Battle of Altimarlach

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Coordinates: 58°27′22″N 3°08′49″W / 58.456°N 3.147°W / 58.456; -3.147
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Battle of Altimarlach
Part of the
Wick, Highland, Scotland
58°27′22″N 3°08′49″W / 58.456°N 3.147°W / 58.456; -3.147
Result Campbell Victory
Belligerents Clan Campbell Clan SinclairCommanders and leaders Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy George Sinclair of KeissStrength Accounts vary from 700 to 1100 men Accounts vary from 400 to 1500 menCasualties and losses very low Accounts vary from 80 to 200 men killed

The Battle of Altimarlach was a Scottish clan battle that took place on 13 July 1680, near Wick, Caithness, Scotland. It was fought in a dispute between Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy and George Sinclair of Keiss over who had the right to the title and lands of the Earl of Caithness. The battle was fought between men of the Clan Campbell and Clan Sinclair. Campbell of Glenorchy won a decisive victory in the battle, but Sinclair of Keiss later turned to the law and was awarded the title of Earl of Caithness.[1]

Background

According to

Earl of Argyll who in turn was a relation of Campbell of Glenorchy. Glenorchy then assumed the title of Earl of Caithness.[2] However, according to Anderson, Glenorchy took possession of the estates on Sinclair's death in May 1676 and was created Earl of Caithness in June the following year.[1] Glenorchy appointed Sir John Sinclair of Murkle as sheriff and justicary-depute of Caithness, as well as bailie of all the baronies on the Caithness estate, to secure an influential friend in the county. George Sinclair of Keiss, son of Francis Sinclair of Northfield, disputed Glenorchy's right to the title and especially to the lands of Northfield and Tister, which he had inherited from his father.[2] According to Anderson, George Sinclair of Keiss disputed the claim and seized the land in 1678.[1]

The claims of both were submitted to the four most eminent lawyers in

James VII of Scotland, who then sent a letter to the Privy Council of Scotland that ordered it to issue a proclamation prohibiting George Sinclair of Kess from assuming the title of Earl of Caithness. However, Sinclair of Keiss paid no attention to that and not only retained possession of the lands, which he claimed by his own inheritance, but also annoyed Glenorchy's chamberlains so much that they found it extremely difficult to collect the rents. Almost all of the gentlemen in the county supported the cause of Sinclair of Keiss, in particular David Sinclair of Broynach and William Sinclair of Thura. They gave him all the aid in their power and even helped him to demolish the castle of Thurso East of which Glenorchy had taken possession. The common people were also friendly towards Sinclair of Keiss, and Glenorchy was looked upon as an usurper who had taken advantage of the necessities of the late Earl and cheated him out of his title and property.[2]

The Privy Council passed an

Act on 11 November 1679, charging "haill kin, friends and followers of John, Earl of Caithness, to concuurr and assist" in recovering the lands that were in dispute.[2]

Battle

According to Calder, the following summer, in 1680, Glenorchy invaded

David Stewart of Garth, Glenorchy's force consisted of 1100 men which included the immediate descendants of his family; the Campbells of Glenlyon, Glenfalloch, Glendochart and Achallader, together with those of his neighbor and brother-in-law, the Laird of Macnab.[2][3] According to Thomas Sinclair, Glenorchy set off from Taymouth Castle in Perthshire for Caithness with 500 well-armed men.[4] Sinclair of Keiss, upon hearing that the Campbells were passing through Braemore, which is on the confines of the county, resolved to meet them in open field.[2] The New Statistical Account of Scotland states that Sinclair had collected a force of 400 men.[5] According to Calder, Sinclair collected about 800 followers but that some accounts say that he had 1500. Many of Sinclair's men, however, were old, untrained and totally destitute of any knowledge of military tactics.[2] According to Thomas Sinclair, the only man to have known anything of discipline or to have seen any real service was Major Sinclair of Thura, who had served abroad during the Thirty Years' War.[4]

The two sides met near Stirkoke, but Glenorchy's men were fatigued with having marched nearly thirty miles and so he declined to enter into battle and withdrew to the hills of Yarrows. The Sinclairs marched to Wick and celebrated their supposed advantage, it is said, with drink that had been supplied by a secret agent of the Campbells. The following morning, on 13 July 1680, Glenorchy crossed the river of Wick below Sibster, nearly opposite Stirkoke Mains. The Sinclairs mustered with great difficulty and hastily led up the riverside to meet the enemy.[2] Major Sinclair of Thura had advised in deferring the engagement until the ensuing day when the men would have recovered from the effects of the drink and would have gone fresh and prepared into action, but he was overruled.[4]

Glenorchy had originally intended to march to

broadswords.[2]

Inflamed with drink, the Sinclairs had been routed, and legend has it that so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells were able to cross the river without getting their feet wet.[1][6] According to Peter Campbell, 80 Sinclairs were killed in the battle.[7] According to Ronald William Saint-Clair (Sinclair), as many as 200 "Caithnessmen" (Sinclairs) were reported to have fallen in the battle.[8] Thomas Sinclair stated that the Hon. David Sinclair, Major Sinclair of Thura, with many other gentlemen, and a great number of inferior note fell in the action.[4]

Aftermath

Glenorchy and some of his troops remained in Caithness for some time, levied rents and taxes on the people and subjected them to the most grievous oppression. He sent the remainder home immediately after the battle.

Earl of Breadalbane by way of compensation.[1][10]

The last clan battle

Information board at Castle Sinclair Girnigoe which states that the Battle of Altimarlach was the "last clan battle". However, the Battle of Mulroy which took place in 1688, between the Mackintoshes and Mackenzies against the MacDonalds and Camerons, is another contender as being the last of the private clan battles between Scottish clans

The Battle of Mulroy which was fought in 1688 between the Mackintoshes and MacDonalds is sometimes described as being the last of the private clan battles fought between Scottish clans.[11][12] However, this is perhaps inaccurate as the Mackintoshes had official government support for their actions against the MacDonalds and their army was in part made up of government troops from an Independent Highland Company under Mackenzie of Suddie. This would therefore leave the Battle of Altimarlach, fought in 1680 between the Campbells and Sinclairs, as the last true clan battle.[7][13][14]

Pipe music

Men of the Clan MacIver of Argyll who were a sept of the Clan Campbell apparently joined up with the MacIvers of Caithness in support of Glenorchy and although only forming a small part of his force, contributed their full share to its success. According to tradition, the piper of the clan in Caithness, Finlay MacIver, composed the Great Highland bagpipe tune, Bodach-na-briogais, which was inspired by the battle.[7] According to Hugh Fraser Campbell and Walter Biggar Blaikie, Glenorchy's piper, Findlay MacIver, had composed at this time the well known piping tune, The Campbells Are Coming.[15][16] According to the New Statistical Account of Scotland, the tune The Braes of Glenorchy also obtained its name at this time.[17]

Ballad

A ballad commemorating the battle was published in 1861 by historian James Tait Calder:[18]

The Battle of Altimarlach: A Ballad

'Twas morn; from rustic cot and grange
The cock's shrill clarion rung;
And fresh on every sweet wild flower
The pearly dew-drop hung.

Given up to thoughtless revelry,
In Wick lay Sinclair's band,
When suddenly the cry arose,
"Glenorchy's close at hand!"

For now the Campbell's haughty chief
The river Wick had crossed,
With twice seven hundred Highlanders
A fierce and lawless host.

"To arms! To arms!" from street to lane
The summons fast did go;
And forth the gathered Sinclairs marched
To meet the coming foe.

Where Altimarlach opens up
Its narrow, deep ravine,
Glenorchy's force, in order ranged,
Were strongly posted seen.

They meet, they close in deadly strife,
But brief the bloody fray;
Before the Campbell's furious charge
The Caithness ranks gave way.

Flushed with success, Glenorchy's men
Set up a savage cheer,
And drove the sinclairs panic-struck
Into the river near.

There, 'neath the Cambell's ruthless blade
Fell more than on the plain,
Until the blood-dyed stream across
Was choked up with the slain.

But who might paint the flood of grief
That burst from young and old,
When to the slaughtered Sinclair's friends
The direful tale was told!

The shrieking mother wrung her hands,
The maiden tore her hair,
And ll was lamentation loud,
And terror, and despair.

Short time Glenorchy Caithness ruled,
By every rank abhorred;
He lost the title he usurped,
Then fled across the Ord.

While Keiss, who firm upheld his claim
Against tyrannic might,
Obtained the Sinclair's coronet
Which was his own by right;

The coronet which William wore,
Who loved his Prince so well,
And with his brave devoted band
On fatal Flodden fell.

References

  1. ^
    Newgate Street, London: A. Fullarton & Co, pp. 524–525{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location (link
    )
  2. ^
    Calder, James Tait (1861). Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History of Caithness, from the tenth century. Glasgow: Thomas Murray and Son. pp. 160-168. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  3. Stewart, David of Garth (1822). Sketches of the character, manners, and present state of the Highlanders of Scotland: with details of the military service of the Highland regiments. Edinburgh and London: A. Constable and Longman, Hurst. p. 370
    .
  4. ^ a b c d e Sinclair, Thomas (1894). "X: Battle of Altimarclach". Caithness events : a discussion of Captain Kennedy's Historical Narrative, and an Account of the Broynach Earls. Wick, Caithness: W. Rae. pp. 61-65.
  5. William Blackwood & Sons. 1845. p. 136
    .
  6. ISBN 0-00-470547-5
    .
  7. ^ a b c Campbell, Peter (1873). An Account of the Clan-Iver. Aberdeen: P.C. Campbell. p. 33.
  8. ^ a b c Saint-Clair, Ronald William (1898). The Saint Clairs Of The Isles. Shortland Street, Auckland: H. Brett, General Printer and Publisher. p. 213.
  9. ^ Mackay, Robert (1829). History of the House and Clan of Mackay. Edinburgh: Printed for the author, by Andrew Jack & Co. pp. 374-375.
  10. W. & A.K. Johnston. 1900. p. 7
    .
  11. ISBN 0-85976-432-X
    .
  12. ISBN 978-0-19-923482-0
    .
  13. ISBN 9781870325608
    .
  14. ISBN 9780313335372
    .
  15. ^ Campbell, Hugh Fraser (1920). Caithness and Sutherland. Cambridge: University Press. p. 51.
  16. ^ Blaikie, Walter Biggar (1916). Origins of the 'forty-five : and other papers relating to that rising. Edinburgh: Printed at the University press by T. and A. Constable for the Scottish History Society. p. 71.
  17. William Blackwood & Sons. 1845. p. 199
    .
  18. ^ Calder, James Tait (1861). pp. 288-289

External links

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