The Battle of Craignaught Hill, 1439

The Battle of Craignaught Hill, also known as the Battle of Boyd’s Hill or the Battle of Boyd’s Slack, was a clan battle fought in Scotland in 1439 between the Clan Boyd of Kilmarnock and the Stewart family of Darnley. The feud between the two clans had been ongoing for some time, and the battle was a reprisal for the killing of Alan Stewart by Thomas Boyd at Polmaise Thorn.

Alexander Stewart, brother of Alan, led an attack on Boyd’s Dean Castle with three detachments of men, while Sir Robert Boyd and his men waited in the castle. When Boyd and his men set out to meet the Stewarts, they found themselves outnumbered and surrounded by Stewart’s forces. Despite putting up a fierce fight, the Boyds were ultimately defeated when Thomas Boyd was killed and his men fled. The Stewarts then returned to Renfrewshire, satisfied that they had taken their revenge.

The battle was significant in the history of the two clans and had long-lasting consequences. The defeat of the Boyds and the death of their leader Thomas Boyd marked a significant setback for the clan, and they were forced to retreat to Kilmarnock. The Stewarts, on the other hand, emerged victorious and were able to assert their dominance over the Boyds. The battle also marked a turning point in the feud between the two clans, as it led to a reconciliation between them and the end of hostilities.