Massacre of Monzievaird facts for kids
The Massacre of Monzievaird was a terrible event in the Scottish Highlands. It happened on October 21, 1490, (some sources say 1511). The massacre took place at the church of Monzievaird, near Hosh in Perthshire. It was the final, violent act in a long-running blood feud between the Murray and Drummond families. Even though family feuds and fighting were common among Highlanders back then, this massacre was especially shocking.
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Why the Families Fought
The conflict started when William Murray of Tullibardine lost his important job as the steward of Strathearn. He had held this job for over 50 years. Lord Drummond took over this position.
Even though the families were connected by marriage, the Drummonds forced the Murrays out. They also caused problems for George Murray, who was the abbot (leader) of Inchaffray Abbey. When the abbey needed money, Abbot Murray tried to collect taxes (called teinds) from the Drummonds' lands in Monzievaird.
The abbot asked the Murrays of Ochtertyre to collect these taxes. The Murrays did this very harshly, which made the Drummonds extremely angry. This anger led to violent revenge.
The Horrible Massacre
Lord Drummond's second son, David, gathered his followers. They set out to force the Murrays out of Ochtertyre. But the Murrays had been warned and were ready for a fight.
During the battle, groups called the McRobbies and Faichneys joined the Drummonds. This turned the fight against the Murrays. The Murrays were pushed north and made their last stand at a place called Knock Mary. Many Murrays were killed, and the rest ran back towards Ochtertyre.
As the Drummonds headed back to Drummond Castle, they met Duncan Campbell of Dunstaffnage and his clan. Campbell also had a reason to hate the Murrays. They had murdered his father-in-law and two of his sons earlier. Campbell convinced the Drummonds to keep chasing the Murrays. The combined forces of the Drummonds and Campbells marched towards Ochtertyre.
About 20 Murray men ran and hid in the nearby church at Monzievaird. One of them shot an arrow from a church window, killing a Drummond man outside. This showed the Drummonds where they were hiding.
The Drummonds reacted by gathering all the wood and brush they could find. They piled it against the church, which had a roof made of thatch and heather. Then they set it on fire. Only one Murray man survived the fire. The others were killed inside the church or while trying to escape. It's said that a piper played music as the church burned.
The Sole Survivor
The one Murray man who survived jumped from a window. Thomas Drummond recognized him as his cousin and felt sorry for him. He secretly helped his cousin escape.
This act of kindness made Thomas unpopular with his own clan. He had to leave Crieff and lived in Ireland for many years. Thomas eventually returned to Scotland. By then, the Murrays had become powerful again. They showed their thanks by giving him a small estate in Perthshire. This estate is now called Drummonderinoch.
Over time, stories have claimed that as many as 120 Murray men, along with their wives and children, died. However, some historians believe this number is too high.
What Happened Next
At this time, violent family feuds were causing a lot of problems in Scotland. The authorities felt they needed to make an example. James IV of Scotland ordered the arrest of David Drummond and Duncan Campbell. Both men were executed by hanging in Stirling.
The Church Site Today
The old Monzievaird parish church was torn down in 1809. Nothing remains of it today. The Ochtertyre family built their Mausoleum on the site in 1809. When they dug the foundations for the mausoleum, they found charred wood and many burned bones.
The site is near Hosh, by the drive to Ochtertyre house from the A85. The house is about 1.1 kilometers to the west. As of 2015, the mausoleum's roof was still intact, but it was listed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.
Gallery
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Scene of the Massacre in 2015
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Mausoleum at Ochtertyre in 2015
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Mausoleum and Graveyard in 2015
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Murray Mausoleum and burial ground from a distance in 2015
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Ochtertyre House seen from the burial ground in 2015
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The area in 1829 below Ochtertyre house drawn by John Preston Neale, engraved by E. Byrne
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See also
