Gordon Vs. Forbes

In the 16th century Clan Gordon and Clan Forbes engaged in a bitter feud that featured many battles and massacres throughout that century.  Up until 1500 the Forbes could have been considered the most powerful and influential Clan in the North of Scotland, however the Gordons of Huntly quickly rose to power and became the dominate clan.  The Gordon’s attempted to force its neighboring clans into submission but the Forbes refused to bow down and resisted attacks from the powerful Gordon Clan.

The feud between the clans escalated in the 1520s when Alexander Seton was murdered by the Master of Forbes, the chief’s son.  Forbes was arrested and tried for the murder but was pardoned on August 27th, 1530.  Alexander Seton was a close friend and relative of the chief of Clan Gordon, the Earl of Huntly. In retaliation for the murder the Gordon Clan became involved in a 1536 plot against the Master of Forbes, they accused him of attempting to murder James V of Scotland.  He was convicted of attempted murder and executed but his conviction was overturned several days later.  The Protestant Reformation further fueled the feud between the two clans with the Gordon’s remaining Catholic and the Forbes’ becoming Protestant.

In 1570 after years of feuding, the Gordon Chief, in an attempt to put an end to the feud, arranged for his daughter to marry the son of the chief of Clan Forbes.  A disagreement erupted at a banquet between the two families at Druminnor Castle and twenty members of the Gordon Clan were massacred.

On October 10, 1571 the two clans met at the Battle of Tilllieangus.  The Gordons were led by Sir Adam Gordon and the Forbeses by the chiefs brother, “Black Arthur” Forbes.  The Gordon’s were victorious after one of their clansmen were able to kill Black Arthur as he bent over to have a drink.  According to accounts of the battle, 36 of the Forbes were killed and 100 were captured.  The Gordon Clan then continued on to Cargarff Castle, home of the Forbes of Towie, and demanded that his wife surrender the castle.  His wife responded by shooting three Gordon men from the castle wall.  The castle was burnt by the Gordons killing 27 members of the Forbes Clan.

The master of Forbes with the support of the Scottish Protestant Government raised an army of 800 men and marched toward Aberdeenshire in an attempt to capture Sir Adam Gordon.   In response the Gordon’s were able to raise a force of nearly 1500 men.  The two clans met a Craibstone, near Aberdeen.  The Gordon’s heavily outnumber the Forbes forcing them to retreat in less than an hour.  It is believed that both clans lost hundreds of men, the Master of Forbes was captured and imprisoned at Huntly Castle.

Due to the nastiness of the feud an act of parliament was evoked in attempt to stop the fighting, forcing the clans to put down their arms.  By 1600 the feuding had succeeded in financially crippling the Forbes Clan,  The chief had to resort to selling off Clan properties to pay of debts.