatting the book and I find this easier to read. This book really does fill a gap in the story of the Scottish Wars of Independence as it is often only really discussed in terms of the men involved, so I think Reid has done a good job to fill the gap. I am keen to keep reading.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is,an excellent book the,author has carried out lots of research.
It is essentially about the Scottish wars of independence focusing on what records she can find of the women of the period and their influence on the times.
This must have been very difficult as she says,records of women in the medieval times are scarce but she has done an excellent job.
The book is very easy to read and flows on very well.
I really enjoyed reading it I have no knowledge of the period so it was very interesting
Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword for my arc copy