Background
The second half of the 15th century had seen a series of raids by the Mackays ofContemporary evidence
Contemporary evidence for the battle is found in ''The Calendar of Fearn'' which is a manuscript of the Clan Ross. It dates the conflict to 11 July 1487 and gives eleven names of those killed at ''Aldecharwis''.Location and date
Most sources follow Gordon in giving the date of the battle as 11 July 1487. Gordon quotes this to ''The Calendar of Fearn''. Some later sources have quoted ''The Calendar of Fearn'' as putting it in June 1486, but this is clearly a mistake as the ''Calendar'' clearly gives the year of 1487. Mackay dates theAccounts of the battle
17th century manuscripts
Sir Robert Gordon (1630)
''In the dayes of this John Earle Southerland, the battell of Aldycharrish was foughtin, the eleventh day of Julie 1487, upon this occasion: Angus Macky (the sone of Neill Gald, or Neill-Wasse-Macky) being slain at Tarbat by the surname of Rosse, as I have shewen alreadie, John Reawigh Macky (the sone of this Angus) came to John Earle of Southerland, upon whom he depended, and desired, he sayd, to revenge his father's death: whereunto Earle John yeelded, and presentie sent his uncle, Robert Southerland, with a company of chosen men, to assist him. So Robert Southerland, John Reawigh Macky, and William-Dow-Mack -Ean-Abreigh, did invade Strath-oy-kell with fyre and sword, burnt, spoilled, and wasted many lands apperteyning to the Rosses. The laird of Balnagown, (then cheeff of the rosses in that shyre) heiring of this invasion, he gathered all the forces of the province of Rosse, and mett Robert Southerland and John Reawigh at a place called Aldy-charrish. Ther ensued a cruell battell, which continued a long space, with incredible obstinacie: the doubt of the victorie being no lesse great then wes desyre: much blood wes shed. In end, the inhabitants of Rosse, being unable to indure the enemies force, were untterly disbanded and put to flight. Alexander Rosse, laird of Balnagowne, wes ther slain, with seaventen other landed gentlemen of the province of Rosse, besyds a great number of commoun soldiers. The manuscript of Fearn nameth these among the principall gentlemen that wer slain: Alexander Rosse of Balnagown, Mr William Rosse, Alexander Terrall, Angus McCulloch of Terrell, William Rosse, Alexander Terrall, John Wasse, William Wase, John Mitchell, Thomas Wause, Hutcheon Waus.''
James Fraser of Wardlaw (1674)
James Fraser of Wardlaw wrote the ''Wardlaw Manuscript'' in about 1674. It gives the year of 1438 for the events at Tarbat and 1479 for the Battle of Aldy Charrish. It states that 70 landed gentlemen were slain with Alexander Ross of Balnagowan as well as a considerable number of common soldiers. It also says that 150 Mackays were killed as well as 6 Mackay gentlemen. It quotes as sources the ''manuscripts of Fern and Beuly'':''That year also happened to be fatall for a bloody conflict fell out at Altcharrish in Brea Rosse upon this occassion. Anguis Macky being slain at Tarbut, anno 1438, by the Rosses, as was reported, John Revach M'ky his sone came to the Earle of Sutherland, upon whom he depended, and desired his Lordships aid and concurrance to revenge his fathers death, to which the Earl of Sutherland as a bad neighbour, and a worse judge, yelds, and sent his own uncle, Robert Sutherland, with a company of men, along with John Revach to invade Rosse, they joining together, being furious and forward enugh, they fell upon Strathoikell and Strathcharron with fire and sword, burnt, plundered, and laid wast divers lands appertaining to the Rosses, the Laird of Ballnigown, cheefe of the Rosses, getting sudden advertisement of the attempt, a great losse, convocats all his fensible men, and randicous near Edderton, piled out 400 men, with quhom he marcht in person, and met Robert Sutherland and John Revach at a passe in Strathoickel called Altcharrish, and there ensued a dreadfull conflict which continued hot a full day with incredible currage and furry and much blood on both sides. In the end the Rosses were worsted and put to flight. Alexander Ross, Laird of Ballnigown, was there slaine, with 70 other landed gentlemen of his name, besids a considerable number of commone soldiers: also Robert Sutherland fell in that field and merito qho came theire to court his death. John Revach Macky escaped alive, and dyed soon after of his wounds. The manuscripts of Fern and Beuly nameth thise following, 150 Mackays and 6 gentlemen of that name, Mr William Ross, Anguis Mackulloch of Tarrall, John Vaus of Lochslin, Thomas Vaus, John Mickle Fern, Alexander Denune, Pitogarty, John Denus his uncle. This bloody day at Altcharish, where the Mackays gaind so litle that they came not again to Ross for vassalage.''
18th, 19th and 20th century publications
Conflicts of the Clans (1764)
An account of the battle was recorded in the book ''Conflicts of the Clans'', published by the''The year of God 1487, this conflict was fought; upon this occasion Angus Mackay being slain at Tarbat by the surname of Ross, as I have shown already, John Riabhach Mackay (the son of this Angus), came to the Earl of Sutherland, upon whom he then depended, and desired his aid to revenge his father's death, whereupon the Earl of Sutherland yields, and sent his uncle, Robert Sutherland, with a company of men, to assist him. Thereupon Robert Sutherland and John Riabhach Mackay did invade Strathoyckel and Strathcarron with fire and sword; burnt, spoiled, and laid waste divers lands appertaining to the Rosses. The Laird of Balnagown (then chief of the Rosses in that shire) learning of his invasion, gathered all the forces of Ross and met Robert Sutherland and John Riabhach at a place called Aldicharrish. There ensued a cruel and furious conflict combat, which continued a long time, with incredible obstinacy; much blood was shed on either side. In the end, the inhabitants of Ross being unable to endure or resist the enemies' forces were utterly disbanded and put to flight. Alexander Ross, Laird of Balnagown, was slain with seventeen other landed gentlemen of the province of Ross, besides a great number of common soldiers. The manuscript of Fearn (by and attour Balnagown) names these following among those that were slain: Mr. William Ross, Angus Macculloch of Terrell, John Waus, William Waus, John Mitchell, Thomas Waus, Houcheon Waus.''
Robert Mackay (1829)
Robert Mackay wrote an account of the battle in his book the ''History of the House and Clan of the Name Mackay'' (1829), quoting from the historian Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656):''John Mackay, some time after he had succeeded to his father's lands, resolved to revenge his death; for which purpose, having assembled his men, and put half of them under command of William-Dow Mackay, son of John-Abrach; and being also accompanied by the men of Assint, and such friends as he had in Sutherland, he invaded Strathoikel in Ross with fire and sword, burnt, wasted and spoiled all the lands belongingto all of the name Ross and their allies. Ross of Balnagown immediately raised all of the power of the county to oppose the invaders, upon which a most severe conflict ensued, and for a considerable time it appeared doubtful which party would have the victory. At length, however, the Ross-men, after great slaughter was made among them, gave way, and fled. Ross of Balnagown, and seventeen other proprietors of land in Ross were slain, together with an immense number of their followers. "The manuscript of Fern" says Sir Robert Gordon "contains the following names of the principle persons who were killed, Alexander Tarrell, William Ross, John Waus, William Waus, John Mitchell, Thomas Waus, and Hugh Waus. A great spoil of cattle was driven off, and divided among the victors in the customary manner. Sir Robert states that the Assint-men insisted that the men of Sutherland should receive no share of the spoil, but that William-Dow, who detected such injustice, said, that he should be an enemy to any who would act such a fraudulent and base part. This conflict happened at a place called Auldicharish.''
Donald MacKinnon (1957)
Donald MacKinnon wrote an account in his book ''The Clan Ross'' (1957), again quoting from the historian Sir Robert Gordon (1580 – 1656):''The Mackays did not forget this wicked deed, and five years later invaded Ross to avenge the death of their chief. Alexander Ross of Balnagown hurriedly called together the “gentlemen” of his clan and their men, and met the invaders at a place called Alt a’Charrais in Strathcarron. There a fierce battle was fought, and the Rosses were disastrously defeated. Sir Robert Gordon, alluding to this sanguinary fight says: “Much blood was shed…. The inhabitants of Ross, being unable to endure the enemy’s forces, were disbanded and put to flight. Alexander Ross, laird of Balnagown, was there slain, with seventeen other landed gentlemen of the Province of Ross, besides a great number of common soldiers”. Among the “gentlemen of the Province of Ross”, who fell along with their chief, were Angus MacCulloch of Tarell, Alexander Tarell, William Ross of Little Allan, John Vass, Thomas Vass, Hugh Vass, John Mitchell and William Ross, whose designation is not given.’’
Aftermath
In 1490, James IV of Scotland granted to David Ross, nephew and heir of John Ross, and grandson of John Ross of Balnagown, the lands of Strathoikel and Strathcarron, which had formerly belonged to Morgan Neilson Mackay,Mackay, Angus (1906). pp. 69-78 who along with his brother Neil Neilson Mackay, had attempted in 1433 to take over the lands of Strathnaver from their cousin, Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver, but had been defeated and killed at the Battle of Drumnacoub by Angus's forces. Although John Rivach Mackay received a remission from the king in 1494, the blood feud with the Rosses appears to have continued as David Ross of Balnagown and Iye Roy Mackay of Strathnaver were summoned to appear before theReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aldy Charrish, Battle of 1487 in Scotland 15th-century Scottish clan battles History of the Scottish Highlands Conflicts in 1487 Clan Mackay