Battle of Drumchatt

The Battle of Drumchatt was a Scottish clan battle that took place in the year 1497. The Clan MacKenzie and the Clan Munro defeated the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh at Drumchatt (Druimchat) or "the Cat's Back", a ridge to the southeast of Strathpeffer.^[1]

Background

In 1493, the powerful chief of the Clan Donald lost his right to the title of Lord of the Isles when it was revoked by King James IV of Scotland. As a result, many of the western and other northern clans, particularly the Clan MacLeod, felt that they no longer had to pledge allegiance to the MacDonalds. In 1495, King James assembled an army at Glasgow. Then, on May 18, many of the highland chiefs made their submissions to him, including those of the Clan MacKenzie and Clan Munro. This may explain the unusual alliance between the Munros and MacKenzies who were rival clans.

The battle

In 1497, Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh, head of the MacDonalds of Lochalsh branch, rebelled against the King. He invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated in battle by the Munros and MacKenzies at a place called Drumchatt and was driven out of Ross-shire. He escaped southward, but was caught on the island of Oransay, by MacIian of Ardnamurchan and put to death.

This battle is recorded in several recognised historical documents including Macvurich's MS^{[clarification needed]} and MacDonalds MS histories. The events of this battle have also appeared in several published books with quoted sources, including Donald Gregory's History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland and also Sir Robert Gordon's History of Sutherland. The battle is also recorded by historian William Anderson in his book The Scottish Nation: Or, The Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours, and Geographical History of the People of Scotland.^[2]

Donald Gregory's account

From Donald Gregory's History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland from A.D. 1493 to A.D. 1625 (with quoted sources). Published in 1836 and reprinted in 1996:

A.D. 1497: "The active share taken by King James in supporting the pretensions of Perkin Warbeck, withdrew his attention, for a time from the state of the Western Isles, and seems to have given opportunity for a new insurrection—which, however, was suppressed without the necessity for another Royal expedition. Sir Alexander of Lochalsh—whether with the intention of claiming the earldom of Ross, or of revenging himself on the Mackenzies, for his former defeat at Blairnepark, is uncertain—invaded the more fertile districts of Ross in a hostile manner. He was encountered by the Mackenzies and Munroes at a place called Drumchatt, where, after a sharp skirmish, he and his followers were again routed and driven out of Ross."^[3]

Aftermath of the battle

Donald Gregory also gives an account of the events in the aftermath of the battle, quoting from the MS histories of the MacKenzies and MacKintoshs:

After this event, the knight of Lochalsh proceeded southward among the Isles, endeavouring to rouse the Islanders to arms in his behalf, but without success owing, probably to the terror produced by the execution of Sir John of Isla and his sons. Meantime, MacIan of Ardnamurchan, judging this a proper opportunity of doing an acceptable service to the King, surprised Lochalsh in the island of Ornasay, whither he had retreated, and put him to death, In this MacIan was assisted by Alexander, the eldest surviving son of John of Isla, with whom he had contrived to effect a reconciliation, and to whom he had given his daughter in marriage.^[3]

Sir Alexander of Lochalsh left both sons and daughters, who afterwards fell into the King's hands, and of whom we shall have occasion to speak in the sequal. About the same time as the unsuccessful insurrection of which we have just spoken, the chiefs of MacKenzie and MacKintosh made their escape from Edinburgh Castle; but, on their way to the Highlands, they were treacherously seized at the Torwood, by the Laird of Buchanan. MacKenzie having offered resistance, was slain, and his head, along with MacIntosh, who was taken alive, was presented to the King by Buchanan. The latter was rewarded, and MacIntosh returned to his dungeon, where he remained till after the battle of Flodden ^[4]

The actions of the MacKenzies at Drumchatt, against Lochalsh who had rebelled against the King do not seem to have been taken into consideration once the MacKenzie chief had escaped from prison. It is worth noting however that in the next generation of chiefs, in the early 16th century, the daughter of chief Kenneth MacKenzie of Kintail married chief Hector Munro of Foulis, whose clansmen had fought together as allies at Drumchatt in 1497.

A mythical battle at Drumchatt

Another account of a battle at Drumchatt published by Alexander MacKenzie in his books The History of the MacKenzies of Kintail (published in 1879 or 1890) and The History of the Munroes of Fowlis (1898) describes the battle as being fought between the Munros and MacKenzies in 1501. This has perplexed many historians because there is no reference in any contemporary historical documents to such a battle.

MacKenzie's account states that William Munro of Foulis led a group of 900 Munros, Dingwells and MacCullochs who attacked the MacKenzies, laying waste to their lands and taking much spoil. However, on their return, they were attacked by just 140 MacKenzies at a place called Drumchatt, where 800 of Munro's force were killed. MacKenzie based his story on a short verse written by the Rev John MacRae who wrote the 'Ardintoul MS History of tha MacKenzies' and who died minister of Dingwall in 1704.^[5] The same verse was also recorded in George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie's 'MS History of the MacKenzies', it reads: 'Did eight hundred men defeat and many kill, With his seven score on the face of Pharrel hill'. Knock farril (Knockfarrel) is the eastern extension of the Drumchatt ridge.

References

Further reading

• Clan Donald. By Donald J MacDonald. Page 129. Published in 2008.
• Feuds, Forays and Rebellions: History of the Highland Clans 1475 - 1625. By John L Roberts. Published in 1999.
• Clan warfare in the Scottish Highlands. By David Norman Mackay. Page 82. Published in 1922.
• History of Scotland to the present time. By Peter Hume Brown. Page 254 - 255. Published in 1911.
• The clan Donald. By Archibald MacDonald. Page 295. Published in 1896.

External links

• The History of the Clan MacDonald Part III@ElectricScotland
• King James IV of Scotland: A Brief Survey of His Life and Times Book by R. L. Mackie; Oliver and Boyd, 1958. 302 pgs.