Thousands of people lined the streets of a Scottish town for one of the oldest Borders festivals on Friday.
The Selkirk Common Riding event remembers the story of the 1513 Battle of Flodden, the largest battle between England and Scotland.
Selkirk sent 80 men into battle with the Scottish King. One man returned, bearing a bloodstained English flag.
The Flodden legend came to be associated with the Common Riding held in Selwick.
There is also some suggestion that the Selkirk Common Riding celebrations date back further, to commemorate the men who were tasked with riding the borders of the town, ensuring no one encroached on common land.
The Battle of Flodden on 9th September 1513 saw an English army annihilate an invading Scottish army in Northumberland, northern England. Scotland's King James IV perished in the battle, the last monarch in the British Isles to suffer such a death.
For king and country! Riders charge through town to mark Battle of Flodden when Scottish ruler James IV died in bloody 1513 clash with the English becoming the last British Isles' monarch to die in the field
The Selkirk Common Riding dating from the Battle of Flodden in 1513, remembers the Battle of Flodden
Thousands lined the streets of the town to enjoy the ceremony which has a Royal Standard Bearer as the central figure
As part of the event riders crossed the River Ettrick and activities took place in the Market Place in Selkirk
By Lara Keay and Brendan McFadden For Mailonline
22 June 2018
Thousands of people lined the streets of a Scottish town for one of the oldest Borders festivals today.
The Selkirk Common Riding event remembers the story of 1513 Battle of Flodden, the largest battle between England and Scotland.
Selkirk sent 80 men into battle with the Scottish King. One man returned, bearing a bloodstained English flag.
The Flodden legend came to be associated with the Common Riding held in Selwick.
There is also some suggestion that the Selkirk Common Riding celebrations date back further, to commemorate the men who were tasked with riding the borders of the town, ensuring no one encroached on common land.
The event has a Royal Standard Bearer as the central figure, while its main ceremony includes the 'casting of the colours' which sees different groups cast their banners.
Riders arriving back in Selkirk today after the Common Riding event. The event marks the Battle of Flodden where James IV was killed and became the last monarch from the British Isles to die in battle
Riders ford the River Ettrick, as they take part in the town's Common Riding which dates back to 1513 when the battle occurred
Standard Bearer Peter Forrest and his attendants arrive back in the town (top) and members of the public walk around the town (bottom)
The battle was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey. Pictured a rider at the Common Riding in Selkirk
There were many smiling faces at the Selkirk Common Riding, one of the oldest borders festivals
After the Common Riding, there are activities at the Market Place in Selkirk such as solemn casting of the colours where various trades and corporations are represented
The English were the victors in the Battle of Flodden. Pictured a band member at the Common Riding in Selkirk
Standard Bearer Peter Forrest crosses the River Ettrick holding a Scottish flag and riding a horse
The event dating from the Battle of Flodden in 1513, remembers the story of Flodden, when Selkirk sent 80 men into battle with the Scottish Kind. Our picture shows riders ford the river Ettrick, as they take part in Selkirk's Common Riding
One man returned from the Battle of Flodden holding a blood-stained, English flag. Pictured a band playing at Common Riding in Selkirk
Selkirk rises early to follow the band and witness the bussing of the Burgh Flag. Pictured two riders arriving back in the town at the Common Riding
Members of the public walk around the town during the Selkirk Common Riding which remembers the story of Flodden
The Earl of Surrey (pictured top) led the English into battle while King James IV commanded the invading Scottish
The Battle of Flodden was the largest battle fought between the two countries. King James IV was killed in the battle and became the last monarch from the British Isles to die in battle
What was the Battle of Flodden?
The battle was fought on 9 September 9, 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey.
It ended in victory for the English army, and was the largest battle fought between the two nations
James IV, King of Scots had invaded to honour the Auld Alliance with France by diverting Henry VIII's English troops from a campaign against the French king Louis XII.
James invaded England with an army of about 30,000 but, in keeping with the medieval code of chivalry, sent notice to the English, one month in advance.
The battle took place near the village of Branxton. The Scots had been in a good position at Flodden Edge with their guns but the English managed to lure them away by blocking the Scots' route north.
The Scots marched towards the English - and James was killed within a spear length from the Earl of Surrey and his body taken to Berwick.
The biggest error the Scots made was placing their officers in the front line, medieval style, while the English generals stayed behind the lines in the Renaissance style.
The other modern touch was that this was one of the first major battles where artillery was used
The English dead were put at 1500, the Scots listed their dead at 5,000
Every noble family in Scotland was supposed to have lost a member at Flodden. The dead are still remembered by the song (and pipe tune) 'The Flowers of the Forest'
Riders charge through town to mark Battle of Flodden in 1513 | Daily Mail Online
The Selkirk Common Riding event remembers the story of the 1513 Battle of Flodden, the largest battle between England and Scotland.
Selkirk sent 80 men into battle with the Scottish King. One man returned, bearing a bloodstained English flag.
The Flodden legend came to be associated with the Common Riding held in Selwick.
There is also some suggestion that the Selkirk Common Riding celebrations date back further, to commemorate the men who were tasked with riding the borders of the town, ensuring no one encroached on common land.
The Battle of Flodden on 9th September 1513 saw an English army annihilate an invading Scottish army in Northumberland, northern England. Scotland's King James IV perished in the battle, the last monarch in the British Isles to suffer such a death.
For king and country! Riders charge through town to mark Battle of Flodden when Scottish ruler James IV died in bloody 1513 clash with the English becoming the last British Isles' monarch to die in the field
The Selkirk Common Riding dating from the Battle of Flodden in 1513, remembers the Battle of Flodden
Thousands lined the streets of the town to enjoy the ceremony which has a Royal Standard Bearer as the central figure
As part of the event riders crossed the River Ettrick and activities took place in the Market Place in Selkirk
By Lara Keay and Brendan McFadden For Mailonline
22 June 2018
Thousands of people lined the streets of a Scottish town for one of the oldest Borders festivals today.
The Selkirk Common Riding event remembers the story of 1513 Battle of Flodden, the largest battle between England and Scotland.
Selkirk sent 80 men into battle with the Scottish King. One man returned, bearing a bloodstained English flag.
The Flodden legend came to be associated with the Common Riding held in Selwick.
There is also some suggestion that the Selkirk Common Riding celebrations date back further, to commemorate the men who were tasked with riding the borders of the town, ensuring no one encroached on common land.
The event has a Royal Standard Bearer as the central figure, while its main ceremony includes the 'casting of the colours' which sees different groups cast their banners.
Standard Bearer Peter Forrest and his attendants arrive back in the town (top) and members of the public walk around the town (bottom)
The Earl of Surrey (pictured top) led the English into battle while King James IV commanded the invading Scottish
What was the Battle of Flodden?
The battle was fought on 9 September 9, 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey.
It ended in victory for the English army, and was the largest battle fought between the two nations
James IV, King of Scots had invaded to honour the Auld Alliance with France by diverting Henry VIII's English troops from a campaign against the French king Louis XII.
James invaded England with an army of about 30,000 but, in keeping with the medieval code of chivalry, sent notice to the English, one month in advance.
The battle took place near the village of Branxton. The Scots had been in a good position at Flodden Edge with their guns but the English managed to lure them away by blocking the Scots' route north.
The Scots marched towards the English - and James was killed within a spear length from the Earl of Surrey and his body taken to Berwick.
The biggest error the Scots made was placing their officers in the front line, medieval style, while the English generals stayed behind the lines in the Renaissance style.
The other modern touch was that this was one of the first major battles where artillery was used
The English dead were put at 1500, the Scots listed their dead at 5,000
Every noble family in Scotland was supposed to have lost a member at Flodden. The dead are still remembered by the song (and pipe tune) 'The Flowers of the Forest'
Riders charge through town to mark Battle of Flodden in 1513 | Daily Mail Online
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