Angus Du Mackay (Angus Mackay), 7th of Strathnaver (died 1433) was the seventh chief of the

Clan Mackay Clan Mackay ( ; gd, Clann Mhic Aoidh ) is an ancient and once-powerful Highland Scottish clan from the far North of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Kingdom of Moray. They supported Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish ...

, a

Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally speaking, upland (or uplands) refers to ranges of hills, typically from up to while highland (or highlands) is ...

Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised ...

. He is recorded in the 15th-century Scottish chronicle,

Scotichronicon The ''Scotichronicon'' is a 15th-century chronicle by the Scottish historian Walter Bower. It is a continuation of historian-priest John of Fordun's earlier work '' Chronica Gentis Scotorum'' beginning with the founding of Ireland and thereb ...

, as ''Enneas-en-Imprissi'' meaning ''Angus the Absolute'' due to his power of commanding 4000 men.

Early life

Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver, was the eldest son of

Angus Mackay, 6th of Strathnaver Angus Mackay, 6th of Strathnaver (died 1403) was the sixth chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life Angus Mackay, 6th of Strathnaver, was the eldest son of Donald Mackay, 5th of Strathnaver. However, ...

, and his wife who was a daughter of Torquil MacLeod, chief of the

Clan MacLeod of Lewis Clan MacLeod of The Lewes, commonly known as Clan MacLeod of Lewis ( gd, Clann Mhic Leòid Leòdhais), is a Highland Scottish clan, which at its height held extensive lands in the Western Isles and west coast of Scotland. From the 14th century up ...

Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach

The chief of the MacLeods of Lewis had heard that his sister, wife of Angus Mackay, 6th of Strathnaver, had been mistreated and according to historian Angus Mackay the MacLeods raided the Mackay's lands of

Strathnaver Strathnaver or Strath Naver ( gd, Srath Nabhair) is the fertile strath of the River Naver, a famous salmon river that flows from Loch Naver to the north coast of Scotland. The term has a broader use as the name of an ancient province also kn ...

. The Mackays pursued the MacLeods and the

Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach The Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach ( gd, "plentiful slaughter"; also known as Tuttim–Tarwach, Tuttim–Turwigh, Tuttim–Tarwigh or Tutim Tarvach) was a Scottish clan battle in which the Mackays wiped out raiders from the Clan MacLeo ...

took place where the MacLeods were defeated. The Mackay historian discredits the account written by 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon, who states that only one man of the MacLeods survived the battle.

Battles of Dingwall and Harlaw

In 1411, a feud broke out over who was the rightful

Earl of Ross The Earl or Mormaer of Ross was the ruler of the province of Ross in northern Scotland. Origins and transfers In the early Middle Ages, Ross was part of the vast earldom of Moray. It seems to have been made a separate earldom in the mid 12 ...

, between

Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles Donald, Lord of the Isles ( gd, Dómhnall; died 1423), was the son and successor of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald. The Lordship of the Isles was based in and around the Scottish west-coast island of Islay, but unde ...

(chief of Clan Donald) and the Stewart royal family. Donald of the Isles claimed the earldom through his marriage to

Mariota, Countess of Ross Mariota, Countess of Ross (Mairead, also called Mary and Margaret; died 1440) was the daughter of Euphemia I, Countess of Ross and her husband, the crusading war-hero Walter Leslie, Lord of Ross. Upon the death of her brother, Alexander Leslie, ...

Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (c. 1340 – 3 September 1420) was a member of the Scottish royal family who served as regent (at least partially) to three Scottish monarchs ( Robert II, Robert III, and James I). A ruthless politician, Albany w ...

, third son of

Robert II of Scotland Robert II (2 March 1316 – 19 April 1390) was King of Scots from 1371 to his death in 1390. The son of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjorie, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, he was the first monarch of the House of St ...

naturally supported the claim to the earldom of Ross by his son

John Stewart, Earl of Buchan John Stewart, Earl of Buchan (c. 1381 – 17 August 1424) was a Scottish nobleman and soldier who fought alongside Scotland's French allies during the Hundred Years War. In 1419 he was sent to France by his father the Duke of Albany, Regent ...

and was supported by Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar who was a son of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan known as the ''Wolf of Badenoch''. Angus Du Mackay, chief of Clan Mackay joined the Stewart confederacy and historian Angus Mackay states that Angus Du is believed to have been a cousin of the Earl of Mar. Angus Du Mackay attacked Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles at

Dingwall Dingwall ( sco, Dingwal, gd, Inbhir Pheofharain ) is a town and a royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,491. It was an east-coast harbour that now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest cas ...

in 1411. Known as the

Battle of Dingwall The Battle of Dingwall was a Scottish clan battle said to have taken place in the year 1411, in Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between the Clan Mackay and the Clan Donald. Accounts of the Battle Sir Robert Gordon (c. 1630) Si ...

, Mackay at the head of 4000 men was overpowered. The Lord of the Isles force is said to have numbered 10,000 men. Angus Du Mackay’s brother Rorie Gald was killed at the Battle of Dingwall and Angus Du himself was made a prisoner in a castle on the west coast. The Lord of the Isles then advanced towards

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

where he was met by the Earl of Mar’s army and the

Battle of Harlaw The Battle of Harlaw ( gd, Cath Gairbheach) was a Scottish clan battle fought on 24 July 1411 just north of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. It was one of a series of battles fought during the Middle Ages between the barons of northeast Scotland a ...

took place. After the Battle of Harlaw the Lord of the Isles made an alliance with Angus Du Mackay. Mackay married the Lord of the Isles' sister Elizabeth. Historian Angus Mackay points out that 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon incorrectly states that Angus Du married a daughter of the Lord of the Isles and that she was in fact his sister. The alliance between Angus Du Mackay and Donald, Lord of the Isles was further strengthened by a charter granted to Angus Du’s son Neil from the Lord of the Isles for the lands of

Creich Creich ( gd, Craoich, ) is a substantial parish on the north side of the Dornoch Firth the largest settlement being Bonar Bridge. It lies in Sutherland, Scotland. There is a church (now in ruins) and graveyard for the Parish of Creich. Creich M ...

Battle of Harpsdale

In 1426, Angus Du Mackay led a raid into Caithness which resulted in the

Battle of Harpsdale The Battle of Harpsdale (Battle of Achardale, Battle of Harpasdal) was a Scottish clan battle fought in 1426 at Achardale, about south of Thurso. The Clan Mackay had invaded Caithness from the west and Harpsdale was where the local Clan Gunn c ...

. Historian Angus Mackay states that Angus Du's purpose for this raid was that the lands belonged to the descendants of

Nicholas Sutherland, 1st of Duffus Nicholas Sutherland, 1st of Duffus was a Scottish noble who was seated at Duffus Castle, near Elgin, Moray, Scotland in the 14th and 15th centuries. History Nicholas Sutherland was the second son of Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland, ...

, who had murdered chief

Donald Mackay, 5th of Strathnaver Donald Mackay, 5th of Strathnaver (died 1370), was the fifth chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life Donald Mackay was the eldest son of Iye Mackay, 4th of Strathnaver. In 1370, he and his father we ...

Dingwall Castle Dingwall Castle was a medieval fort and royal castle in the town of Dingwall, eastern Ross-shire, Scotland. The castle is believed to have been established by Norse settlers in the area in the 11th century. Wars of Scottish Independence During t ...

in 1370.

Parliament at Inverness

King

James I of Scotland James I (late July 139421 February 1437) was King of Scots from 1406 until his assassination in 1437. The youngest of three sons, he was born in Dunfermline Abbey to King Robert III and Annabella Drummond. His older brother David, Duke of ...

had been captured at the age of 14 by the English and kept as a prisoner until 1424. On his return to

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

he found the country in a very distracted state. In 1427, the king came north and held a Parliament at Inverness, to which he summoned the Highland chieftains. The chieftains including

Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

the Lord of the Isles, Angus Du Mackay of Strathnaver, Kenneth Mor, his son in law Angus Moray and MacMathen were all clapped in irons. Angus Du Mackay was soon released but his eldest son Neil was kept as a hostage and was sent for a time to the

Bass Rock The Bass Rock, or simply the Bass (), ( gd, Creag nam Bathais or gd, Am Bas) is an island in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. Approximately offshore, and north-east of North Berwick, it is a steep-sided volca ...

Battle of Drumnacoub

Not long after the Parliament at Inverness Thomas Neilson Mackay, cousin of Angus Du Mackay killed Mowat, the Laird of

Freswick Freswick ( ) or Skirsa, is a small remote hamlet, overlooking Freswick Bay to the east, in eastern Caithness, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. The village of Skirza lies directly northeast of Freswick. Nam ...

in Tain. Thomas Neilson Mackay was then outlawed. He was betrayed by his own two brothers Neil Neilson Mackay and Morgan Neilson Mackay, instigated by Angus Moray of Pulrossie whose two daughters the two brothers had married. Angus Moray supported by his two sons-in-law, Neil Neilson Mackay and Morgan Neilson Mackay, then invaded

the lands of their cousin, chief Angus Du Mackay. Angus Du Mackay was in a weak position with his eldest son still in prison on the

after the Parliament of Inverness, as mentioned above. Angus Du himself was now elderly and so the duty of warding off the attack fell to his second son John ''Ian'' Mackay of Aberach, who was still a teenager. The Battle of Drumnacoub took place in 1433. Angus Moray with the men of Sutherland and supported by his sons-in-law, Neil Neilson Mackay and Morgan Neilson Mackay, advanced with a force of 1500 men. At the head of a pass north of the mountain Ben Loyal, within two miles of Castle Varrich they were met by the force of John ''Ian'' Mackay of Aberach, while the helpless Angus Du Mackay was carried in a

litter Litter consists of waste products that have been discarded incorrectly, without consent, at an unsuitable location. Litter can also be used as a verb; to litter means to drop and leave objects, often man-made, such as aluminum cans, paper cups ...

. The Mackays under John ''Ian'' Mackay defeated Angus Moray’s men of Sutherland. Historian Angus Mackay again discredits 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon, who states that the two sides practically exterminated each other. The Mackay historian gives an account that gives John ''Ian'' Mackay a clear victory. Gordon's account also gives the Mackays the victory but says that they suffered heavy losses. Angus Du Mackay is said to have been killed after the battle by an arrow fired from one of the Sutherland men. Angus Moray, leader of the Sutherland force was killed in the battle along with his sons-in-law, Neil Neilson Mackay and Morgan Neilson Mackay. This battle is also mentioned by the historians

George Buchanan George Buchanan ( gd, Seòras Bochanan; February 1506 – 28 September 1582) was a Scottish historian and humanist scholar. According to historian Keith Brown, Buchanan was "the most profound intellectual sixteenth century Scotland produced." ...

(1506-1582) and the 18th century

John Pinkerton John Pinkerton (17 February 1758 – 10 March 1826) was a Scottish antiquarian, cartographer, author, numismatist, historian, and early advocate of Germanic racial supremacy theory. He was born in Edinburgh, as one of three sons to ...

who quoted the 15th century

chronicler A chronicle ( la, chronica, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and lo ...

Walter Bower Walter Bower (or Bowmaker; 24 December 1449) was a Scottish canon regular and abbot of Inchcolm Abbey in the Firth of Forth, who is noted as a chronicler of his era. He was born about 1385 at Haddington, East Lothian, in the Kingdom of Sc ...

Family

Angus Du Mackay married firstly Elizabeth, sister of

and daughter of

John of Islay, Lord of the Isles :''This article refers to John I, Lord of the Isles; for John II, see John of Islay, Earl of Ross'' John of Islay (or John MacDonald) ( gd, Eòin Mac Dòmhnuill or gd, Iain mac Aonghais Mac Dhòmhnuill) (died 1386) was the Lord of the Isles (1 ...

and his wife Margaret Stewart, who was in turn a daughter of

. (Donald of Islay and John of Islay were the successive chiefs of Clan Donald). Angus Du Mackay and Elizabeth had one son: # Neil Mackay, 8th of Strathnaver, successor as chief of the Clan Mackay, known as Neil “Vasse” Mackay, (named so because he was imprisoned on the

). Angus Du Mackay married secondly, a daughter of Alexander Carrach MacDonald, chief of the

Clan MacDonald of Keppoch Clan MacDonald of Keppoch ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill na Ceapaich ), also known as Clan Ranald of Lochaber or Clan MacDonell of Keppoch'','' is a Highland Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald. The progenitor of the clan is Alistair Carrach Mac ...

, who in turn was a son of

(chief of Clan Donald) and his wife Margaret Stewart who was a daughter of Robert II of Scotland. From this marriage Angus Du Mackay had the following sons: #John ''Ian'' Mackay, 1st of Aberach. Progenitor of the

Mackay of Aberach The Mackays of Aberach also known as the Clan Aberach are a Scottish family and a branch of the ancient Clan Mackay of the Scottish Highlands. They were the senior cadet branch of the Clan Mackay and were seated at Achness, in Strathnaver, which i ...

family (also known as the ''Clan Aberach''). #Roderick Mackay. #William Mackay. #Angus Mackay.

References

Bibliography

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