Battle of Dalrigh
| Battle of Dalrigh | |
|---|---|
| Part of Lorne, Scotland grid reference NN342289[3]56°25′25″N 4°41′16″W / 56.42361°N 4.68778°W | |
| Result | MacDougall victory |
Clan Macnaghten[2]
The Battle of Dalrigh, also known as the Battle of Dail Righ, Battle of Dalry or Battle of Strathfillan, was fought in 1306 between the army of King
MacDougalls
By the late 13th century, the
King's Field
On 19 June 1306 Bruce and his army were caught unprepared in their night camp at the
The only sources we have for the Battle of Dalrigh are pro-Bruce, and tend at every turn to put a favourable interpretation upon the King's actions. John Barbour has him 'boldly waiting' to engage John in battle, though 'his followers were all too few'. However, Bruce's army had just been defeated and would have needed time to recoup; so it is possible that the MacDougalls took him by surprise. Barbour provides some justification for such an interpretation, providing no description of preparations or dispositions-as he does elsewhere-, just an account of a quick and very close engagement.
Bruce's remaining horses were killed by the MacDougall axemen, who also wounded many of his men, including Sir James Douglas and Gilbert de la Hay. Under considerable pressure Bruce did his best to disengage;
They thereupon withdrew. In this
There was no mark of cowardice.
They kept together; and the king
Was ever busy rescuing
The rearmost of his company.
With skill and valour there wrought he,
And safely all his men withdrew.
He daunted those that would pursue
So none durst leave their cloe array,
For he was never far away.
Bruce was so heavily involved in action with the rearguard that he found himself at one point alone and under attack between a hill and the lochside, a pass so narrow that he could not turn his horse. According to tradition, Bruce was so hard pressed that one of his assailants tore off the studded brooch that fastened his cloak. Known as the "Brooch of Lorn" it was in possession of the Campbells until 1826 when it was turned over to the MacDougall family.[5]
For the king to be placed in such a position, seemingly unsupported, provides some further evidence of the weakness of the royal forces. The enemy was fought off and the army retreated to safety; but not long after it ceased to exist as an organised military force.
Flight
After Dalrigh, Bruce, now styled dismissively as 'King Hob' in English propaganda, was little better than a fugitive, closely pursued by his many enemies, both domestic and foreign. For a time his party took refuge in the mountains of
References
- ^ Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 216 - 217.
- ^ Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 250 - 251.
- ^ a b Site Record for, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
- ^ a b Traquair p. 139
- ^ MacDougall, Iain, "The Brooch of Lorn" in "Communications and Replies", The Scottish Historical Review, Vol. 3, No. 9 (Oct. 1905), pp. 110–115, Edinburgh University Press
Primary
- Barbour, John, The Bruce, trans, A. A. H. Duncan, 1964.
- Bower, Walter, Scoticronicon, ed. D. E. R. Watt, 1987–96.
- Fordun, John of, Chronicles of the Scottish Nation, ed. W. F. Skene, 1872.
Secondary
- Barrow, G., Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, 1976.
- Barron, E. M., The Scottish Wars of Independence, 1934.
- Traquair, Peter Freedom's Sword