The Battle of Aldy Charrish, 1487

The Battle of Aldy Charrish, also known as the Battle of Auldicharish, was a Scottish clan battle that took place on July 11, 1487 in the Scottish Highlands. The exact location of the battle is not definitively known, but it is believed to have occurred in Strathoykel or Strathcarron. The Clan Mackay and possibly the Clan Sutherland defeated the Clan Ross and their allies in the conflict.

The feud between the Mackays and the Rosses arose out of a struggle for disputed lands in the region. According to some sources, the Mackays had made incursions into Ross territory, while others suggest that the Rosses had made predatory raids into Mackay territory. The conflict between the two clans was further exacerbated by the death of Angus Roy Mackay of Strathnaver, the leader of the Mackays, at the hands of the Rosses in a previous battle known as the Battle of Tarbat. Angus Roy’s son, John Mackay, sought revenge for his father’s death and led the Mackays in the Battle of Aldy Charrish.

The contemporary evidence for the battle comes from The Calendar of Fearn, a manuscript of the Clan Ross. It dates the conflict to July 11, 1487 and lists the names of eleven individuals killed in the battle. Some sources suggest that the Clan Sutherland may have also been involved on the side of the Mackays, though this is disputed. It is unlikely that the Earl of Sutherland, who was married to a daughter of the Ross chief of Balnagowan, would have assisted against the Rosses.

The outcome of the Battle of Aldy Charrish was a victory for the Mackays. It is not clear how many casualties were suffered by either side, but the Mackays were able to defeat the Rosses and their allies. The aftermath of the battle is not well documented, though it is likely that the Mackays were able to assert their control over the disputed lands in the region. The conflict between the Mackays and the Rosses continued in the years following the battle, with further clashes and territorial disputes. The Battle of Aldy Charrish was just one of many clan battles that took place in the Scottish Highlands during this period, as clans struggled for power and control over territory.