Battle of Garbharry

Battle of Garbharry
Part of the Scottish clan wars
Approximate location of the battle, looking south, taken from the peak of Morven (Anglicised from 'A' Mhòr Bheinn', also referred to as ''Bheinn Mòr" by Robert Gordon. It essentially just means 'The Big Hill'). 'Garvery' is an Anglicisation of 'Garbharry', the name of the hill and burn(s) just to the south of Morven.
Date 1555 Location Foot of the mountain Beinn-mhor, in Berriedale, Scotland Result Sutherland victory
Belligerents
Clan Sutherland	Clan Mackay
Commanders and leaders
MacJames James MacWilliam	John More Mackay
Casualties and losses
	120 killed[1]

The Battle of Garbharry was a Scottish clan battle fought in the year 1555. It was the last battle to be fought between the Clan Mackay and Clan Sutherland. It was fought "beside the water of Garbharry", at "the foot of the hill called Beinn-mhor, in Berriedale". This has been recognised as the area around Garvery Hill, including Big and Little Garvery Burn, just south of Morven (the Anglicised name from A' Mhòr Beinn / Beinn-Mhòr, meaning 'The Big Hill''), where presumably some of the soldiers drowned.

Background

In 1555, John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland was commissioned by the Queen Regent, Mary of Guise to punish Iye MacKay, chief of the Clan Mackay for his failure to attend her in Inverness. The Earl destroyed the Mackay's main stronghold on the north coast, Borve Castle north of Farr, which the Clan Mackay had used to carry out raids on the Clan Sutherland. The Earl of Sutherland confronted Iye Mackay in Strathbrora, forcing him to surrender himself to imprisonment in Edinburgh. Iye Mackay's first cousin John-More Mackay then assumed power. He led a raid towards Helmsdale in Sutherland, and burnt the chapel of St. Ninian's at Navidale just north of Helmsdale before pulling back.[2]

The Clan Sutherland then assembled a force under MacJames, the Terell of the Doil and James MacWilliam and set off in pursuit. They caught up with the Mackays in Berriedale, near Garbharry where the battle took place.[1]

Battle

According to the account given in Conflicts of the Clans, the Sutherlands overtook the Mackay of Strathnaver men at the foot of the hill called Beinn-mhor, in Berriedale, and invaded them beside the water of Garbharry, where then ensued a cruel conflict, fought with great obstinacy. The Strathnaver men were overthrown and chased; about 120 of them were slain, and some drowned in Garbharry.[1]

Aftermath

The Battle of Garbharry is cited as being the last battle fought between the Clan Mackay and Clan Sutherland.[1] It would appear that this is the case as far as the chief of Mackays, who was designated as "of Strathnaver" is concerned, although 35 years later a half-brother of Mackay of Strathnaver fought against the Earl of Sutherland at the Battle of Clynetradwell.[3]

References

1. "The Conflict of Gar-warie". The History of the Feuds and Conflicts among the Clans in the Northern Parts of Scotland and in the Western Isles. Glasgow: Printed by J. & J. Robertson for John Gillies, Perth. 1780 [Originally published in 1764 by Foulis press]. pp. 22-23. Written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland (Sir Robert Gordon's A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland).
2. Mackay, Robert (1829). "Iye Mackay III 1550-1571". History of the House and Clan of the Name MacKay. 233 High Street, Edinburgh: Printed for the author by A. Jack. p. 126-127. Quoting: Gordon, Sir Robert (1580–1656), A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland
3. Mackay, Angus (1906). "II The Scoury Mackays". The Book of Mackay. 25 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh: N. Macleod. pp. 286-287.