Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach |
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| Part of the Scottish clan wars | |||||||
 Battlefield looking westwards from the cemetery. The Tutim Burn joins the Oykel roughly level with Tuiteam house, the white building on the right. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Clan Mackay Clan Sutherland |
Clan MacLeod of Lewis | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Angus Mackay Hugh Mackay Alexander Murray |
Malcolm MacLeod | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 1 survivor | ||||||
The Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach was a big fight between two Scottish clans. Its name means "plentiful slaughter" in Scottish Gaelic. It's also known by a few other names like Tuttim-Tarwach. This battle happened when the Mackays stopped raiders from the Clan MacLeod of Lewis. The MacLeods were returning after attacking Mackay lands in Strathnaver.
The Mackays caught up with the raiders on the north side of the River Oykel. This was about three miles west of where the Oykel river meets the River Cassley. This area is at the start of the Kyle of Sutherland. The battle most likely took place in the year 1406. However, the exact date is not completely clear from old records.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
A Family Dispute
Angus Mackay, 6th of Strathnaver had married a woman named Sidheag. She was the sister of Roderick, who was the chief of the MacLeods. When Angus Mackay passed away, he left his brother, Black Hugh (also called Uistean Dow), in charge. Hugh became the "regent" or "tutor" for Angus's two young sons. Their names were Angus Dow and Rory Gald.
In 1406, Roderick MacLeod heard that his sister, Sidheag, was having a disagreement with Hugh Mackay. Roderick decided to get involved. He sent a group of his men to the Reay Country. This area was the Mackay lands that bordered Caithness.
Raids and Revenge
Malcolm MacLeod, Roderick's brother, led these men. Malcolm was also known as Gille-caluim Beag. He tried to settle the dispute, but they couldn't agree. So, Malcolm's group attacked and raided the Mackay lands in Strathnaver. They also raided the Sutherland area called Brae-Chat (Breachat). This area is near Lairg, at the south end of Loch Shin.
These raids made both the Mackays and Robert, the Earl of Sutherland, very angry. The Earl of Sutherland sent his own group of men to help. These men were led by Alexander Murray of Cubin. They joined Hugh Mackay to chase after the MacLeod raiders.
The Battle Begins
Catching the Raiders
The River Oykel and its wide mouth, the Kyle of Sutherland, stretch across the Scottish Highlands. This river was the traditional border between Sutherland to the north and Ross to the south. It was also an important route connecting the east coast to the MacLeod lands in Assynt in the west.
The Mackays and the men from Sutherland finally caught up with the MacLeods. The MacLeods were crossing a stream called the Tutim Burn. They were slowed down because they were carrying lots of stolen goods and cattle.
A Fierce Fight
At first, Hugh Mackay just wanted to get his property back. But the MacLeods refused to give it up. This led to a very "furious" and "cruel" battle. It was a desperate fight. In the end, almost all the MacLeods were killed. Only one MacLeod man survived the battle. He managed to make it back to Lewis. He told everyone about the terrible defeat before he died from his wounds.
What Happened Next
New Leaders and Power
Hugh Mackay passed away two years after the battle. His nephew, Angus Dow, then became the new chief of the Mackays. Angus Dow faced another defeat later at the Battle of Dingwall in 1411. This was against Donald, the Lord of the Isles.
Despite this, the Mackays grew stronger and expanded their lands under Angus Dow. He is seen as the ancestor of all the future Mackay chiefs. By 1427, Angus Dow was very important. He was one of the chiefs called to a special meeting in Inverness by King James I. The King arrested them there. At that time, Angus Dow had 4,000 men under his command. This great power earned him the nickname Enneas-en-Imprissi, which means "Angus the Absolute."
Battlefield Today
In the past, many stone piles called cairns marked the battlefield. But over time, these stones were used to build dry stone walls. A cemetery was later built on the hillside to the east of where the battle happened. Local stories say that the cemetery wall was built using stones from these old cairns. Today, the A837 road runs right through the old battlefield.
More Scottish Clan Battles
- Battle of Harlaw (1411) - After the Battle of Dingwall, the Mackays joined the Lord of the Isles in his attempt to take control of the Earldom of Ross.
- Battle of Harpsdale (1426) - A raid by the Mackays into Caithness.
- Battle of Drumnacoub (1429 or 1431) - A very important battle near Tongue. It was a civil war between Angus Dow's own children.
- Battle of Auldicharish (1487) - The Mackays defeated Clan Ross in Strathcarron after a raid on Strathoykel.
