Battle of Summerdale

Battle of Summerdale
Part of Rebellion of the Orkney Sinclairs

Flags of Caithness and Orkney
DateMay 19, 1529 (1529-05-19)
Location
boundary of the parishes of Orphir and Stenness in Mainland, Orkney, Scotland.
58°58′37.6″N 03°08′25.8″W / 58.977111°N 3.140500°W / 58.977111; -3.140500 (battle site)
Result Victory for Orkney Sinclairs
Belligerents
Clan Sinclair of Caithness (supporters of James V of Scotland) Sinclairs of Orkney
Orcadians
Commanders and leaders
John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness  
William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair
James Sinclair, Governor of Orkney
Casualties and losses
500 men killed including the Earl of Caithness
William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair and others taken prisoner
One killed

The Battle of Summerdale (also called the Battle of Bigswell) was fought on 19 May 1529, and was the last battle to take place on Orkney soil. The battle took place on the boundary of the parishes of Orphir and Stenness in Mainland, Orkney (several miles west of Kirkwall). The battle was fought between the Sinclairs of Orkney and Shetland and the Sinclairs of Caithness, who had the support of James V, King of Scotland.