Battle of Drumchatt (1497) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Drumchatt (1497) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Rebellion of Domhnall Dubh | |||||||
 Knockfarrel hill also known as the cat's back at Drumchatt where the clan battle is said to have taken place |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Clan Mackenzie Clan Munro (Loyal to James IV of Scotland) |
Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh (Loyal to John of Islay, Earl of Ross) |
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Hector Roy Mackenzie of Gairloch | Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Drumchatt was a Scottish clan battle that happened in 1497. It took place at Drumchatt (Druimchat), which means "the Cat's Back". This ridge is located southeast of Strathpeffer in Scotland.
In this battle, the Clan Mackenzie and possibly the Clan Munro fought against the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh. The Mackenzies and Munros won the fight.
Contents
Why Did the Battle of Drumchatt Happen?
The Lord of the Isles Loses Power
In 1493, a very powerful leader named Sir John of Islay lost his important title, the Lord of the Isles. The King of Scotland, James IV of Scotland, took it away. Sir John had also lost his title as Earl of Ross earlier in 1475.
Because of this, many clans in western and northern Scotland felt they no longer had to follow the MacDonalds. Clans like the Clan MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan started to look for new alliances.
King James IV's Influence
In 1495, King James IV gathered his army in Glasgow. On May 18, many highland chiefs promised their loyalty to him. This included the leaders of the Clan Mackenzie and Clan Munro.
This might explain why the Munros and Mackenzies fought together. Normally, these two clans were rivals.
Were the Munros There?
Historians have different ideas about whether the Clan Munro was at the Battle of Drumchatt in 1497.
- Donald Gregory, a historian from the early 1800s, said the Munros were there.
- However, Alexander Mackenzie, a historian from the late 1800s, noted that the earliest account of the battle, written by Sir Robert Gordon in the 1600s, does not mention the Munros.
What Do Historical Records Say?
Historians learn about past events like the Battle of Drumchatt from old writings. Here's what some important historical accounts say:
- The first record of the 1497 Battle of Drumchatt was written by Sir Robert Gordon (1580–1650). His book, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland, was written in the early 1600s.
- Donald Gregory also wrote about the battle in his book, History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland (1835).
- William Anderson mentioned it in The Scottish Nation.
Sir Robert Gordon's Account (1625)
Sir Robert Gordon called the fight at Drumchatt a "skirmish." He wrote that it happened after another battle, the Battle of Blar Na Pairce, which was also between the MacDonalds and Mackenzies.
He said: "Some of the islanders and the Clandonald met with Clankeinzie at a place in Ross called Drumchatt. A sharp skirmish happened. But in the end, the islanders were defeated and chased out of Ross at that time."
Donald Gregory's Account (1881)
Donald Gregory's book, published in 1881, also talks about the battle. He quoted Sir Robert Gordon and added more details.
He wrote: "In 1497, King James was busy supporting Perkin Warbeck. This gave a chance for a new uprising in the Western Isles. Sir Alexander (MacDonald) of Lochalsh attacked the rich areas of Ross. We don't know if he wanted to claim the earldom of Ross or get revenge on the Mackenzies. The Mackenzies and Munroes met him at Drumchatt. After a quick fight, he and his followers were defeated again and forced out of Ross."
What Happened After the Battle?
Donald Gregory also shared what happened after the Battle of Drumchatt. He used old family histories from the Mackenzies and Mackintoshs.
The Fate of Sir Alexander of Lochalsh
After the battle, Sir Alexander of Lochalsh went south to the Isles. He tried to get the Islanders to join his cause. However, he was not successful. This was probably because people were scared after Sir John of Isla and his sons had been executed.
Meanwhile, MacIian of Ardnamurchan saw a chance to please the King. He surprised Sir Alexander of Lochalsh on the island of Ornasay, where he had gone to hide. MacIian killed Sir Alexander. Alexander, the oldest living son of John of Isla, helped MacIian. They had become friends again, and MacIian had even given his daughter to Alexander in marriage.
Sir Alexander of Lochalsh had sons and daughters. They later came under the King's control.
The Escape of Mackenzie and MacKintosh
Around the same time as this uprising, the chiefs of Clan Mackenzie and Clan MacKintosh escaped from Edinburgh Castle. But on their way back to the Highlands, they were tricked and captured by the Laird of Buchanan at Torwood.
Mackenzie fought back and was killed. His head, along with MacKintosh, who was taken alive, was given to the King by Buchanan. Buchanan was rewarded for this. MacKintosh was sent back to prison. He stayed there until after the Battle of Flodden.
See also
