Edward I of England captures and sacks Berwick-upon-Tweed on March 30, 1296 during the First War of Scottish Independence. Berwick was Scotland's most important trading port at the time, second only to London in economic importance.
Contemporary accounts of the number of people slain estimated that in in less than two days no fewer than fifteen thousand of both sexes perished, some by the sword, others by fire. Much booty was seized from the city. The town was then repopulated with English people from Northumbria. it wasn't until 1318 when Berwick was recaptured by King Robert and the English burgesses was expelled. However, Berwick would change hands several more times in the years to come, before permanently becoming part of England in 1482 when the town was captured by the English.
