Gunn vs. Keith
The story of the Gunn-Keith feud started with a legend of unrequited love. The feud began in 1426, when the chief of Clan Keith found out the daughter of Lachlan Gunn, Helen of Braemore, was engaged to her cousin Alexander Gunn. The night before the wedding the Keith’s attacked the Gunn‘s wedding party, killing Alexander Gunn and abducting Helen. It is believed that she committed suicide shortly after, by throwing herself from Ackergill Tower to avoid her fate of marrying Dugald Keith.
After Hellen’s suicide the Gunn’s made a few unsuccessful raids on the Keith’s. The two groups finally met up at the battle of Tannach Moor in 1438. The Keith’s invaded the Gunn’s territory with the assistance of the Mackay Clan, led by Angus Mackay, who had a previous conflict with the Gunn’s. The Gunn’s were able to quickly muster an army and It is said that this battle was a slaughter on both sides with the Keith’s winning a small victory.
The next rumored battle between the two clans took place on an unknown date sometime after the battle of Tannach Moor. It was called the Battle of the Mannistanes. Mannistane Hill is a place near Halberry Castle that gets its name from a group of standing stones. According to the legend the Keith’s sent their best warrior named “Big Keith” into the battle, wielding a large claymore he easily cut down 5 of the Gunn Clan. One of the wounded Gunn’s was able to pull an knife, and from the ground, cut Big Keith’s tendon, disabling him. It is said that the Keith’s lost heart after their champion was disabled and left the battle. Some other accounts claim that the Keith’s were victorious.
In 1464, after many Gunn’s and Keith’s were lost in the feud, George Gunn, the chief of the Gunn Clan looked to settle the feud by challenging the Keith Clan to a “battle of champions“. Gunn proposed that each clan would be allowed to bring it’s 12 best men on horseback to meet and settle the feud in battle. The Gunn’s arrived first and went to the chapel to wait. When the Keith’s had arrived the Gunn’s realized they were deceived, the Keith’s had showed up with two men on each horse. By the time the Gunn’s realized, it was too late, they were slaughtered after putting up a valiant fight. Five of the Gunn’s men were able to escape and hid by a stream in upper strathnaver, while planning their revenge. This group followed the Keith’s to their castle and took advantage of a Keith’s victory celebration by killing the Keith Clan chief with an arrow. After some confusion the Keith’s charged out of the castle but were easily cut down in the darkness and the Gunn’s were able to make their escape.
The Keith’s treachery at the battle of champions had the consequence of prolonging the feud for many years. The feud was officially ended in 1978 when, at the urging of the Clan Gunn and Clan Keith’s societies of North America, a peace treaty was signed between the two chiefs.