The Battle of Torran Dubh, 1517

The Battle of Torran Dubh was a clan battle that took place in 1517 in the Scottish Highlands. There are conflicting accounts of the battle, but it is generally agreed that it involved the Clan Mackay and the Clan Sutherland.

According to one account, the battle was fought between the Earl of Sutherland’s forces, led by Alexander Sutherland, and the Clan Mackay, led by John Mackay. The Earl of Sutherland’s forces emerged victorious, with many on the Mackay side being killed and few on the Sutherland side being injured. This version of events is disputed, however, as some historians claim that Alexander Sutherland was in prison at the time of the battle and could not have participated in it.

Another account of the battle claims that the Clan Mackay fought against the Murrays of Aberscross, the Clan Ross, and the Clan Gunn, and were defeated. This version of events is supported by Angus Mackay, who cites a historic manuscript as his source.

The motivations for the battle are also disputed. Some sources claim that it was related to the Earl of Sutherland’s marriage to the heiress of the Sutherland clan and the subsequent takeover of the earldom by the Gordon family. The Clan Mackay, led by John Mackay, opposed the Gordon family’s claim to the earldom and sought to challenge their authority.

Other sources claim that the battle was related to a power struggle within the Mackay clan itself. John Mackay and his brother Donald were involved in a dispute with their uncle Neil Naverigh over possession of land in Strathnaver. The battle may have been a result of this internal conflict, with the Mackays seeking to assert their control over the land.

Regardless of the motivations for the battle, it is clear that it was a significant event in the history of the Scottish Highlands. It reflects the complex and often violent power struggles that took place between the various clans in the region during this time. The outcome of the battle had lasting consequences, shaping the political and social landscape of the Highlands for years to come.