Dunoon massacre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dunoon Massacre
Part of the Scottish Clan Wars
The Lamont Memorial in Dunoon commemorates the massacre
Date 3 June 1646 Location Dunoon, Scotland Result Campbell Victory
Belligerents
Clan Campbell	Clan Lamont
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Sir James Lamont
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	c. 250

The Dunoon massacre was a terrible event that happened near Dunoon in Scotland on June 3, 1646. During this time, members of the powerful Clan Campbell attacked and killed many people from the Clan Lamont. This included men, women, and children.

What Happened at Dunoon?

A Long-Standing Rivalry

By 1646, the Clan Campbell and Clan Lamont were neighbors. The Campbells had been slowly taking over land that belonged to the Lamonts. This caused a lot of tension between the two clans.

Taking Revenge

In 1645, there was a big battle called the Battle of Inverlochy. After this battle, the Clan Lamont saw a chance to strike back. They attacked and damaged the lands of the Clan Campbell.

The Campbell Attack

The next year, the strong Clan Campbell army decided to get revenge. They invaded the lands of the Clan Lamont. They captured two of the Lamont's castles: Toward and Asgog.

Betrayal at Castle Toward

At Castle Toward, the Campbells pretended to be friendly. They asked for a place to stay, which was given to them as was the custom. But instead of being guests, they attacked the Lamonts while they slept. They also made the castle's water supply unusable.

Broken Promises

The leader of the Clan Lamont, Sir James Lamont, decided to surrender. He was told that his people would be safe. However, the Campbells did not keep their word. They took the Lamonts as prisoners.

The Massacre Begins

Both castles were set on fire and destroyed. The prisoners were then taken by boat to Dunoon. There, the Campbells killed over 200 people from the Clan Lamont. This included men, women, and children. Many were killed in different ways. Sir James Lamont himself was thrown into a dark prison for five years. This sad event became known as the Dunoon Massacre.

Remembering the Massacre

Today, the Dunoon Massacre is remembered with a special memorial in Dunoon. It was put up in 1906. It is known as the Clan Lamont Memorial or the Dunoon Massacre Memorial. It helps people remember what happened there.

See also

• List of massacres in the United Kingdom