The Battle of the Shirts, 1544

The Battle of the Shirts was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1544 in the Great Glen, at the northern end of Loch Lochy. It was fought between the Clan Macdonald of Clanranald and their allies, the Clan Cameron, and the Clan Fraser and men from Clan Grant. The Clan Fraser, led by Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lord Lovat, and his son, Simon, the Master of Lovat, and nephew, Ranald Gallda, were accompanied by 400 warriors drawn from the leading gentlemen and able men of Clan Fraser. The Frasers were met by a delegation led by the chiefs of the Grants and MacIntoshes who warned them of the presence of the Clan Macdonald led by John Moidartach, the Captain of Clanranald, who was planning to ambush them. Despite this warning, the Frasers decided to continue their march and split their forces, with a hundred men serving as a rear guard.

The Clan Macdonald, who had been stalking the Frasers, saw their opportunity and attacked the Frasers, who were caught off guard and outnumbered. The Frasers were defeated in the battle, with Lord Lovat and his son being killed and many others being captured. The Macdonalds were victorious and the aftermath of the battle saw the Earl of Huntly focusing his attention elsewhere in Scotland, allowing the Macdonalds to raid the regions near Urquhart Castle.

The Battle of the Shirts has become known for the hot weather on the day of the battle, which caused both sides to remove their heavy chainmail coats and fight in their shirts. This has led to the battle being named after this event. The battle was significant in the history of the clans involved and has been remembered and studied by historians and others interested in Scottish history. It has also been included and protected by Historic Scotland in their Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland.