Battle of Tarbat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Tarbat |
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| Part of the Scottish clan wars | |||||||
 Tarbat Old Church, Portmahomack, rebuilt in 1756 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Clan Ross | Clan Mackay | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Alexander Ross of Balnagown | Angus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | No survivors? | ||||||
The Battle of Tarbat was an important fight between two Scottish clans. It happened in the 1480s on the Tarbat peninsula in Easter Ross, Scotland. The Clan Ross fought against a group from Clan Mackay. The Rosses won the battle.
Why Did the Battle Happen?
For many years, the Clan Mackay and Clan Ross had a feud. A feud is a long-lasting argument or fight between families or groups. This feud often led to raids, where one clan would attack the other's land.
The Mackays, led by Angus Roy Mackay, often raided the lands of the Rosses. These raids were sometimes about taking back land. Both clans wanted control over certain areas in Ross-shire. This constant fighting eventually led to the Battle of Tarbat.
The exact year of the battle is not fully known. Historians believe it happened sometime in the 1480s. It took place before another big battle called the Battle of Aldy Charrish.
What Happened During the Battle?
The Ross clan found the Mackay raiding party on the Tarbat peninsula. The Rosses attacked fiercely. Many Mackays were killed during this fight.
The remaining Mackay fighters tried to find safety. They ran into the nearby Tarbat church, hoping to be safe there. However, the Rosses were determined to defeat them. They set the church on fire. Everyone inside, including Angus Roy Mackay, died in the fire.
A old poem describes the scene:
The Lady Christian spoke: "How goes the fight?"
And William said:
"Forty Mackays are dead or wounded, what remains
Are cornered safely in the Tarbat Church
And father guards the door with his broad axe."
Archaeologists have studied the Tarbat Old Church. They found signs of a big fire from the Middle Ages. The stone walls are scorched orange, and charcoal was found. This supports the old stories about the church being burned.
What Happened After the Battle?
The Mackays wanted revenge for their lost fighters and their chief. Angus Roy Mackay's son, John (Iain) Riabhach Mackay, led a new attack on the Ross lands in 1487.
This led to the Battle of Aldy Charrish. In that battle, Alexander Ross of Balnagowan, the leader of the Ross clan, was killed. Many other Ross family members also died. The Clan Ross was greatly weakened by this defeat.
