Alasdair MacColla (circa 1620 to 1647) was a Scottish-Irish soldier. His full name in Scottish Gaelic was Alasdair MacColla Ciotach MacDomhnaill (in English: Alasdair the son of Colla the Left-handed, of the clan MacDonald). He is also referred to in English as "Collkitto". He fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, most notably in the Scottish Civil War. He died in the battle of Knocknanauss in 1647. Events September 6 - English emigrants on the Mayflower depart from Plymouth, England for the future New England and arrive at the end of the year. ... // Events March 14 - Thirty Years War: Bavaria, Cologne, France and Sweden sign the Truce of Ulm. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Wars of the Three Kingdoms were an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in Scotland, Ireland, and England between 1639 and 1651 at a time when these countries had come under the Personal Rule of the same monarch. ... Map of Scotland The Scottish Civil War The Scottish Civil War of 1644-47 was part of wider conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which included the Bishops Wars, the English Civil War and Irish Confederate Wars. ... The Battle of Knocknanauss was fought in 1647, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, between Confederate Ireland’s Munster army and an English Parliamentarian army under Inchiquinn. ... // Events March 14 - Thirty Years War: Bavaria, Cologne, France and Sweden sign the Truce of Ulm. ...

MacColla was born in the Western Isles of Scotland in the early seventeenth century into the Clan Donald branch of the MacDonald clan. His early life encompassed both Gaelic Ireland and the Gaelic western Highlands of Scotland - as the MacDonalds had a presence in both countries. Like his father, Colla, Alasdair made his name as a soldier, being particularly noted for his use of the broadsword. In his young days, he saw fighting against the Campbell clan, with whom the MacDonalds had a long running feud over territory and power. This enmity was deepened by religious facters. The Campbells were Presbyterians, whereas the MacDonalds, among whom a Franciscan mission had settled, were Roman Catholics. The Western Isles are an archipelago in Scotland. ... The Donald Clan Crest. ... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The term broadsword was originally used to describe the straight double-edged basket-hilted swords of Europe during the 17th through 19th centuries. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ...

Civil War in Ireland and Scotland

However, MacColla really came to prominence with the onset of the conflict knowns as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The MacDonald clan, which was spread over north-western Scotland and north-eastern Ireland, sided with the Royalists and Irish Confederates. Their deadly enemies, the clan Campbell, sided with the Scottish Covenanters. Early in the war, MacColla was forced to flee the Western Isles, which were attacked by a Covenanter/Campbell force. Colla, his father was taken prisoner by the Campbells. On the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, MacColla found himself in Antrim, under the command of Randal MacDonald, the chief of the Irish MacDonalds. MacColla, who was a Catholic, quickly became involved in fighting the Protestant settlers there. He was implicated in some massacres of Protestant civilians, but also scored some notable military victories. However, he was defeated and wounded in an attempt to take Lisburn. In 1642, the Scottish Covenanters landed an army in Ulster and drove the Irish Catholic forces out of the province. The Wars of the Three Kingdoms were an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in Scotland, Ireland, and England between 1639 and 1651 at a time when these countries had come under the Personal Rule of the same monarch. ... Prince Rupert of the Rhine Cavaliers was the name used by Parliamentarians for the Royalist supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642–1651). ... Kilkenny Castle, where the Confederate General Assembly met. ... Clan Campbell is historically one of the largest Highland Scottish clans. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The Covenanters, named after the Solemn League and Covenant, were a party that, originating in the Reformation movement, played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England, during the 17th century. ... The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup détat by Irish Catholic gentry, but rapidly degenerated into bloody intercommunal violence between native Irish Catholics and English and Scottish Protestant settlers. ... Antrim in Northern Ireland may refer to Antrim town. ... Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim (1609 - February 3, 1683), was a landed magnate in Scotland and Ireland son of the 1st earl of Antrim, was educated as a Roman Catholic. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Lisburn (Lios na gCearrbhach in Irish) is a city split between County Antrim & County Down, Northern Ireland. ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ... The Covenanters, named after the Solemn League and Covenant, were a party that, originating in the Reformation movement, played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England, during the 17th century. ... Statistics Area: 24,481 Population (estimate) 1,931,981 Ulster (Irish: Cúige Uladh, IPA: ) forms one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. ...

In 1644, he was selected by the Supreme Council of Confederate Ireland to lead an expedition to Scotland to aid the Royalists there against the Covenanters. He was given a command of 1500-2000 men, mostly from Ulster. When in Scotland, MacColla linked up with the Royalist James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose. He was also able to raise men among his MacDonald clansmen and other anti-Campbell Scottish clans. In the subsequent Scottish Civil War, MacColla and Montrose won a series of victories at Tippermuir, Aberdeen, Inverlochy, Auldearn, Alford and Kilsyth. MacColla also took the opportunity to pillage the Campbell lands, killing all the men he could find there. However, he and Montrose parted company because MacColla's priorities lay in the western Highlands, whereas Montrose wanted to secure the Lowlands and ultimately England for the Royalist cause. As a result, both of them were defeated separately by the Covenanters in 1646. // Events February to August - Explorer Abel Tasmans second expedition for the Dutch East India Company maps the north coast of Australia. ... Kilkenny Castle, where the Confederate General Assembly met. ... Prince Rupert of the Rhine Cavaliers was the name used by Parliamentarians for the Royalist supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642–1651). ... The Covenanters, named after the Solemn League and Covenant, were a party that, originating in the Reformation movement, played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England, during the 17th century. ... James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 - 21 May 1650), was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed. ... Montrose is the name of several places in the world. ... Clan map of Scotland Scottish clans give a sense of Scottish Highland identity and shared descent both to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the... Map of Scotland The Scottish Civil War The Scottish Civil War of 1644-47 was part of wider conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which included the Bishops Wars, the English Civil War and Irish Confederate Wars. ... Battle of Tippermuir Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date September 1, 1644 Place Perth, Scotland Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Tippermuir (September 1, 1644) was the first battle James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose fought for the king during the Scottish Civil War. ... Battle of Aberdeen Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date September 13, 1644 Place Aberdeen, Scotland Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Aberdeen was an engagement in the Scottish Civil War which took place between Royalist and Covenanter forces outside the city of Aberdeen on September 13, 1644. ... Combatants Royalist Irish and Highland Scots Scots Covenanters Commanders Lord Montrose Alasdair MacColla Sir Thomas Ogilvie Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck Strength 1500 3000 Casualties 8? 1500 The Battle of Inverlochy (February 2, 1645) was a battle of the Scottish Civil War in which Montrose routed the pursuing forces of the... Battle of Auldearn Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date May 9, 1645 Place Auldearn, Nairnshire Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Auldearn was an engagement of the Scottish Civil War, which took place on May 9, 1645, near the village of Auldearn in Nairnshire. ... The Battle of Alford was an engagement of the Scottish Civil War, which took place near the village of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on July 2, 1645. ... Battle of Aberdeen Conflict Wars of the Three Kingdoms Date August 15, 1645 Place Aberdeen, Scotland Result Royalist Victory The Battle of Kilsyth was an engagement of the Scottish Civil War which took place on August 15, 1645. ... Montrose is the name of several places in the world. ... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ... The Scottish Lowlands, although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland not referred to as the Highlands (or Gàidhealtachd), that is, everywhere due south and east of a line (the Highland Boundary Fault) between Stonehaven and... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages None official English de facto Capital None official London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked... Prince Rupert of the Rhine Cavaliers was the name used by Parliamentarians for the Royalist supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642–1651). ... // Events The Westminster Confession of Faith Ongoing events Wars of the Three Kingdoms, including the English Civil War (1642-1649) Births February 4 - Hans Erasmus Aßmann, Freiherr von Abschatz, German statesman and poet (d. ...

MacColla has been credited with inventing the tactic of the Highland charge in the Civil Wars - where his men ran at enemy infantry, fired a volley at close range and then closed hand to hand. This proved remarkably effective in both Ireland and Scotland, due to the musket's slow reloading time and the poor discipline and training of many of the troops MacColla's men faced. Moriers painting Culloden depicts the Highland Charge in 1745. ...

MacColla's men committed a series of atrocities against the civilians of clan Campbell. During his two periods in occupation of Argyle, the Campbell territory (1645 and 1647), MacColla had all men of military age killed, whether they were in arms or not. On one infamous occasion, MacColla had a whole barn full of Campbells (including women and children) burned, in an incident known as the "Barn of Bones". Argyll, archaically Argyle (Airthir-Ghaidheal in Gaelic, translated as [the] East Gael, or [the] East Irish), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a traditional county of Scotland. ...

Defeat and death

MacColla's father, who was a prisoner of the Campbells, was killed in retaliation for his son's atrocities in the Campbell country. MacColla himself retreated to Kintyre and then to Ireland, where he re-joined the Irish Confederates in 1647. His troops, (both Irish survivors of the 1644 expedition and Scottish Highlanders) were split up and assigned to the Leinster and Munster armies, with MacColla attached to the latter. MacColla's men were mostly killed in the Confederate defeats at the battle of Dungans Hill in Meath and then at the battle of Knocknanauss in Cork. Alasdair MacColla himself was killed by English Parliamentarian soldiers at Knocknanauss after he had been taken prisoner. Kintyre shown within Argyll Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland in the south-west of Argyll. ... Kilkenny Castle, where the Confederate General Assembly met. ... // Events March 14 - Thirty Years War: Bavaria, Cologne, France and Sweden sign the Truce of Ulm. ... // Events February to August - Explorer Abel Tasmans second expedition for the Dutch East India Company maps the north coast of Australia. ... Leinster (IPA: ; Irish: Laighin or Laigin, IPA: ), one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. ... Munster (Irish: An Mhumhain, IPA: ) is the southernmost province of Ireland, comprising the counties of Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. ... The Battle of Dungans Hill took place in Meath, in eastern Ireland in August 1647. ... Meath (An Mhí in Irish) is a county in the Republic of Ireland, the county is often informally called The Royal County. ... The Battle of Knocknanauss was fought in 1647, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, between Confederate Ireland’s Munster army and an English Parliamentarian army under Inchiquinn. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 51. ...

After his death, MacColla became a figure of minor folklore in Gaelic Ireland and Scotland. He is commemorated in the Scottish Gaelic poetry of Iain Lom MacDonald and in Ireland by a piece of traditional music named MacColla's March or Alasdair MacColla that dates from the mid seventeenth century and is still performed, notably by the band Clannad. Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... Iain Lom was a Scottish Gaelic poet. ... CLANNAD (クラナド) is a computer adventure game (visual novel) created by the company Key, who also produced the successful titles AIR and Kanon. ...