Battle of Invernahavon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Invernahavon
Part of Clan Cameron-Clan Mackintosh feud
The River Spey at the point where itis joined by the River Truim (on the right), where the battle is said to have taken place
Date 1386, 1370 Location Invernahavon in the upper Spey valley grid reference NN689962 Result Chattan (Mackintosh) victory
Belligerents
Clan Cameron	Chattan Confederation
Commanders and leaders
Charles MacGilony	Lachlan Mackintosh
Strength
400	Somewhat more than 400
Casualties and losses
High	Unknown

The Battle of Invernahavon was an old Scottish battle. It happened between two big groups of families, called clans. One side was the Clan Cameron. The other side was a group called Clan Chattan, which included the Clan Mackintosh, Clan Macpherson, and Clan Davidson. Historians aren't sure exactly when it happened, but it was either in 1370 or 1386.

Why the Battle Happened

For many years, the Clan Mackintosh and the Clan Cameron didn't get along. They had a long-standing argument, called a feud. This fight was mainly about who owned certain lands, like Glenlui and Loch Arkaig. Both clans would often raid each other's areas, taking valuable things like cattle.

The Battle Unfolds

In 1370, old records say that about 400 Cameron fighters raided a place called Badenoch. As they were heading home with the things they had taken, the Clan Chattan caught up to them. This happened at Invernahavon. The Clan Chattan was led by their chief, Lachlan Mackintosh.

A Tricky Start

At first, the Clan Chattan was actually defeated by the Camerons. This was surprising because Clan Chattan had more fighters. The problem was that two parts of Clan Chattan, the Macphersons and the Davidsons, had an argument. They disagreed about which group should lead the "right wing" of their army. This was considered the most important position.

The Mackintosh chief chose the Davidsons to lead. Because of this, the Macphersons got upset and left the battle. With fewer fighters, the Mackintosh and Davidson forces were then beaten by the Camerons.

The Macphersons Return

However, the Macphersons soon came back to the fight. They attacked the Camerons, which completely changed how the battle was going. The Camerons, who had been winning, were now defeated. They had to retreat towards the Pass of Drumochter. They went around Loch Ericht and then turned west towards the River Treig.

One story says that the Mackintosh chief sent someone to tease the Macphersons. He called them cowards for not fighting. This made them angry enough to rejoin the battle. The leader of the Camerons, Charles Macgilony, was said to have been killed in this battle. However, some local stories say that the Cameron chief, Dhomhnuil Duibhe, was actually in command.

What Happened Next

Some historians believe that the Battle of Invernahavon led to another famous clan battle. This was the Battle of the North Inch, which happened in Perth in 1396. It was also fought between the Clan Chattan and the Clan Cameron. It's very likely that the fight at Perth was connected to what happened at Invernahavon.