The Battle of Mulroy was fought in August 1688 in the Lochaber district of Scotland between the MacDonalds of Keppoch and the Mackintoshes of Clan Chattan, their nominal overlords. It is sometimes described as the last of the private battles between clans of the kind fought in the Highlands in ages past; but the Mackintoshes had offical support for their actions against the Macdonalds, and their army was in part made up of government troops. The encounter at Mulroy is noteable for one other reason: it was the prototype for Dundee's victory at Killiecrankie the following summer. Lochaber (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Abar) refers to a large area of the central and western Scottish Highlands. ... 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. ... Highland or Highlands has these meanings:- The term highland is used in geography for any elevated mountainous plateau. ... John Graham, Viscount Dundee (c. ... Combatants Jacobite Royalists (Highlanders & Irish) Orange Royalists (Covenanters, Lowlanders) Commanders Viscount Dundee† Hugh Mackay Strength 2400 foot 3500 foot Casualties 800, inc. ...

Clan Donald of Lochaber

For centuries the Macdonalds of Keppoch had maintained their hold in Lochaber, despite the best efforts of the Mackintosh landlords. For much of the time there was an uneasy stalemate between the two parties. This ended in the 1670s when Lachlan Mackintosh of Torcastle decided to press the ancient claim with considerably more vigour. In 1681 the Scottish Privy Council granted him a Commission of fire and sword against Archibald MacDonald, then leader of the Keppoch clan, allowing him to take extra-judicial action. The issue, however, remained unsettled at the time of Archibald's death in 1682. He was succeeded by his son, Coll, sixteenth chief of Keppoch.

Coll had been a student at St. Andrews University at the time of his father's death; and far from being the Highland terror he subsequently became, he came down with the educated man's belief that the matter could be solved by peaceful means. On the advice of the Marquess of Huntly, he came with some of his clan gentry to Inverness to meet Lachlan with the offer to pay increased rent in return for a legal charter. With incredible lack of sensitivity, the Mackintosh chief had him thrown into prison, a mistake for which he was to pay a high price. Coll did not spend long in captivity, but his pride had been badly wounded, leaving him with a deep sense of resentment against Mackintosh and Inverness. University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews was founded between 1410-1413 and is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the United Kingdom. ... The title Marquess of Huntly was created in the peerage of Scotland in 1599, making it the oldest existing marquessate in Scotland, and the second-oldest in the British Isles, only the English Marquessate of Winchester being older. ... Inverness (Inbhir Nis in Scottish Gaelic) is the only city in the Scottish Highlands. ...

Lachlan continued in his campaign to have the awkward squatters removed from Lochaber. In the summer of 1684 he petitioned the Privy Council, saying that "by mere force and bangistry, the Macdonnels had possessed part of his country this 100 years and more, tho he hes interrupted then alwayes and gotten all that the lawes could give him; yet they still despised all." But the government was too preoccupied at the time with the threatened invasion of the rebel Earl of Argyll to offer much practical assistance. Four years later it was in a more accommodating mood. Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll (c. ...

In 1688, During the latter part of the reign of James VII, Mackintosh's commission of fire and sword was renewed. This time there was one major difference: he was to be aided by Captain Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie, commanding a company of regular troops based at Inverness. With probably as many government soldiers as clansmen Lachlan marched unopposed into Lochaber in late July. Coll had only 200 fighting men, not nearly enough to counter the invasion. Instead he withdrew into the hills and called on the aid of his neighbours and kin. In response the men of Glengarry, Glencoe, as well as the Macmartins, a sept of Clan Cameron, joined him on 4 August. James VII and II King of England, Scotland and Ireland James II of England and VII of Scotland (14 October 1633–16 September 1701) became King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 6 February 1685. ... Clan MacDonell of Glengarry is a branch of Clan Macdonald, taking its name from Glen Garry where the river Garry runs eastwards through Loch Garry to join the Great Glen about 16 miles (25 km) north of Fort William. ... Glencoe is the name of a number of places in the world: Glencoe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Glencoe, Scotland, United Kingdom Glencoe, Alabama, United States of America Glencoe, Kentucky, United States of America Glencoe, Illinois, United States of America Glencoe, Minnesota, United States of America Glencoe, Missouri, United... // History Clan Cameron is a Highland Scottish clan, with two main branches; that of Lochiel, and that of Erracht. ...

Moal Ruadh

With 800 men Coll was still half as strong as his enemy. He made up for this by placing his army on Moal Ruadh, the hill overlooking Keppoch to the north-east. Mackintosh and Suddie made the mistake of advancing up to meet him, setting the scene for one of the great Highland charges. Serving in Suddie's company was one Donald MacBane, formerly a tobacco spinner in Inverness. Years late he wrote of his experience as a soldier in a vivid and unintentionaly humourous manner. This is what he records of the Battle of Mulroy;

The two clans was both on Foot and our Companie was still with McIntosh, who marched towards McDonald and his Clan, until we came in sight of them, (which made me wish I had been spinning tobacco). McIntosh sent one of his friends to McDonald to treat with him, and see if he would come to reasonable terms, McDonald directly denyed, but would fight it be the event as it would: Then both parties ordered their men to march up the hill, a company being in the front, we drew up in line of battle as we could, our company being on the right: we were no sooner in order, but there appears double our number of the McDonalds, which made us then fear the worst, at least for my part, I repeated my former wish, (I never having seen the like). The McDonalds came down the hill upon us without either shoe, stocking, or bonnet on their head, they gave a shout, and then the fire began on both sides, and continued a hot dispute for an hour; then they brok in upon us with sword and target, and Lochaber axes, which obliged us to give way, seeing my captain sore wounded, and a great many more with heads lying cloven on every side, I was sadly affrighted, never having seen the like before, a Highlander attacked me with sword and targe, and cut mt wouden handled bayonet out of the muzel of my gun; I then clubbed my gun and gave him a stroke with it, which made the butt-end to fly off; seeing the Highland men to come fast upon me, I took to my heels and run thirty miles before I looked behind me, every person I saw or met, I took for my enemy...

Suddie was mortally wounded, dying later at Inverness. Many more were killed and many taken captive, Lachalan Mackintosh among them. He was later said to have been rescued by his friends, although it seems just as likely that Coll, embarrased by his presence in Lochaber, allowed him to be rescued. Coll was later to express regret over his encounter with Mackintosh, describing it as an unhappy accident, but at the time it greatly enhanced his prestige among his kin. The pibroch Blar na Maoile Ruaidh-the Battle of Mulroy- was composed in celebration.

Fire and Sword

Mulroy is often described as the last private clan battle. It was, however, no more a private matter than the clash between the Campbells and Camerons in the dying stages of the Battle of Culloden. If it had been a private affair the government is unlikely to have reacted with such anger. As far as the Privy Council was concerned, government soldiers had come under attack, and their commander had been killed. Before the end of the month dragoons and infantry were ordered into Lochaber, reputedly with orders to "destroy man, woman and child pertaining to the laird of Cappagh, and burn houses and corn." Combatants Royal Army Jacobite Forces Commanders William Augustus Bonnie Prince Charlie Strength ca. ...

Coll sensibly released his remaining prisoners and took to the hills, not willing to risk the further displeasure another fight with the royal army would bring on his house. Under the command of Captain John Crichton, the soldiers remained in the area to 10 September, burning crops and houses. They were then called back south as a great political crisis was beginning to overtake King James.

There is no evidence that Chrichton and his men murdered women and children; but the suggestion that they might provides and interesting light on Lowland thinking towards Highland communities. A few years before during the rebellion of the Earl of Argyll, the government, in a state of panic, ordered that all who joined the Campbell chief should be killed or disabled, so that they would never be able to fight again. Women and children were to be transported to the remote Isles. Earlier still James V had ordered the destruction of Clan Chattan, and James VI had given permission for the wholesale extermination of the Macleods of Lewis. After the Restoration unrepentant Covenanters had caused repeated problems for the authorities in south-west Scotland, but there was never any suggestion that whole communities should be wiped out. Highlanders, even Campbells, could be perceived as savages and thus treated in a savage way. This was a shadow that was soon to fall on the people of Glencoe. Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll (c. ... James V (April 10, 1512 - December 14, 1542) was king of Scotland (September 9, 1513 - December 14, 1542). ... James VI and I King of England, Scotland and Ireland James VI of Scotland and I of England (Charles James) (19 June 1566–27 March 1625) was a King who ruled over England, Scotland and Ireland, and was the first Sovereign to reign in the three realms simultaneously. ... Looking towards the Uplands in the centre of the Island of Lewis Lewis (Leòdhas in Scottish Gaelic), is the northern part of the main island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the southern part of which is called Harris, however Lewis and Harris are treated by Scots as separate... in art, returning something to a better state, see art conservation and restoration In criminal justice, restoration is another term for restorative justice. ... 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 mountains of Glen Coe: The Aonach Eagach ridge, to the north side of the glen. ...

Colla nam Bo

Later that year James fled the kingdom, to be replaced on the throne by William of Orange. Coll was one of the first of the Highland chiefs to join Dundee's rebellion against the new regime, though he was still technically an outlaw under the old. He was thus conceivably the only man in British history to be in rebellion against two kings at the same time. He was engaged in terrorising the hated town of Inverness when Dundee arrived in the Highlands. Even after he became a Jacobite he never quite abandoned his private war, to the obvious disgust of his commander. He was, neverthless, a highly useful addition to the rebel army. His particular talent lay in rounding up cattle for Dundee's hungry troops, which earned him the unenviable but lasting nickname of Colla nam Bo-Coll of the Cows. But his true value lay in another area altogether. William III of England (14 November 1650 – 8 March 1702; also known as William II of Scotland and William III of Orange) was a Dutch aristocrat and a Protestant Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and King of Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scots... Jacobite refers to: A follower of Jacobitism, the political movement dedicated to the return of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England and Scotland A member of the Jacobite Orthodox Church of Syria. ...

In the high summer of 1689 Dundee met glory and death by charging dowhhill with his Highland army at Killiecrankie. This is often described as the Jacobite chief's 'greatest victory'. It was, in fact, his only victory. It is important to remember that, prior to 1689, Dundee had never commanded Highland troops. Indeed, his military career up to this point can hardly be described as one of much distinction. Ten years before, when he had been a captain of dragoons, his troop was badly cut by poorly armed Covenanters at Drumclog. He would, of course, beem aware how Montrose, a distant kinsman, had made use of irregular armies. But all of Montrose's battles, with the exception of the Kilsyth, where the Highlanders had charged uphill, had been fought on fairly level ground. Dundee, in contrast, had stationed his army on the slope of Creag Eallach, north of the River Garry and high above the government army, twice as strong as his own. Inferior in strength, a downhill charge would add weight and momentum to his ranks. This was, in essence, the same tactic used by Coll at Mulroy. Though this cannot be proved one way or the other, it seems likely that Coll made some input into Dundee's thinking. Monument to the Battle of Drumclog The Battle of Drumclog was fought on 1 June 1679, between a group of Covenanters and the forces of John Graham of Claverhouse, at High Drumclog, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. ... 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. ... 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. ...

Among those fleeing from the victorious Highlanders was none other than Donald McBane, who in making an astonishing eighteen-foot leap across the Garry achieved his own immortality.

References

• Barron, E. M., Inverness and the Macdonalds, 1930.
• Fountainhall Historical Notices, 1661-1683, 1848.
• Hopkins, P., Glencoe and the End of the Highland War, 1986.
• McBane, D. The Expert Sword-Mans Companion, 1728.
• The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, variously edited, 1877-1933.