Today in Covenanter History

Did you know that on this day in 1639, the Covenanters pulled off what is often described as the most efficient capture in Edinburgh Castle’s history?

Perched high above the city on its volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle has a reputation as one of the hardest fortresses in Britain to take. Historic Environment Scotland describes it as the most besieged castle in Europe, with records of 23 concerted attempts to capture it across the centuries. Many of those struggles are famous: the brutal sieges of the Wars of Independence, the long and destructive Lang Siege of 1571–73, and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s failure to take the fortress during the Jacobite Rising of 1745.

Yet one of the most dramatic episodes in the castle’s history is also one of the least talked about: its astonishingly swift capture by the Covenanters in March 1639.

After the signing of the National Covenant in 1638, and knowing conflict was coming, the Covenanters moved quickly in March 1639 to secure key ports, arsenals and strongholds across the country before royal forces could react.

Edinburgh Castle was the biggest prize of them all.

Covenanter commander Alexander Leslie approached the castle under the cover of a parley with the governor. While that conversation held attention at the gate, Leslie’s men fixed a petard — an explosive charge — to the entrance. Moments later, the blast tore the front gate apart. Covenanter troops surged through the breach, stormed into the fortress, and secured control of the castle in around 30 minutes, with very little bloodshed.

The capture stands out not just because it was fast, but because it was brilliantly executed: surprise, deception and timing achieved what prolonged bombardment often could not. It was the most efficient capture ever carried out at Edinburgh Castle.