Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, medieval

Battle of Dun Nechtain

Battle of Dun Nechtain was a battle fought on 20 May AD 685 at Dunnichen, in what is now United Kingdom. The recorded result: Pictish victory.

See it on the globe Read the article

This image is a crop of a photograph of the Pictish stone in the churchyard at Aberlemno Parish Church (the stone is sometimes known as Aberlemno II). The battle scene depicted is generally accepted t
This image is a crop of a photograph of the Pictish stone in the churchyard at Aberlemno Parish Church (the stone is sometimes known as Aberlemno II). The battle scene depicted is generally accepted t. Greenshed, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought20 May AD 685
WhereDunnichen, United Kingdom56.630N, 2.800W
OutcomePictish victory
BelligerentsPictlandagainstNorthumbria

Record

Date20 May AD 685
PlaceDunnichen, United Kingdom
56.630N, 2.800W
KindBattle, medieval
Commanders
  • Bridei III of the Picts
  • Ecgfrith of Northumbria
Battle of Dun NechtainBattle of Dun NechtainBattle of StracathroBattle of BarrySiege of St Andrews CastleBattle of Mons GraupiusBattle of DunsinaneSiege of St Andrews CastleBattle of Mons GraupiusBattle of DunsinaneGlasgowEdinburghAberdeenAyrInvernessGreenockFort William100 km56.630N, 2.800W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Elsewhere in AD 685

Battle of Dun Nechtain is one of 179 engagements of the 7th century in the atlas and one of 695 in present-day United Kingdom.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q961243, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Dun Nechtain, revision 1370439482, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.