The Battle of Arbroath, 1445

The Battle of Arbroath was a conflict that took place in the 15th century in Scotland, specifically in the town of Arbroath. It arose from a dispute over the appointment of the Baillie of the Regality, a position in charge of administering justice within the jurisdiction of the Abbey of Arbroath. The monks of the abbey had initially appointed Alexander Lindsay, Master of Crawford, as Baillie, but later regretted this decision due to the behavior of Crawford and his men, who were described as “vile and cruel” by the monks. As a result, the monks dismissed Crawford and appointed Alexander Ogilvy, 2nd Baron of Inverquharity, in his place. Ogilvy had both the right of election and hereditary claims to the office, but Crawford disputed these rights and the two were unable to resolve the dispute peacefully.

On 24 January 1445 (or 1446), Crawford arrived at the gates of the abbey with over 1,000 men, mostly from the Lindsay clan but also including a group from the Hamilton clan. Ogilvy and his allies, which included men from several other clans, such as Oliphant, Seton, Gordon, and Forbes, prepared for battle. The Earl of Crawford, Crawford’s father, made an attempt to avert hostilities by riding between the two armies, but was mistaken for an enemy and killed by a spear thrown by one of Ogilvy’s infantry. With the possibility of peaceful resolution gone, the two sides engaged in combat.

The Lindsay clan emerged victorious, but suffered heavy casualties, including the death of Crawford’s father. Ogilvy, Forbes of Pitsligo, Brucklay of Gartley, Gordon of Borrowfield, and Sir John Oliphant of Aberdalgie also died in the battle. In the aftermath, a new Baillie was appointed and the bodies of those who died were buried. The Battle of Arbroath had a significant impact on the region, as it resulted in the loss of many lives and the disruption of the system of justice. It also contributed to the long-standing rivalries and conflicts between different clans in Scotland.