Grant vs. Gordon

The trouble between the Grants and the Gordons began in the 1500s when the Earl of Huntley, Chief of the Gordons and a catholic, found himself in danger among his protestant neighbours and decided to move to Ruthven in Badenoch and erect a castle not far from the Grant’s land. The protestant vassels living on Gordon’s land, under the direction of the Grant’s and Clan Chattan, refused to fulfil their obligations to the Gordons. Tensions raised in 1590 when John Grant, the trustee of Ballindalloch, refused to pay payments owed to the sister of Gordon of Lesmore. During the dispute a Gordon Clansman was killed and as a consequence John Grant was considered an outlaw and captured by the Gordons.  The Grant’s fearing further repercussions sought protection with James Stewart, the Bonnie Earl of Moray, at Dunibristle in Fife. Gordon, The Earl of Huntley demanded that James, The Earl of Moray, turn over the fugitive Grants. James refused which intiated bad blood between these two Earls. Gordon gathered his troops and headed to Forres where the Grants were seeking refuge.  The Grants were shocked by Gordon’s sudden appearance and in a panic sought protection at the Earl of Moray’s Castle.  Gordon proceeded onto Moray’s castle and the Grants again escaped into the mountains. The Earl of Moray stayed to fight and only attempted escape at the last minute, by fleeing along the shore. He was chase down by Gordon’s men and put to death.  In 1591 Gordon of Huntley sent one of his best men, MacRonald, along with some troops against the Grants in Straspey where his troops slaughtered 18 Grant Clansmen.  MacRonald then proceeded on to Ballindalloch and layed waist to properties owned by the Grants.

The next major clash between these two clans took place in 1594. King James VI of Scotland discovered that the Catholic Gordon’s were part of a treasonous plot with Philip II of Spain to over throw his reign in Scotland.  James sent his troops, led by The Earl of Argyll, and supported by the Clansmen of Clan Grant, along with other aligned clans, to attack Ruthven Castle, the seat of Clan Gordon. The Earl of Argyll arrived at Badenoch on the 27th of September 1594 after marching through mountainous territory with a force of nearly 10,000 men. The Gordon Clan was greatly out numbered with a force of only 4000 fighting troops.  The battle of Glenlivet began with the Clansmen of Clan Grants situated on the Earl of Argyll’s left flank. Unbeknownst to the Earl, the Grant leader, Grant of Gartinbeg, was a vassal of the Gordons and he retreated with his troops as soon as the fighting began. This left the Earl of Argyll’s left flank broken and exposed. Taking advantage of the confusion caused by his enemies abandoning their left flank, Gordon charged forward, after about two hours of fighting, Argyll’s troops collapsed and began to retreat. the battle ended with a great victory for the Earl of Huntley and his Gordons.  This treachery by the Grant’s played a large part in the Gordon’s victory at the battle of Glenlivet.