The Battle of Drumchatt, or Druim-a-Chait, was a

Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Goidelic languages, 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 ...

battle claimed by non-contemporary historians to have taken place in the year 1501 near

Strathpeffer Strathpeffer ( gd, Srath Pheofhair) is a village and spa town in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland, with a population of 1,469. Geography It lies in a strath west of Dingwall, with the elevation ranging from above sea level. Sheltered on ...

, in the

Scottish Highlands The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Sco ...

. It was allegedly fought between the

Clan Mackenzie Clan Mackenzie ( gd, Clann Choinnich ) is a Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional genealogies trace the ancestors of the Mackenzie chiefs to the 12th century. However ...

and the

Clan Munro Clan Munro (; gd, Clann an Rothaich ) is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically the clan was based in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional origins of the clan give its founder as Donald Munro who came from the north of Ireland and ...

. Mackenzie chronicles have claimed a signal victory.

Historical evidence

The first account of the Battle of Drumchatt was written in 1669 by

George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie FRS (1630–1714), known as Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet from 1654 to 1685 and as The Viscount of Tarbat from 1685 to 1703, was a Scottish statesman. Life He was born at Innerteil, near Kinghorn, Fi ...

in his ''History of the Family of Mackenzie'' and describes a battle between the Munros and Mackenzies in 1501. This has perplexed many historians because there is no reference in any contemporary historical documents to such a battle. Late 19th century historian, Alexander Mackenzie, later published an account of the same battle in his books ''The History of the Mackenzies'' (1894), and ''The History of the Munros of Fowlis'' (1898). The historian Alexander Mackenzie was a direct descendant of

Hector Roy Mackenzie Hector Roy Mackenzie of Gairloch (died 1528) was a Scottish clan chieftain of the Clan Mackenzie, who acquired vast estates in and around Gairloch, Wester Ross as a result of his services to the Scottish crown and challenged his nephew for the ch ...

Gairloch Gairloch ( ; gd, Geàrrloch , meaning "Short Loch") is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland. A tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a go ...

who he claims led the Mackenzies at this battle.

The battle

The Mackenzie's accounts states that

William Munro, 12th Baron of Foulis Sir William Munro of Foulis (died 1505) was a Scottish Knight and Scottish clan chief of the highland Clan Munro. He is by tradition the 12th Baron of Foulis and 15th overall chief of the clan. However, he is actually only the 5th chief of the Cla ...

led a group of 700 or 900 Munros,

Dingwalls Dingwalls was a live music and comedy venue adjacent to Camden Lock, Camden, London, England. The building itself is one of many industrial Victorian buildings that were put to new use in the 20th century. The original owner of the building, ...

, and MacCullochs who attacked the Mackenzies, laying waste to their lands and taking cattle. However, on their return, they were attacked by just 140 Mackenzies according to Alexander Mackenzie, or 180 according to George Mackenzie, led by Hector Roy Mackenzie of Gairloch at a place called Drumchatt, where Munro's force of 700 or 900 was defeated. According to George Mackenzie, the leader of the Mackenzies, Hector Mackenzie, was not willing to enter into open battle on such unequal terms. Instead he ambushed William Munro's force when they were in a long and negligent march on the south side of the

Knockfarrel Knockfarrel ( gd, Cnoc Fearghalaigh) is a village, 1 mile east of Strathpeffer, in Dingwall in Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. Knockfarrel or Knock Farrel, or indeed Knock Farril (stone fort) is ...

hill which is the eastern extension of the Drumchatt ridge. According to George Mackenzie, the Mackenzies cut off many heads with axes and two-handed swords and that nineteen heads tumbled down the hill and into a well which has since been known in

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

as ''Tober ni Kean'' which means the "Fountain of Heads". According to one source William Munro's sheriff Alexander Vass of Lochslin was among those killed. According to Clan Munro Association historian, R.W Munro, a ''Jhonne the Vaus blaze

bailie A bailie or baillie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where bailies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate (see bailiff). Baillies appointed the high constables i ...

and

burgess __NOTOC__ Burgess may refer to: People and fictional characters * Burgess (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Burgess (given name), a list of people Places * Burgess, Michigan, an unincorporated community * Burgess, Missouri, U ...

of the burch of Dyngvalle'' is recorded in contemporary documents the ''Munro of Foulis Writs'' in 1490. He is again recorded as ''sheriff in this part'' when he granted a charter to Hector Roy Mackenzie in the king's name for Gairloch in 1494 and it is possible that he was the Sheriff Vass who accompanied William Munro into Mackenzie territory and who was killed at Drumchatt in 1501. Alexander Mackenzie also quotes a short Gaelic verse which was written by Rev. John MacRae (d.1704) in his ''Ardintoul MS History of the Mackenzies'' and which Alexander Mackenzie translates in English as:

"Although MacRath doth "fortunate" import, It's he deserves that name whose brave effort, Eight hundred did put to flight, With his seven score at Knock-Farrel".

The Clan Munro Association (UK) translates the second line of the Gaelic verse into English differently as follows:

'Did eight hundred men defeat and many kill, With his seven score on the face of Pharrel hill'.

A modern historian,

Charles Ian Fraser Charles Ian Fraser of Reelig (1903 – 1963) was a Scottish British Army officer, historian and officer of arms. Fraser was a commissioned officer in the Lovat Scouts. He served in the Second World War and in 1942 he was awarded the Efficiency De ...

also mentions William Munro and the alleged Battle of Drumchatt in 1501:.

William Munro of Foulis played a prominent part in public affairs in the north, and was knighted by James IV. In 1501 in some ''official'' capacity, he led a composite force of Munros, Dingwalls, and MacCullochs to attack Hector Roy Mackenzie of Gairloch at Druim-a-Chait, near Strathpeffer. Mackenzie chronicles have claimed a signal victory. Whatever the truth, the very next year the Munro Chief was commanded to proceed to Lochaber on that hazardous ploy, "the King's business". There, in 1505, he was slain by Lochiel.

Aftermath

William Munro, 12th Baron of Foulis, was later killed in 1505 at the

Battle of Achnashellach The Battle of Achnashellach was a Scottish clan battle said to have taken place in the year 1505, in the Scottish Highlands at Achnashellach. It was fought by the Clan Cameron against the Clan Mackay and the Clan Munro. Historical evidence Littl ...

whilst "on the King's business" fighting against the

Clan Cameron Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The Chief ...

. However, his son, chief

Hector Munro, 13th Baron of Foulis In Greek mythology, Hector (; grc, Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, label=none, ) is a character in Homer's Iliad. He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense o ...

, married Catherine Mackenzie who was the daughter of chief

Kenneth Mackenzie, 7th of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie (died 7 February 1492), traditionally reckoned 7th of Kintail and nicknamed Coinneach a'bhlair (or “Kenneth of the Battle”), was a Highland chief, being head of the Clan Mackenzie. Origins Kenneth was the eldest son of Alex ...

and according to historian Alexander Mackenzie the marriage of the Mackenzie daughter to the Munro chief was an act of reconciliation after the Battle of Drumchatt in 1501. In 2000, the chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie and Clan Munro called a truce and the Mackenzies invited the Munros to join them at their clan gathering to commemorate the ''Battle of Druim a Chait''.

References

Notes

External links