List of wars involving Scotland
This is a list of wars involving the Kingdom of Scotland before the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain by the Acts of Union 1707 , including clan conflicts, civil wars, and rebellions. For dates after 1708, see List of wars involving the United Kingdom .
Clan conflict Scottish victory Scottish defeat Another result **e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum
10th and 11th centuries
12th century
13th century
14th century
15th century
Conflict
Scotland & allies
Scotland's opposition
Result
16th century
Civil wars and revolutions
Conflict
Scottish Government
Rebels
Result
Invasion of Moray
(1040)
Location: Moray Fields at Pitgaveny (then known as Bothnagowan), near Elgin , where King Duncan was slain Kingdom of Scotland
Supporters of Macbeth
Kingdom of Moray
Civil War , Victory of Macbeth
Dubh's First Rebellion (1501–1505)
Location: Scottish Hebrides Achnashellach Forest , site of the final Battle of Achnashellach , where Clan Cameron , loyal to the Lord of the Isles won - before Domnall Dubh was captured by royal forcesKingdom of Scotland
Lord of the Isles
Clan Donald
Civil War , Royalist victory
Dubh's Second Rebellion (1545)
Location: Scottish Hebrides Drogheda , Ireland, where the rebellion's leader Domhnall Dubh died, destroying the Hebrides' final hopes of independenceKingdom of Scotland
Lord of the Isles
Clan Donald
Kingdom of England
Civil War , Royalist victory
Marian Civil War (1568–1573)
Location: Scotland 16th century illustration of the "Lang Siege" of Edinburgh, lasting from 1571 to 1573 and ending with supporters of James VI taking the castle Mary, Queen of Scots
James VI , Mary's son
Kingdom of England
Civil War , Victory of James VI
Imprisonment of Mary before her flight to England
Bishops' Wars (1639–1640)
Location: Scottish Lowlands Signing of the National Covenant in Greyfriars Kirkyard , Edinburgh, prompting a religious civil war and rebellion in Scotland Scottish Royalists
Kingdom of England
Scottish Covenanters
Civil War , Covenanter victory
Second English Civil War (1648)
Location: Northern England Schematics of the Battle of Preston, a decisive Scottish loss under the Duke of Hamilton which brought an end to the Second English Civil War Scottish Royalists
Scottish Engagers
Parliamentarians
Civil War , Parliamentarian victory
Third English Civil War (1649–1651)
Location: Scottish Lowlands and Northern England Modern re-enactment of musketeers at the Battle of Inverkeithing , during Oliver Cromwell's invasion of Scotland Scottish Royalists
Scottish Covenanters
Parliamentarians
Civil War , Parliamentarian victory
Glorious Revolution
(1688-1689)
The Prince of Orange landing at Torbay as depicted in an illustration by Jan Hoynck van Papendrecht James VII
William of Orange Internal Conflict
Jacobite Rebellions (1689–1746)
Location: Scotland , England Ireland Modern depiction of the Battle of Dunkeld , fought between Highland Jacobites in support of James II and Covenanters in support of William III Scottish Williamites Scotland (until 1707) Great Britain (from 1707)
Scottish Jacobites
Civil War , Williamite victory
Clan Conflicts
Conflict
Clan 1
Clan 2
Result
Clan MacDougall-Clan Campbell feud Part of the First War of Scottish Independence
(c. 1294)
Location: Loch Awe Loch Awe, site of the decisive clan battle, with Kilchurn Castle (seat of Clan Campbell) on the left Clan MacDougall
Clan Campbell
Clan Conflict
Clan MacDougall victory at the Battle of Red Ford, with heavy casualties on either sideFord ran "red with blood"
Clan Cameron-Clan Mackintosh feud (c. 1330–1688)
Location: Lochaber and Southeastern Highlands Druim Gleann Laoigh, likely site of clan's first battle - fought over rival land claims Clan Cameron
Clan Mackintosh
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner Ended in Battle of Mulroy , a Clan Cameron victory (allied with Clan MacDonald of Keppoch ), after which clan warfare largely ceased in Scotland
Wolf of Badenoch feuds (1391)
Location: Angus Glen Brierachan, site of the final stand-off between the Stewarts' raiding party and the Sheriff of Angus Clan Stewart of Buchan
Clan Robertson
Clan Mackay
Clan Ogilvy
Clan Lindsay
Clan Gray
Clan Conflict , Clan Stewart victory
Lands of Angus burnt, homes sacked and civilians slaughtered
Elgin Cathedral burnt to the ground
Clan Mackay-Clan Gunn feud (1426–1517)
Location: Caithness and Sutherland Strath of Harpsdale, site of the first clan battle between Mackay and Gunn and a "great slaughter on either side" Clan Mackay
Supported by:
Clan Keith
Clan Ross
Clan Gunn
Supported by:
Clan Matheson
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes throughout the 15th century, with no overall winner
Ended in Battle of Torran Dubh , a Gunn victory, after which the two feuding clans allied against Clan Sinclair
Royal-Black Douglas feud (1440–1526)
Location: Galloway , Scottish Borders , and West Lothian King James II of Scotland , who spent his early adulthood and reign in an intense power struggle with the Earls of Douglas House of Stewart
Rebels allied to Black Douglases
Clan Conflict , Victory for House of Stewart
Clan Gordon-Clan Lindsay feud (1445–1452)
Location: Angus Arbroath Abbey , site of the first battle between Clans Gordon and Lindsay, which later tied into the Royal-Black Douglas feud Clan Gordon
Supported by:
Clan Ogilvy
Clan Lindsay
Clan Conflict
Two clan battles: the first won by Clan Lindsay, the second, as part of the Royal-Black Douglas Civil War, Clan Gordon
Clan Munro-Clan Mackenzie feud (1452–1715)
Location: Ross Ben Wyvis , below which the first battle between Clans Munro and Mackenzie took place to determine control over RossClan Munro
Supported by:
Clan Fraser of Lovat
Clan Mackenzie
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner
Ended in Siege of Brahan during the Jacobite rising of 1715 , when Clan Munro, loyal to the British Government, forced the Jacobite Mackenzies to surrender. Clan warfare largely ceased after this period
Clan Fraser of Lovat-Clan Mackenzie feud (1452–1715)
Location: Ross Beauly Priory , the lands of which saw many border disputes between Clans Fraser of Lovat and MackenzieClan Fraser of Lovat
Supported by:
Clan Munro
Clan Mackenzie
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes over the centuries, with no overall winner
Ended in Siege of Brahan during the Jacobite rising of 1715 , when Clan Fraser, loyal to the British Government, forced the Jacobite Mackenzies to surrender. Clan warfare largely ceased after this period
Clan Munro-Clan Mackintosh feud (1454–1719)
Location: Inverness-shire Monument in Clachnaharry to the first battle between Clans Munro and Mackintosh after a dispute between the two over a "road collop" (passage money) Clan Munro
Clan Mackintosh
Clan Conflict
Two clan battles and a perpetuated rivalry, ending after the Battle of Glen Shiel when Clan Mackintosh sided with the British Government, and Clan Munro the losing Jacobites
Clan Gunn-Clan Keith feud (1464–c. 1478)
Location: Caithness Coast north of Wick , on which a trial by combat took place in 1478 deciding the Gunn-Keith feud once and for all Clan Gunn
Clan Keith
Clan Conflict
Two clan battles ending in a Keith victory at the Battle of Champions
A treaty of friendship was signed by the clans in 1978, after 300 years of peace
Clan Mackay-Clan Ross feud (c. 1480–1550)
Location: Ross and Sutherland Tarbat Old Church, built on the ruins of the church Clan Ross burnt with members of Clan Mackay sheltering inside Clan Mackay
Clan Ross
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 1480s, with no overall winner
Ended in a 1550 raid (and massacre) by Clan Mackay on Clan Ross
Clan MacDonald-Clan Maclean feud (c. 1480–1598)
Location: Lochaber and Inner Hebrides Bloody Bay, site of a father-son battle within Clan Donald of which Clan Maclean took the father's side Clan Donald
Clan Maclean
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 16th century, with no overall winner
Ended in Battle of Benbigrie , a Clan Maclean victory
Clan MacDonald-Clan Mackenzie feud (c. 1480–1602)
Location: Ross Five Sisters of Kintail , one of several sites in Ross where Clans Donald and Mackenzie clashed Clan Donald
Clan Mackenzie
Supported by:
Clan Mackay
Clan Fraser of Lovat
Clan Ross
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes largely in the 1480s, with no overall winner
Ended in a tactical draw at Battle of Morar , after which both families agreed a peace
Clan Cunningham-Clan Montgomery feud (1488–1586)
Location: Ayrshire Kerelaw Castle , seat of Clan Cunningham; sacked and burned by Clan Montgomery in 1488Clan Cunningham
Clan Montgomery
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes, as well as several high-profile murders, with no overall winner
Clan Mackay-Clan Sutherland feud (1517–1590)
Location: Sutherland Torran Dubh, the site of the first battle between Clan Mackay and Sutherland Clan Mackay
Clan Sutherland
Clan Gordon
Clan Conflict
Various clan battles and skirmishes throughout the 16th century, with no overall winner
Ended in Battle of Clynetradwell , after which Clan Sutherland turned their attentions on Clan Sinclair
Clan Sutherland-Clan Sinclair feud (1570–1601)
Location: Sutherland Dornoch Castle , besieged by supporters of Clan Sinclair in 1570, three members of Clan Murray (supporters of Clan Sutherland ) being beheaded after surrendering a week laterClan Sutherland
Clan Sinclair
Clan Conflict
See also
Lists of wars involving European countries
Sovereign states States with limited Dependencies and
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