Battle of the Pass of Brander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Pass of Brander |
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| Part of Wars of Scottish Independence | |||||||
 Eastern end of Pass of Brander, dammed in 1959 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Bruce Royalist Army | Clan MacDougall Clan Macnaghten |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Robert Bruce James Douglas |
John MacDougall of Lorn | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of the Pass of Brander was an important fight in Scotland. It was part of the bigger Wars of Scottish Independence. It was also a key part of a civil war within Scotland. This civil war was between the supporters of Robert the Bruce and the supporters of the Comyn family.
King Robert the Bruce won this battle against the MacDougalls of Argyll. The MacDougalls were related to John Comyn, also known as the Red Comyn. Robert the Bruce and his followers had killed John Comyn in 1306. The exact date of the battle isn't known for sure, but it likely happened in the late summer of 1308.
Contents
Scotland's Civil War
The death of John Comyn was a huge event in Scottish history. Soon after, Robert the Bruce was crowned King. The Scottish Church supported him, even though the Pope had placed a ban on Scotland. Bruce still faced many challenges. At first, the English had more power in Scotland.
Why the Nobles Fought Bruce
The English King, Edward I of England, struggled to get Scottish nobles to support him for long. But after John Comyn's death, his large family network turned against Robert the Bruce. They saw Bruce as a greater enemy. These Scottish enemies of Bruce controlled important lands across Scotland. This included areas like Galloway, Lochaber, and Argyll.
Early Struggles for Bruce
Much of Argyll was controlled by Alexander MacDougall, the Lord of Lorne. He was related to John Comyn through marriage. After Bruce was defeated by the English at the Battle of Methven, his army was attacked again. This time, Alexander's son, John of Lorne (also called Iain 'Bacach' or 'the Lame'), attacked them at the Battle of Dalrigh. Bruce barely escaped capture and had to go into hiding.
Bruce's Comeback
Despite these early defeats, King Robert made an amazing recovery. He started a guerrilla war in Ayrshire in the spring of 1307. He also got lucky when Edward I, the English King, died in July 1307. Edward's son, Edward II, was less interested in Scotland. This allowed Bruce to act quickly. He believed the English would return in 1308, so he moved fast to secure his power.
Bruce Takes Back the North
Robert the Bruce decided to deal with his Scottish enemies first.
Campaign in Galloway
His first attack was in September 1307 in Galloway. This was the traditional home of the Balliol family, who were rivals to Bruce. The fighting was so fierce that local farmers fled to England. The leaders in Galloway asked Edward II for help, but he didn't send any. They were then forced to make a truce with Bruce and pay him tribute.
Pushing North into the Highlands
After Galloway, Bruce turned his attention to the north. He marched through English-held lands and headed for Lochaber. This area was an old stronghold of the Red Comyn's family. Bruce's army was also supported by a fleet of galleys (ships) sailing up Loch Linnhe.
John Bacach, who was leading the MacDougalls for his elderly father, asked for a truce. He couldn't face Bruce's combined land and sea attack. Bruce then moved northeast to fight his main enemy, John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan, who was a cousin of the Red Comyn. This campaign lasted through the winter. It ended with the Battle of Inverurie in May 1308. With his enemies in the north defeated, Bruce was free to return to the west.
The Battle at Pass of Brander
Alexander MacDougall, the Lord of Lorne, was too old and sick to fight. So, his son, John Bacach, led the MacDougall forces.
The Battleground
In the summer of 1308, John Bacach's army took up positions in the narrow Pass of Brander. This pass is where the River Awe cuts through the southern side of Ben Cruachan. The river flows down from Loch Awe. The only detailed account of the battle comes from a poem called "The Brus." It describes the location, which matches the Pass of Brander. Many stone piles, called cairns, around the Bridge of Awe might support this location.
Bruce's Clever Plan
John Bacach watched his men from a galley on Loch Awe. His soldiers were hidden on the hillside, looking down on the narrow path through the pass. They hoped to repeat their earlier victory at the Battle of Dalrigh. But Bruce had learned a lot about guerrilla warfare by now. He also had enough men to avoid such a trap.
A group of Scottish archers, led by Sir James Douglas, climbed even higher up Ben Cruachan. They positioned themselves behind the MacDougall forces without being seen.
The Fight and Its Outcome
When the MacDougalls attacked, they were caught in a trap. King Robert's men attacked from below, and Sir James Douglas's archers attacked from above. The MacDougall soldiers began to waver and then broke apart. They were chased west across the River Awe all the way back to Dunstaffnage Castle.
John Bacach escaped down the Loch in his galley. He eventually found safety in England, just like the Earl of Buchan. Alexander MacDougall, John's father, surrendered to Bruce. However, he later joined his son in exile and died in 1310 while serving the English King.
End of the Threat
The campaigns of 1307 and 1308 ended the internal threat to Robert the Bruce's rule. All of his Comyn enemies were either defeated or forced into exile. They lost their lands in Scotland. The survivors could only continue fighting as volunteers in the English army. However, some bad feelings remained. These would return to Scotland later, in 1332, under different circumstances.
Where Exactly Was the Battle?
Just like the date, there is some debate about the exact location of the Battle of Brander. Some historians suggest it took place further north, on the shores of Loch Etive. They argue that if it was on Loch Etive, it should be called the Battle of Ben Cruachan.
However, for a battle to happen on Loch Etive, Bruce would have had to clear the Pass of Brander first. The Pass of Brander was the most obvious place for an ambush. Also, some argue that John's escape by galley would only have been possible on Loch Etive, which is a sea loch, not Loch Awe, which is an inland loch. But even on an inland loch, a galley would be a good way to escape from slower land forces. Looking at a map, it seems unlikely there was a "Battle of Ben Cruachan."
