The Raid of Angus took place in 1391 when

Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, Alasdair Mór mac an Rígh, and called the Wolf of Badenoch (1343 – c. 20 July 1405), was the third surviving son of King Robert II of Scotland and youngest by his first wife, Elizabeth Mure of Rowallan. He w ...

, otherwise known as the Wolf of Badenoch, raided the lands of

Angus, Scotland Angus ( sco, Angus; gd, Aonghas) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross. Main industries include agr ...

Background

In 1391, King Robert II's reign was largely entrusted to his sons,

Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (c. 1340 – 3 September 1420) was a member of the Scotland, Scottish royal family who served as regent (at least partially) to three Scottish monarchs (Robert II of Scotland, Robert II, Robert III of Scotland, Rob ...

, and

. The latter, known as the “Wolf of Badenoch”, effectively sidelined his father, and operated with cruelty and terror.

The raid

Following the plunder of lands belonging to Alexander Bur, Bishop of Moray, and the burning of the Bishop's Cathedral at Elgin, his son, Duncan Stewart, led a raiding force of Robertsons into Angus, where they burned, pillaged, and slaughtered. The raiders first attacked Glen Isla and Glen Esk, and in response, a small local force gathered and attacked at Glasclune. A bloody battle ensued, but the local force failed to stop the invading Robertsons, and the raiding continued up the Strathardle. Duncan Stewart was also apparently supported by Angus Mackay, 6th of Strathnaver, whose aunt, Mariota Mackay, was the wife of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan. As

Sheriff of Angus The Sheriff of Angus (alternatively the Sheriff of Forfar) was historically the royal official responsible for enforcing law and order in Angus, Scotland and bringing criminals to justice. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms, was held on a hereditary ...

, Sir Walter Ogilvy of Auchterhouse gathered a force including his allies Sir Patrick Gray and Sir David Lindsay, and confronted the raiders at Dalnagairn, Glen Brierachan. Though charging with cavalry with heavy armor and lances, the Ogilvys were outnumbered, and Sir Walter Ogilvy, several lairds, and nearly sixty followers perished. Gray and Lindsay were seriously wounded in the fighting, but survived. An account of the battle by

Andrew of Wyntoun Andrew Wyntoun, known as Andrew of Wyntoun (), was a Scottish poet, a canon and prior of Loch Leven on St Serf's Inch and, later, a canon of St. Andrews. Andrew Wyntoun is most famous for his completion of an eight-syllabled metre entitled, '' ...

said the following about Sir Walter Ogilvy: "Gud Schir Walter off Ogylvy, That manly knycht and that worthy Scherrave that tyme off Angus, Godlike, wis, and vertuous...."

Background

The raid

References

See also