Battle of Palm Sunday facts for kids

The Battle of Palm Sunday, also known as the Massacre of Palm Sunday, was a big fight between two powerful Scottish clans. It happened in 1429 in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. This battle was fought between the Clan Cameron and a group of clans known as the Chattan Confederation.

How do we know about this battle?

Historians learn about past events from old writings. The Battle of Palm Sunday is mentioned in several important historical books.

For example, Walter Bower (who lived from about 1385 to 1449) wrote about it in his book Scotichronicon. Another historian, John Major (1467–1550), included it in his History of Greater Britain. Later, George Buchanan (1506-1582) also wrote about the battle in his History of Scotland, Rerum Scoticarum Historia. These old accounts help us understand what happened long ago.

Why did the battle happen?

Before the battle, the Clan Cameron had taken some cattle from a place called Strathdearn. Taking cattle from another group was a common way for clans to show power or get resources back then. This act of taking cattle, sometimes called a spreagh, likely angered the other clans involved.

What happened during the battle?

According to John Major, both Clan Cameron and Clan Chattan had stopped supporting Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross. Instead, they had decided to be loyal to the king. However, on Palm Sunday in 1429, the Clan Chattan attacked the Clan Cameron.

Some accounts say that many people from both sides were killed. George Buchanan wrote that many of the Clan Mackintosh (who were leaders of the Chattan Confederation) and almost all of the Clan Cameron were killed. The Clan Cameron's own history says that the Mackintoshes attacked them while they were worshipping in a church. During this fight, a large number of Mackintoshes and almost the entire Clan Cameron group were killed. It was a very bloody and tragic event for both clans.