Battle of the Western Isles
55°57′18″N 5°54′04″W / 55.955°N 5.901°W
Battle of the Western Isles | |
---|---|
Part of Clan Maclean and Clan MacDonald feud | |
Western Isles, Scotland | |
Result |
Act of Parliament was passed to obtain peace |
Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg
The Battle of the Western Isles was a series of conflicts in 1585 and 1586 on the islands of
The conflict on Jura
In the summer of 1585, Donald Gorm Mor of Sleat, chief of the
Donald Gorm Mor then made his way to Skye, fully resolved to take vengeance on the Macleans. He dispatched messengers to the chieftains of the various branches of the Clan Donald, calling upon them to assist him in the attack. Lachlan Mor Maclean having killed a number of innocent men created feelings of indignation and vengeance among all the MacDonalds who committed acts of depredation on his lands in various quarters and threatened to invade the Isle of Mull. They did find out that the cattle had actually been stolen by two MacDonalds but still felt so indignant over the slaughter of their clansmen that they were unwilling to come to terms with Lachlan Mor Maclean.[2][3]
The King's intervention
In September, 1585, James VI of Scotland wrote to the Chief of the Clan MacLeod, seated at Dunvegan Castle, requesting him to assist the Macleans against the MacDonalds and he also urged the MacDonalds at the same time to cease their hostilities. The MacDonalds therefore resolved to settle their disputes in a peaceful manner.[2][3]
In the spring of 1586, Angus MacDonald of Islay went to Skye to consult with Donald Gorm Mor about a settlement with Lachlan Mor Maclean. On his return he called at Duart Castle to try to come to an amicable settlement with Lachlan Mor Maclean. The following day, Maclean seized both Angus and his attendants and threw them into prison until Angus agreed to renounce his claim to the Rinns of Islay. Angus also had to give his son James, and his brother, Ranald, as hostages to Lachlan until he received the lands as promised. The harsh treatment that Angus received from Maclean meant that he went back to Islay as a bitter enemy.[2][3]
The conflict on Islay, Mull, Tiree and Kintyre
In July, 1586, Lachlan Mor Maclean went to Islay to receive possession of the Rinns and took up his quarters at the fort of Lochgorm. He remained there for three days and received repeated invitations from Angus of Islay to visit him at Mullintrea. Maclean yielded and went to spend a night with him. He was accompanied by seventy followers, or according to another account eighty-six. Maclean was received in a friendly manner and was entertained in grand style. However, he refused to stay the night with Angus and instead went to sleep in one of the buildings which his followers were lodged in, and took with him, James, the son of Angus who was still a hostage. At midnight, Angus of Islay, with 400 armed followers went to the door of the building where Lachlan Mor Maclean was sleeping and asked him to get up and have a drink with him. Maclean went to the door with the hostage James in one hand and a sword in the other, but saw that it was impossible for him to escape. Angus saw that if a fight took place then his son would certainly be killed. Angus solemnly promised that if they gave up his son and surrendered as prisoners that their lives would be spared. Maclean accepted and so did all but two of his men. These two were John Dubh of Morvern and MacDonald Herrach who was one of the men who had caused the slaughter of the MacDoanlds for having stolen Maclean's cattle. These two men refused to leave the building and so the MacDonalds set fire to it and they perished in the flames. The prisoners were all put to death with the exception of Lachlan Mor Maclean himself.[2][3]
In the history of these events published by Alexander Maclean Sinclair in 1899, he disputes the account given in the book Conflicts of the Clans which was published by the
These atrocities came to the attention of the King who employed the chiefs of the Clan Campbell who governed Argyll during the minority of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, to mediate between the contending clans. Angus MacDonald agreed on the condition that he would be pardoned for his crimes as well as for eight hostages to be placed in his hands by Maclean who in turn was forced to subscribe. After this MacDonald went over to Ireland but while he was away, Maclean, disregarding the hostages, invaded Islay with his clan and laid waste with fire and sword. When MacDonald returned he did not punish the hostages but collected a large force and invaded the isles of Mull and Tiree, putting to death all the inhabitants that came into their hands. Meanwhile, Maclean ravaged and plundered Kintyre.[4]
Aftermath
The Government felt it necessary to take immediate action to suppress these alarming disorders. The King and the
References
- ^ Foulis press]. pp. 28–36. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
Written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland
- ^ a b c d e f Mackintosh, Charles-Fraser (1895). The Last Macdonalds of Islay chiefly selected from original bonds and documents, sometime belonging to Sir James Macdonald, the last of his race, now in the possession of Charles Fraser-Mackintosh. Glasgow: Celtic Monthly Office. pp. 46–52. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
Quoting: Manuscript History of the Frasers
- ^ a b c d e f Sinclair, Alexander Maclean (1899). The Clan Gillean. Charlottetown: Haszard and Moore. pp. 115–120. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
Quoting: Ardgour MS (manuscript)
- ^ Gregory, Donald (1881). The History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland : from A. D. 1493 to A. D. 1625. London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co.; Glasgow, T. D. Morison. pp. 234–235. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
Quoting: Gordon, Sir Robert, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland p. 186
- ^ Gregory, Donald (1881). p. 236. Quoting: Record of the Privy Council, 16th April, 1587
- ^ Gregory, Donald (1881). pp. 236-237. Quoting: History of the Gordons, by W.R (MS. Advocates Library), in which the letter, dated 20th April, 1587, is quoted verbatim, p. 229
- ^ Gregory, Donald (1881). p. 237. Quoting: Acts of the Scottish Parliament, latest edition, III. 461-467