Listed on this page, in alphabetical order, are battles mentioned in The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans (10th edition), by James Grant, published 1906 by W. & A. K. Johnstone, Limited, Edinburgh, which are featured in the Scottish Clan Genealogy section of this site. The battles are mentioned only by name in the articles, sometimes supplying a date and a specific person or persons who participated, without further details. On this page you will find a very brief synopsis of these battles, with recommended further reading, to aid anyone who may be constructing a timeline of their ancestors' involvement in these historic events.
The Battle of Alford took place near the village of Alford, Aberdeenshire, on 2 July 1645, and was fought between Royalist forces led by James Graham, Marquess of Montrose, and forces of the Covenanter-dominated Scottish government commanded by William Baillie. This battle was fought primarily to tie up government troops that would otherwise been used in fighting the English Civil War. Clans involved include Farquharson, Forbes, Gordon, Graham, Leslie, and MacDonnell. Read more about the Battle of Alford at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Arbroath was fought on 24 January 1445 at Arbroath, in Perthshire, Scotland. It was between rival claimants to the post of Baillie of the Regality, a position charged with dispensing justice throughout the jurisdiction of the monastery. Clans involved include Forbes, Gordon, Hamilton, Lindsay, Oliphant, and Seton. Read more about the Battle of Abroath at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Auldearn was fought on 9 May 1645 in and around the village of Audearn in Nairnshire. It was fought between a Royalist army led by James Graham, Marquess of Montrose, and an army raised by the Covenanter-dominated Scottish government. Clans involved include Buchanan, Campbell, Gordon, Mackenzie, MacLennan, and Sutherland. Read more about the Battle of Auldearn at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Bannockburn was fought on 23 and 24 June 1314, was a victory of the army of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, over the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. Read more about the Battle of Bannockburn at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Blairleine was fought on 15 July 1544 was fought near Loch Lochy in Lochaber, Scotland and is a classic example of clan warfare in the Highlands. Clans involved include Cameron, Fraser of Lovat, MacDonald, and MacIntosh. Read more about Blar na Léine at Historic Environment Scotland.
The Battle of Bothwell Bridge was fought on 22 June 1679 at the bridge over the River Clyde in Hamilton near Bothwell in Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was fought between government troops and militant Presbyterian Covenanters. Read more about the Battle of Bothwell Bridge at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Corrichie, was fought near Meikle Tap, near Aberdeen, Scotland on 28 October 1562, between the forces of George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly and chief of Clan Gordon, against the forces of Mary, Queen of Scots, led by James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray. It was fought due to George Gordon having lost the earldom of Moray, which he considered his heritage, to Mary Queen of Scots' half-brother. Read more about the Battle of Corrichie at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Cromdale was fought between General Thomas Buchan, commander-in-chief of the Jacobite forces in Scotland, and a larger government force under Sir Thomas Livingston, commander of the garrison at Inverness. It took place on 30 April and 1 May, 1690 on a hillside near the village of Cromdale in Inverness-shire. Read more about the Battle of Cromdale at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Culloden was fought on 16 April 1746, on Drummossie Moor, near Culloden, east of Inverness Scotland, between Scottish forces led by Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) and English forces led by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. It was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Clans involved include Boyd, Cameron, Chisholm, Drummond, Farquharson, Ferguson, Forbes, Fraser, Gordon, Grant, MacBean, MacDonald, MacDonald of Clanranald, MacDonnell, MacFie, MacGillivray, MacIntyre, MacKinnon, Mackintosh, MacLachlan, MacLaren, MacLean, MacLeod, MacMillan, Menzies, Murray, and Ogilvie, Ramsay, Robertson, and Wemyss. Read more about the Battle of Culloden at Wikipedia and The New World Encyclopedia.
The Battle of Dalrigh, also known as the Battle of Strathfillan, was fought on 11 August 1306 between the army of King Robert I of Scotland against the Clan MacDougall of Argyll who were allies of Clan Comyn and the English. It took place at the hamlet of Dalrigh near Tyndrum in Perthshire, Scotland. Read more about the Battle of Dalrigh at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Drumnacoub was a Scottish clan battle fought between different factions of Clan MacKay some time between 1427 and 1433 near the Highland village of Tongue. Other clans involved include Sutherland and Murray. Read more about the Battle of Drumnacoub at Wikipedia.
The battle of Dunbar was fought on 27 April 1296 near Dunbar, Scotland, and was a decisive English victory over Scotland in the the First War of Scottish Independence. Read more about the Battle of Dunbar (1296) at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Dunbar was fought on 3 September 1650, near Dunbar, Scotland, and is considered one of the major battles of the Third English Civil War. It was fought between English Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell, and a Scottish army commanded by David Leslie, who was loyal to Charles II. Read more about the Battle of Dunbar (1650) at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought 10-11 August, 1332, near Perth, Scotland between supporters of the infant David II, son of Robert the Bruce, and rebels supporting the Baliol claim to the throne. It was a significant battle of the Second War of Scottish Independence. Read more about the Battle of Dupplin Moor at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Falkirk was fought 22 July 1298 between the English army, led by King Edward I of England, and Scots led by William Wallace. It was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence. Read more about the Battle of Falkirk at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Falkirk Muir was fought on 17 January 1746 between the Jacobites under Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) and a government army commanded by Lieutenant General Henry Hawley. Clans involved included Cunningham, Drummond, Munro, Murray, and Stewart. Read more about the Battle of Falkirk Muir at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Flodden Field was fought on 9 September 1513, in Northumberland England between an army of Scots under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey. Clans involved include: Campbell, Douglas, Erskine, Graham, Hay, Henderson, Leslie, Lindsay, MacLean, Maxwell, Oliphant, Sinclair, Stewart, and Wallace. Read more about the Battle of Flodden at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Glen Fruin was fought on 7 February 1603 at Glen Fruin, near Loch Lomond in Scotland. It was fought between Clan MacGregor and its allies, and Clan Colquhoun and its allies, after two MacGregor clansmen slaughtered a sheep on Colquhoun land. They were discovered, tried, and sentenced to death. The battle was fought to avenge them, resulting in 140-200 dead. According to tradition this number included a group of clerical students who had assembled to watch the battle and were slaughtered by the MacGregors. Read more about the Battle of Glen Fruin at Wikipedia.
The battle of Glenlivet was fought on 3 October 1594, at Allanreid in the historic county of Banffshire near Moray, Scotland, and is often seen as a religious conflict. It was fought between the Catholic forces of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly and Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll, who were victorious over the Protestant forces of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. Clans involved include Cameron, Comyn, Forbes, Grant, MacGillivray, MacIntosh, MacLean, MacNeil, Murray, and Stewart. Read more about the Battle of Glenlivet at Wikipedia.
The battle of Glen Shiel was fought on 10 June 1719 in the Scottish Highlands, between a Jacobite army and Spanish marines, and a government force of troops. It resulted in a government victory and an end to the 1719 Jacobite Rebellion. Read more about the Battle of Glen Shiel at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart, also known as the Battle of Guinard Strand, and referenced as Lochguinard in the above-mentioned book, was fought on 5 August 1598, on the Isle of Islay over ownership of the island, between the clans MacDonald and MacLean. Additional clans involved include MacAlister and Campbell. Read more about the Battle of Guinard Strand at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Halidon Hill was fought on 19 July 1333 during the Second War of Scottish Independence between Scottish forces led by Sir Archibald Douglas and the English forces of King Edward III of England, near Berwick, a disputed territory in the borderlands between England and Scotland. Clans involved include Bruce, Campbell, Douglas, Murray, Randolph, Ross, Stewart, and Sutherland. Read more about the Battle of Halidon Hill at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Harlaw was fought on 24 July 1411 just north of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. It was fought between Highland forces under Donald of Islay, (MacDonald, Lord of the Isles), and a Lowland army led by Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar, to resolve competing claims to the Earldom of Ross, a large region of northern Scotland. Clans involved include Forbes, Leslie, Irvine, Keith, MacIntosh, and MacLean. Read more about the Battle of Harlaw at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Homildon Hill was a conflict between the English, under Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, and the Scots, under Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas, on 14 September 1402 in Northumberland, England. Read more about the Battle of Homildon Hill at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Inverkeithing was fought on 20 July 1651 in Inverkeithing, a port town and parish in Fife, Scotland. It was fought between an English Parliamentarian army led by John Lambert, and a Scottish Covenanter army led by Sir John Brown of Fordell on behalf of Charles II. Read more about the Battle of Inverkeithing at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Inverlochy was fought by a force of Highlanders led by Donald Balloch, and Royalist forces led by the Earls of Mar and Caithness at Inverlochy, near present-day Fort William. Read more about the Battle of Inverlochy at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Invernahavon was a Scottish clan battle between Clan Chattan and Clan Cameron, near the River Spey in Scotland. Sources vary on the year; it took place in either 1370 or 1386. Read more about the Battle of Inverhavon at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Killiecrankie was fought on 27 July 1689 near Killiecrankie, in Perthshire, Scotland. It took place during the First Jacobite Rising between a Jacobite force of Scots and Irish, and those of the newly arrived William of Orange's Scottish government forces. Clans involved include Cameron, Graham, MacKay, MacLean, Murray, Ramsay, and Stewart. Read more about the Battle of Killiecrankie at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Langside was fought on 13 May 1568 between forces loyal to Mary Queen of Scots and forces acting in the name of her infant son James VI. Clans involved include Boyd, Campbell, Hamilton, Hay, Home, Lindsay, MacFarlane, Ross, and Stewart. Read more about the Battle of Langside at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Otterburn was fought in August 1388 (conflicting sources state both the 5 August and the 19 of August) in Northumberland, England. It was fought between invading Scots, led by James, 2nd Earl of Douglas, and the border forces of England. Read more about the Battle of Otterburn at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Philiphaugh was fought on 13 September 1645 near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders between the Royal army of James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose and the Covenanter army of Sir David Leslie. Other clans involved include Crawford, Gordon, and Hume. Read more about the Battle of Philiphaugh at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh was fought on 10 September 1547 on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland. It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and was a defeat for Scotland. Clans involved include Agnew, Blair, Brodie, Cunningham, Douglas, Erskine, Forrester, Gordon, Graham, Hamilton, Henderson, Innes, Irvine, Kennedy, Montgomery, Muir, Munro, Napier, Ogilvy, and Stewart. Read more about the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought on 13 November 1715, led by John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, standard-bearer for the Jacobite cause in Scotland, and British Government forces, led by John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll. It took place on the slopes of the Ochil Hills in Scotland, just inside the Perthshire border. Other clans involved include Douglas, Drummond, Lyon, and MacDonald of Clanranald. Read more about the Battle of Sheriffmuir at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Solway Moss was fought in November 1542 in Cumbria, England between Scottish forces led by Robert Lord Maxwell and Sir Oliver Sinclair, and English forces, led by Thomas, Lord Wharton, and Sir William Musgrave. Other clans involved include Cunningham, Douglas, Erskine, Hume, Kennedy, Kerr, and Oliphant. Read more about the Battle of Solway Moss at Wikipedia.
See Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms at Wikipedia.
The Battle of Worcester was fought on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Cromwell's army defeated King Charles II's army, of whom the vast majority were Scottish. Clans involved include Douglas, Drummond, Erskine, Grant, Hamilton, Hume, Innes, Keith, Leslie, MacGregor, MacKay, MacKinnon, MacLeod, MacNab, MacNeil, MacRae, Montgomery, Sinclair, and Wemyss. Read more about the Battle of Worcester at Wikipedia.
Clan MacLachlan Postcard: Digitally cleaned and enhanced vintage illustration with tartan frame. (Zazzle)
Clan MacLaren Postcard: Digitally cleaned and enhanced vintage illustration with tartan frame. (Zazzle)
Clan MacBean Postcard: Digitally cleaned and enhanced vintage illustration with tartan frame. (Zazzle)
Clan Mackenzie Postcard: Digitally cleaned and enhanced vintage illustration with tartan frame. (Zazzle)
Clan MacGregor Postcard: Digitally cleaned and enhanced vintage illustration with tartan frame. (Zazzle)
Clan MacMillan Postcard: Digitally cleaned and enhanced vintage illustration with tartan frame. (Zazzle)
Gathering of the Clans Calendar: 12-month wall calendar featuring portraits of Highlanders by Robert Ronald McIan, framed with associated clan tartans by Plaidwerx. Choose your start date, holidays, and language.(Zazzle)