Talk:Battle of Dingwall

Book

I am looking for a book that mentions the Munros, Frasers and Rosses as being part of Mackay's force of 4000 at the Battle of Dingwall. Any help appreciated. QuintusPetillius (talk) 18:47, 4 March 2012 (UTC)

Aftermath

The article suggests that the Mackay joined Donald at the Battle of Harlaw but I can find no record for this in any of the family accounts what so ever. Is there a source document that refers to this. Indeed the actions at the battle of Dingwall, severe casualties, chief in prison and chief's only brother dead, suggest that the Mackays took no further part in the actions of Donald. It seems clear that Donald needed the Mackays neutralised. Angus Du was the cousin of the Earl of Mar and a staunch supporter of the Royalists, by Donald locking him up after the battle he had him out of the way. When Donald was retreating after Harlaw he needed someone behind him; thus he pulls him out of jail, marries his daughter to him and hopes he will fight the Regent who was coming after him. Not to be and Angus Du does not fight the Royalists when the arrive at Dingwall. That is how I read it and suggest reference be removed to the Mackays following Donald to Harlaw. I too would be interested in the book of the like mentioned by QuintusPetilius. Family locator (talk) 09:14, 1 September 2013 (UTC)

Indeed I cannot find a mention that the Mackays fought at Harlaw. In fact the account from Sir Robert Gordon, written in the 17th century that says Angus Mackay later married the Lord of the Isls daughter, is disputed by 19th century historian Angus Mackay who says that Mackay actually married Donald's sister. I will amend the article.QuintusPetillius (talk) 10:11, 1 September 2013 (UTC)

I agree. My research also suggests Mackay to be more accurate and that Elizabeth was the sister to the Lord of the Isles. What also seems apparent is that Donald moved Angus Du to Finlaggen castle on Islay after the battle of Dingwall and it was there, on his return after the retreat from Ross, that they were married and Mackay was allowed to return to Dingwall with his new wife. Doing a quick time and space it seems likely that this happened in late August 1411 and by then, or at least very close to it the Regent and Mar were already at Inverness and Dingwall (the Exchequer Rolls of that period suggest the Earl of Mar, at Inverness had started the reconstruction of Inverness castle by November. Family locator (talk) 00:18, 7 September 2013 (UTC)

Battle site

I have been floundering over where the battle was fought? Anyone any ideas? A map study of the village shows that the castle was on the north-east side of the village and that any attack needed to go through the village. Highland battles of this nature were not fought in villages and neither could they besiege a fort/castle. The battle must have been fought further to the west and more probably close by Strathpeffer where the highland roads come down to the plain. Further there was nothing subtle about the way these armies fought; line up - charge. If we base a frontage study on the Jacobite army at Culloden, Mackays men of 4,000 needed roughly 1 kilometre of frontage while Donald with 6,000 needed 1.5 (the Jacobite army at Culloden was 4,500 men and took 1.5 kilometres of front). Family locator (talk) 00:18, 7 September 2013 (UTC)