Battle of Tillieangus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Tillieangus |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Clan Gordon - Clan Forbes feud and Marian civil war | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Clan Gordon | Clan Forbes | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sir Adam Gordon | Black Arthur Forbes | ||||||
The Battle of Tillieangus was a fight between two powerful Scottish families, the Clan Gordon and the Clan Forbes. It happened on 10 October 1571 near the White Hill of Tillyangus in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This battle was part of a bigger conflict called the Marian civil war. In this war, the Gordons supported Mary, Queen of Scots, while the Forbeses supported her son, James VI of Scotland. The Gordons won this battle.
Contents
What Was the Battle of Tillieangus?
The Battle of Tillieangus was a key event in a long-running disagreement between the Clan Gordon and the Clan Forbes. It also happened during the Marian civil war in Scotland. This civil war was a time when Scotland was divided. Some people supported Mary, Queen of Scots, who was in prison in England. Others supported her young son, James VI of Scotland, who was the new king.
The Clan Gordon was on the side of Mary, Queen of Scots. The Clan Forbes supported King James VI. This battle was one of many clashes between these two clans during this difficult time in Scottish history.
The Fight Begins
On 10 October 1571, a group of Gordon fighters, led by Sir Adam Gordon, was on their way to join a larger Gordon force. They were met by a group of Forbes fighters. The Forbes group was led by "Black Arthur" Forbes. He was the youngest son of the 6th Lord Forbes.
The two groups met near the White Hill of Tillyangus. A fierce battle took place. In the end, the Gordons were victorious. Sadly, Black Arthur Forbes was killed during the fight. There is a story that he bent down to drink water, and a Gordon fighter struck him through a weak spot in his armor. Another person who died on the Gordon side was John Gordon of Buckie.
What Happened After the Battle?
News of the battle quickly spread. A letter written on 16 November 1571 mentioned the fight. It was from the Bishop of Galloway to the Earl of Shrewsbury. The letter said that 36 gentlemen from the Forbes family were killed. This included Lord Forbes's brother. The letter also mentioned that 100 Forbes fighters were taken prisoner. One of Lord Forbes's younger sons was among those captured.
Discoveries from the Past
Around the year 1800, something interesting was found at the battle site. A large number of human bones were discovered. These bones were found in places that people traditionally believed were burial mounds, or cairns, from the Battle of Tillieangus. These discoveries help us understand more about the battle and its impact.
