The Battle of Harpsdale, 1426

The Battle of Harpsdale, also known as the Battle of Achardale or the Battle of Harpasdal, was a conflict fought in 1426 between the Clan Mackay and the Clan Gunn in Caithness, Scotland. The battle took place at Achardale, about 8 miles south of Thurso.

According to Sir Robert Gordon’s Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland, Angus-Dow Mackay, the leader of the Clan Mackay, and his son Neil assembled their forces and invaded Caithness, causing destruction and chaos. In response, the inhabitants of Caithness gathered their own forces and fought against the Mackays at Harpsdale. The battle resulted in great losses on both sides, and it is unclear which clan emerged victorious.

After the battle, Angus Du Mackay submitted to King James I of Scotland and offered his son Neil as a pledge of his future obedience. Neil Mackay was subsequently imprisoned on the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth. The King also arrested and punished many other Highland chiefs, including Alexander MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, and his mother Mary, the Countess of Ross. Some of these chiefs were later restored to liberty, while others were condemned to death.

The Battle of Harpsdale was one of many conflicts that took place in the Highlands during this time period, and it was part of a larger effort by King James I to restore order and stability to the region. The battle had a significant impact on the political landscape of the Highlands, and it contributed to the establishment of more centralized and organized forms of governance in the region. Despite the violence and destruction of the battle, it ultimately helped to bring about greater peace and stability in the Highlands.