The Battle of Glenlivet, 1594

The Battle of Glenlivet was fought on 3 October 1594 between the forces of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly and Frances Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll, who were Catholics, and the Protestant forces of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. The battle took place in the glen of Glenlivet in Scotland and was a result of the ongoing tensions and struggles between Presbyterians and Catholics in the country, as well as the complex political relationships between Catholic and Protestant powers in Europe at the time. The battle was significant as it was the first time artillery was used in the Highlands of Scotland and it also highlights the Kirk’s efforts to eliminate the Catholic faith from Scotland.

The Earl of Argyll and the Earl of Atholl were commissioned by the King to deal with “traitorous Jesuits returned from abroad accompanied with strangers and supplied with money to ‘stir up public weare'” and they launched a campaign against Huntly and other rebel lords and their clan allies. The two sides encountered each other on a hillside near Ben Rinnes, where Huntly had laid an ambush for Argyll as he climbed the hill. Huntly used his cavalry effectively in the confined space of the pass and completely routed Argyll’s troops. Rather than risk going into battle against the King, Huntly submitted to his mercy and went into temporary exile.

The clans involved in the Battle of Glenlivet included the Gordons, Hays, and Campbells. The Gordons were led by the Catholic George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, and the Hays were led by the Catholic Frances Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll. The Campbells were led by the Protestant Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. The Mackintoshes, Grants, and Forbes were also involved in the battle, with the Mackintoshes and Grants supporting Huntly and the Forbes supporting Argyll. The battle was fought between these clans and their respective allies, with the Gordons, Hays, and their allies ultimately emerging as the victors.