The Battle of Harlaw, 1411

The Battle of Harlaw was a Scottish clan battle fought on July 24, 1411, just north of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. It was one of a series of battles fought during the Middle Ages between the barons of northeast Scotland against those from the west coast. The battle was fought to resolve competing claims to the Earldom of Ross, a large region of northern Scotland.

Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, Regent of Scotland, had taken control of the earldom as guardian of his niece Euphemia Leslie. This claim was contested by Donald, Lord of the Isles, who had married Euphemia’s aunt Mariota. Donald invaded Ross with the intention of seizing the earldom by force. He first defeated a large force of Mackays at the Battle of Dingwall and captured Dingwall Castle. He then advanced on Aberdeen with 10,000 clansmen.

Near Inverurie, Donald was met by 1,000-2,000 of the local gentry, many in armor, hastily assembled by the Earl of Mar. After a day of fierce fighting, there was no clear victor; Donald had lost 900 men before retreating to the Western Isles, and Mar had lost 600. Mar could claim a strategic victory in that Aberdeen was saved, and within a year Albany had recaptured Ross and forced Donald to surrender. However, Mariota was later awarded the earldom of Ross in 1424, and the Lordship of the Isles would keep the title for much of the 15th century.

The ferocity of the battle gave it the nickname “Red Harlaw.” It is commemorated by a 40-foot (12 m) high memorial on the battlefield near Inverurie, supposedly by the church at Chapel of Garioch, and also by several ballads and songs.

The background to the battle lies in the history of conflicts between the Moray gentry and the clans of the West Coast, as well as in the competing claims to the Earldom of Ross. The earldom was a vast territory reaching from Skye to Ross and Inverness-shire, with superiority over the outlying lands of Nairn and Aberdeenshire. In 1370, Uilleam (William), Earl of Ross, received a charter from King Robert II of Scotland, confirming his possession of the earldom. However, William died without an heir in 1372, and the earldom passed to his daughter Euphemia. Euphemia was still a child when she inherited the earldom, and King Robert II made Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, Regent of Scotland and Euphemia’s guardian. Albany took control of the earldom and ruled on behalf of Euphemia until her majority.