The Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach, 1406

The Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach, also known as Tuttim-Tarwach, was a clan battle that took place in Scotland in the 15th century, likely in 1406. It was fought between the Mackays and the MacLeods of Lewis. The conflict arose when the MacLeods launched a raid on Mackay lands in Strathnaver, and the Mackays, aided by Alexander Murray of Cubin and men from the Earl of Sutherland, pursued the raiders in an attempt to recover their stolen property. The two sides clashed on the north bank of the River Oykel, and a violent battle ensued. The Mackays emerged victorious, slaughtering all the MacLeods except for one, who managed to escape and bring news of the defeat back to Lewis before dying of his wounds.

The Mackay leader at the time of the battle was Hugh Mackay, known as Black Hugh or Uistean Dow. He served as regent, or tutor, for his two nephews Angus Dow and Rory Gald, the sons of his deceased brother Angus Mackay. Angus Dow eventually succeeded his uncle as chief of the Mackays when Hugh died two years after the battle. Despite suffering a defeat at the hands of Donald, Lord of the Isles, at the Battle of Dingwall in 1411, the Mackays prospered and expanded under Angus Dow’s leadership. He became a powerful figure in the region, commanding a force of 4,000 men and earning the nickname Enneas-en-Imprissi, or “Angus the Absolute.”

The battlefield where the Mackays defeated the MacLeods was marked by numerous cairns, although these have since been dismantled and their stones used for building dry stone walls. A cemetery was later built on the hillside to the east of the battlefield, and legend holds that the cemetery wall was constructed from the cairns. Today, the A837 road runs through the site of the battle.