Throughout the history of Scotland, the Carruthers family was involved in many of the battles that shaped Scotland and her relationship with England.  The Carruthers strongholds were in the Southwest part of Scotland, near the English border.  This geography alone led to participation in the various border conflicts.  The border was crossed by either side's invading armies usually in SW Scotland. 

Additionally, even when there was not a declared war in progress, Carruthers were involved with the reiving process - raids across the border to steal and plunder.  The border reiving was so notorious that the respective kings appointed Wardens over the West March (west border), Central March and East March in Scotland, and similarly in England, to police the reiving.  The Carruthers family not only reived, but as one of the leading families on the Border, served at various times as the Warden, Commissioner and other offices of the West March.

Listed below are the various battles of Scotland that affected history, their impacts on families and retention of land, and impacts on the thrones of both Scotland and England.