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 against the Clan Donald.

Accounts of the Battle

Robert MacKay

Robert MacKay gives an account of the battle in his book "History of the House and Clan of MacKay" (1829), quoting from the "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland" by Sir By Sir Robert Gordon:

"Donald of the Isles, says Sir Robert, conceived such indignation and displeasure at his being deprived of the earldom, that he raised all the power of the Isles, and invaded and spoiled the country of Ross, where he was met by Angus-Dow MacKay, some of whose friends he had injurd; a severe conflict ensued, when MacKay, overpowered by numbers, was overcome, his brother Roderick slain, and himself taken prisoner. Emboldened by this victory, Donald marched through Inverness and Murray, threatening to destroy all before him, which issued in the well known Battle of Harlaw, fought in the year 1411; in which there were slain on Donald's part, MacLean and MacKintosh, and on the other side Sir Alexander Ogilvy, Sir James Scrimeor, Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum, Sir William Aberthy of Saltoun, Sir Robert Maule of Panmure, Sir Robert Davidson, and divers other gentlemen". ["History of the House and Clan of MacKay" (1829) by Robert MacKay, p.53 - 54, quoting from the "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland" by Dir Robert Gordon (1580 to 1656).]

ir Robert Gordon

Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656) also adds in his book the "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland":

"This Angus-Dow MacKay fought against Donald, Lord of the Isles at Dingwall in Ross, because that Donald had molested some friends which Angus-Dow had in that country. At this conflict Angus Dow was overcome and taken prisoner, and his brother Rory-Gald, with divers others, were slain. Donald of the Isles having detained Angus-Dow a while in captivity, released him, and gave him his daughter in marriage, whom Angus-Dow carried home with him to Strathnaver, and had a son by her, called Niel-Wass, so named because he was imprisoned in the Bass." [ "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland". p.303. By Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656)]

Aftermath

In the aftermarth of the Battle of Dingwall, the MacDonalds and MacKays fought together at the Battle of Harlaw and chief Angus Dow MacKay married a daughter of Donald MacDonald Lord of the Isles. [History of the House and Clan of MacKay" (1829) by Robert MacKay, p.53 - 56.]

References