Battles & Campaigns · 1263
Battle of Largs
Largs, North Ayrshire, Scotland, UK
What happened
A storm drove several Norwegian ships ashore near Largs. As the Norwegians tried to save them, a Scottish army arrived. After fighting on the beach and a mound, the Norwegians held their ground and then went back to their ships.
Why it matters
The result was indecisive, but the Norwegian campaign to hold the western islands failed. Haakon died in Orkney that winter.
What came next
Under the Treaty of Perth in 1266, Norway gave the Hebrides and the Isle of Man to Scotland and kept Orkney and Shetland.
Did you know?
Largs holds a Viking Festival every year that ends with the burning of a longship.
Timeline
- 2 Oct 1263Battle of Largs.
- Dec 1263Haakon dies in Orkney.
- 2 Jul 1266Treaty of Perth.
- 1469The annual payments to Norway end.