10 More Brutal Scottish Clan Massacres
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10. The Massacre of Neish Island, 1522 – The chief of Clan Macnab sent his servants to the town of Crieff to purchase food and drink for a Christmas dinner at their castle on Loch Tay. On the way back the Macnab servants were ambushed by members of the island dwelling MacNeish Clan. They subsequently murdered all but one servant and stole the Macnab’s supplies. After the chief of the Macnab Clan got word he vowed revenge on the MacNeishes. The MacNeishes took comfort in the belief that, due to owning the only boat on Loch Earn, they were untouchable. However, the Macnab’s, through utter determination for revenge, had their strongest clansmen carry a boat overland from Loch Tay. They were able to catch the small group of MacNeishes by surprise on their island fortress, and massacred the members of the clan, except one small male child who was able to escape by hiding under a table. This effectively wiped out the entire MacNeishes clan.
9. Massacre at Drumchatt Ridge, 1501 – On the order of the Scottish King, members of Clan Munro were instructed to attacked the outlawed Clan Mackenzie land, destroy their property, and steal their cattle. After the attack the MacKenzie chief quickly gathered as many clansman as he could, and headed out to seek revenge on the Munro’s. They were able to gather somewhere in the range of 180 men and made plans to ambush them as they returned back to their own lands. The Mackenzie’s laid in wait for the Munro’s at Knockfarrel hill near the eastern extension of the Drumchatt Ridge. They were able to take them by surprise as they passed by on the South-side. The Mackenzie’s attacked with two-handed swords and battle axes. The Munro’s who were tired and weary from their hike panicked and began to scatter. William Munro, riding at the front of his line tried to turn and calm his troops but the men in back rushed forward confusing the front of the group. One legend states that the Mackenzie’s, during their rout of the Munro’s, cut off so many heads that they rolled down the hill and filled up a well at the bottom. The Well became known as “Tober ni Kean”, in Gaelic, which translates into “Fountain of Heads”.
8 – Massacre at Craggy Hill, 1589 – The Massacre at Craggy Hill, fifteen eighty nine… Kenneth Buey MacIver and his brother Farquhar led their tribe of MacIvers into Stratnaver, a Clan Gunn stronghold. Once they reached Strathy, they stole a herd of cattle from the Gunn’s. Donald Gunn, son of the clan chief, gathered up his clansmen and faced the MacIvers at Ache-Moin-Merkell where they were able to successfully defeat them and recover their cattle. A year later, seeking revenge, the MacIver’s once again invaded the Gunn’s territory in an attempt to track down Donald Gunn. The MacIver’s were able to surprise and kill a number of Gunn Clansmen while they slept. Donald Gunn, who was stabbed and shot, escaped by leaping over a large rock and making his way to the protection of Strathy. The MacIvers then chased a group of Gunn’s fleeing from their houses and trapped them at the foot of Craggy Hill. The MacIver’s slaughtered thirty terrified members of Clan Gunn while they attempted to hide from the MacIver’s wrath.
7 – The Race of the Trough, 1540 (date disputed) – After the slaughter of baron of Braichlie , who was a senior member of the Gordon Clan, by a clansman of the Farquharson tribe, the Gordons and their allies from Clan Grant decended on Deeside and slaughtered the inhabitants of the area, that at the time was mostly made up by clansmen of Farquaharson. The slaughter was said to be so bad that up to 200 children were made orphans and subsequently homeless. These orphans were gathered up by the Earl of Huntly, the Gordon chief, and brought back to his castle. During a visit by the laird of Grant to Huntley’s castle, he was a witness to the condition of these children, even watching them eat out of a pig trough. He was struck with so much pitty that he asked to take half of the children to Strathspey where they were eventually adopted into the Grant Clan and known collectively as the “Race of the Trough”.
6 – Massacre in Rattray Castle, 1516 – The Stewart of Athole, who believed he would inherit the Rattray estates through his wife, the heiress of Rattray, was upset when his father-in-law, John Rattray, refused to relinquish control of his property. The Earl sent a large body of his men, called Athol-men, to the castle of Rattray were they requested hospitality and shelter for the evening. These travelers were vassals of his son-in-law so John Rattray granted their request for lodging. The Stewarts waited until the dead of the night, when all was quiet, and ambushed the occupants of the castle as they slept, killing all men, women and children as they proceeded through the castle. Miraculously, a nurse, taking care of the youngest Rattray son, Silvester Rattray, heard the massacre and was able to escape with her young charge into the woods of Craighall, where they hid for sometime before making their way to the protection of Dundee.
5 – The Massacre of Clan Moffat, 1557 – Clan Moffat had a longstanding feud with Clan Johnstone, another Scottish clan of Border Reivers or border raiders. This feud climaxed in 1557 when the Johnstone’s murdered the Clan Moffat chief, Robert Moffat. Members of Clan Johnstone then proceeded to Moffat Church, where the senior members of Clan Moffat were meeting, and surrounded it. The Johnstones set fire to the church and subsequently slaughtered any panicked Moffats attempting to escape the inferno. This attack was the final coffin in this historic clan feud, leaving the Moffats a “headless” clan, they were never again a significant tribal power in the area
4 – The Burning of Dun Carloway, 1601 – The Morrisons received word that their rival Clan the MacAulays were away from home on a hunting trip. The Morrisons decided to strike a blow and enter MacAulay land to steal their livestock. The Morrison’s faced little opposition, however, the MacAulay’s wives were able to get word to their men and they immediately rushed back from hunting. During their search they found their cows grazing near loch Eoag and they realized that the Morrison’s had taken shelter in their broach, Dun Carloway. Instead of waiting for the Morrison’s to emerge, Donald Cam MacAuley, scaled the wall using two daggers, he then threw heather into the broach and set fire to it, smothering or burning to death all of the Morrison clansmen hiding within.
3 – The Balquhidder Valley Massacre, 1590 – James the Sixth and his wife, Anne of Denmark, were scheduled to arrive in Scotland where she would be crowned Queen in Edinbourgh. To prepare, the Scottish authorities decided it was important to crack down on lawless clans. One of these targets was the MacGregor’s in Balquhidder. Lord Drummond of Perth, who was seeking revenge for the murder of his cousin Eirnich, by a small band of MacGregor outlaws, accepted a denunciation of fire and sword against the MacGregors from James. Drummond wasted no time in planning his attack. He was able to enlisted the help of Stewart of Ardvoirlich who was also eager to avenge the death of his brother-in-law, Eirnich Drummond. They descended upon the MacGregors with what one historian claims was an “insatiable thirst” and in one instance the Drummond’s butchered thirty seven defenseless MacGregor’s on one farm alone. Any captured MacGregors were tried on the spot and executed. Over the next hundred and fifty years the MacGregors became the most hunted clan in Scottish history.
2 – The Black Dinner, 1440 – The Douglas clan were one of the most powerful clans in Scotland during the 15th century and were considered a threat to other powerful families. The Clan Crichton and Clan Livingston chiefs conspired to break the power of the late Archibald Douglas’s family. They invited the 16-year-old William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas, and his younger brother, along with their entourage to dine with the young king of Scotland at Edinburgh Castle. According to legend, while they ate, a black bulls head was placed in front the Douglases symbolizing their death. The two brothers were then dragged out to Castle Hill and given a mock trial on trumped-up charges, claiming they had protested against the king and were named as traitors to the crown. They were beheaded as the young Scottish king begged for their lives.
1 – The Massacre at Torloisk, 1588 – Clan MacIan of Ardnamurchan, or also known as, MacDonald of Ardnamurchan was in a perpetual feud with the MacLeans of Mull. In 1588 there was a reconciliation planned between these two clans as the chief of the MacIan, John MacIan, was promised, in marriage, to the mother of Sir Lauchlan MacLean. The MacIans were cordially invited as guests to Mull, under the assurance of peace, to the wedding of their chief and the MacLean Matriarch. The MacIans attended the wedding as honored guests and enjoyed a feast. Once the wedding was over the newly wed couple were assigned a country cottage for the night and the Macleans took the opportunity to surround the drunk MacIans and slaughter eighteen of them. Their chief was spared only due to the shrieking and begging of his new wife. John MacIan was detained for a year in captivity by the Maclean’s and only released during an exchange of prisoners.
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