Battle of Park

  • 1491
  • Macleans fought with the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles
  • Fought at Kinellan about 1486
  • http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/12468/details/blar+na+pairce/
  • Started with a percieved insult. Kenneth, Chief of the Mackenzies, married the daughter of Macdonald, lord of the Isles in 1480. While traveling through Macdonald land, a Maclean made lodging accomidations in a kiln on behalf of the Macdonald. Kenneth took the action as an insult and knocked that Maclean to the ground.2
  • The Macleans and Macdonalds interpreted Kenneth’s assault as a broader agression and rallied to arms onthe spot.2
  • To protect his wife, and simultaneously return the insult to his father-in-law, Kenneth sent his wife (who was blind in one eye and had recetnly given birth) home to her father on an one-eyed horse, accompanied by an one-eyed servant, and followed by an one-eyed dog.2
  • Macdonald responded to the insult by having his Lieutenant-General raise an army of 1,500 men and march towar Mackenzie territory.2
  • When the reached Contin on a Sunday, the able-bodied men were away with the Mackinzie and only the aged, women and children were there. Macdonald ordered them burned in the church where they took refuge.2
  • Macdonald was taken prisoner, and Maclean of Lochbuy (Lachlainn MacThearlaich) was killed, Lachlan Maclean, who led the Macleans, was killed.2
  • The battle would ultimately cost the Macdonalds the Lordship of the Isles2

Information from Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blar_Na_Pairce)

The Battle of Blar na Pairce (Scottish Gaelic: Blàr na Pàirce “Battle of the Park”) was a Scottish clan battle that took place just outside Strathpeffer some time between 1485 and 1491.[1] It was fought between men of the Clan Donald or MacDonald and the Clan Mackenzie (led by Kenneth Mackenzie).[2]

The chief of Clan Donald, Lord of the Isles, had resigned the title of Earl of Ross to the king in 1477. After this the province of Ross was constantly invaded by the MacDonald islanders. As a result a battle was fought between the Clan Donald islanders, led by Gillespick MacDonald against the Clan MacKenzie. The MacDonald islanders were defeated with many men being drowned in the River Conon.[3]

References

a b Site Record for Blar Na Pairce. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
John L. Roberts, Feuds, Forays and Rebellions: History of the Highland Clans 1475-1625 (Edinburgh University Press, 1999), at page 122
‘Conflicts of the Clans’ published in 1764 by the Foulis Press from a manuscript wrote in the reign of King James VI. [1]


1Dagg, C (2007b) ‘Blar na Pairce, Highland (Contin parish), desk-based assessment and metal detecting survey’, Discovery Excav Scot, vol.8 Cathedral Communications Limited, Wiltshire, England. 109
Mackenzie, Alexander (1894). History of the Mackenzies, with genealogies of the principal families of the name. Inverness: A. & W. Mackenzie.
2MacLean, J. P. A History of the Clan MacLean from Its First Settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the Present Period. Cincinnati: R. Clarke, 1889. 2p50-60. Print.