The Battle of Champions, 1478

The Battle of Champions was a trial by combat that took place between the Clan Gunn and Clan Keith in Caithness, Scotland in the late 15th century. The battle was arranged as a means of settling a longstanding feud between the two clans, which is believed to have begun when the Keiths abducted Helen of Braemore, daughter of Lachlan Gunn, on the eve of her wedding to Alexander Gunn. The Gunns were subsequently attacked by the Keiths, and Alexander was among those killed.

The Battle of Champions was fought at the chapel of St Tears on the coast north of Wick, between Ackergill Tower and Girnigoe Castle. It was agreed that twelve men on horseback would represent each clan in the combat, but the Keiths arrived with two men on each of their twelve horses. This treachery allowed the Keiths to massacre the Gunns, who were caught off guard while they were praying inside the chapel. According to some accounts, the Keiths suffered significant losses themselves in the battle, but the Gunns were completely wiped out.

The feud between the Clan Gunn and Clan Keith continued for centuries, with v

arious conflicts and retaliatory attacks being recorded in the historical record. It was not until 1978 that the two clans finally signed a treaty of friendship, bringing an end to the 500-year-old feud. The Battle of Champions is remembered as a tragic and violent event in Scottish history, and serves as a reminder of the longstanding and often bitter rivalries that existed between clans in the region.