Battle of Craibstone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Craibstone
Part of Clan Gordon - Clan Forbes feud, and the Marian civil war
Monument marking the site of the Battle of Craibstone
Date 20 November 1571 Location Craibstone croft, Aberdeenshire Result Gordon victory
Belligerents
Clan Gordon and allies	Clan Forbes and allies
Commanders and leaders
Adam Gordon of Auchindoun Captain Ker	Master of Forbes Captain Chisholm Captain Wedderburn Alexander Campbell
Strength
800	900
Casualties and losses
60 200	60 300

The Battle of Craibstone was a fight that happened on November 20, 1571. It took place near Aberdeen, Scotland, in an area now built over. This battle was part of a bigger conflict called the Marian civil war. During this war, different Scottish clans supported either King James VI or Mary, Queen of Scots.

In this battle, the Clan Forbes supported King James VI. The Clan Gordon supported Mary, Queen of Scots. The battle was named after Craibstone Croft, a nearby farm. The Gordons won the battle, forcing the Forbes clan to retreat.

What Was the Battle of Craibstone?

The Battle of Craibstone was a short but important fight. It lasted about one hour. The Gordon clan defeated the Forbes clan. Both sides lost about 60 men. After the battle, Alexander, the son of Lord Forbes, was captured. He was taken to Huntly Castle.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The main groups fighting were the Clan Gordon and the Clan Forbes. Each clan also had allies helping them.

The Forbes Side

The Forbes side was led by the Master of Forbes. He was joined by Captains Chisholm and Wedderburn. These captains commanded soldiers called "hagbutters." Hagbutters were early musketeers, meaning they used a type of gun called a hagbut. The Forbes side had about 800 fighters in total. Alexander Campbell also fought with the Forbes, leading some cavalry (soldiers on horseback).

The Gordon Side

The Gordon side was led by Adam Gordon of Auchindoun and Captain Ker. They had about 900 fighters.

How the Battle Unfolded

On November 20, 1571, the Forbes forces marched towards Aberdeen. They crossed the bridge into the town. They met Adam Gordon's men at Craibstone. The two sides fought for about an hour.

Some stories say the Forbes troops were low on food. They also might have wasted their ammunition (bullets for their guns). This gave the Gordons an advantage. The Forbes archers (bowmen) reportedly ran away, which weakened their side.

The Outcome of the Battle

The Gordons won the battle. The Forbes forces were forced to retreat. Many Forbes soldiers were killed or captured. One account says Captain Chisholm and 300 men were killed. It also states that the Master of Forbes and 200 men were captured. Another source says the Gordons only lost 30 men, while the Forbes lost 300. However, most other reports suggest the losses were more even, around 60 men on each side. The pursuit of the fleeing Forbes soldiers lasted for about four miles.