The Battle of Invernahavon (c.1380)

A clan battle fought between the Camerons and the MacIntoshes with a little help from the Davidsons and MacPhersons was but one story recorded by Calum Maclean on the 9th of June, 1952, from Willie MacKillop, a retired baker then aged 75, from Laggan, Badenoch:

 

The clan battle at Inch is well enough known, but what led up to it is not so well known. That was namely the battle of Eilean na h-Abhann fought in the vicinity of the junction of the Truim and the Spey. And strange to say, though this battle took place a matter of about seven hundred years ago that the mark of the graves are still to be found on the ground quite clearly – quite clearly to be seen after that long period, where the dead of that battle was buried. The Camerons raided the cattle of the MacIntoshes on the Spey and the MacPhersons and the Davidsons rallied to their help. The usual dispute took place as to who was to be on the right hand of MacIntosh. And as he gave the position to the Davidsons, the MacPhersons withdrew to the north side of the Spey and stood watching the fight. The MacIntoshes and the Davidsons were defeated and, I suppose, their cattle would be driven off. They were down further down the Spey to the south side. I expect they would be placed up in what is now, known as Milton of Nuide and, of course, set on what is now the wooded hill of Briagach. And the Macphersons perhaps knowing that they had a good deal of cattle with them followed them and struck their blow in the early dawn and chased the Camerons right back to Lochaber. And the names [of] all the hills and burns were known by the names of [the] many who fell on these rear guard fights that took place as the survivors of the Camerons were making their escape by Loch Erichtside. 

 

The above account covers all of the salient points about the battle and also mentions that it led to the Battle of the North Inch which took place at Perth in 1396. A fuller version given below was printed in Cuairtear nan Gleann from the pen of a Badenoch native. More details are given and when the MacIntosh decided to insult the MacPhersons into supporting him in his fight against the Camerons, the phrase that since became proverbial is given. There is also a Tarintinoesque scenario given when both archers face one another and fired simultaneously thereby killing one another.

 

Agus seo na sgrìobh ‘S.’, cuideigin a bhuineas do Bhàideanach fhèin, mu dhèidhinn a’ bhaiteil a bha seo:

 

Chuireadh am blar ainmeil so, mu’m bheil sinn an dràsda gu eachdraidh aithghearr thoirt seachad, o cheann teann air cùig ceud bliadlina. Tha an t-àite anns an do chuireadh e ann an siorramachd Inbhirneis; agus faodar ’fhaicinn o’n rathad mhòr leò-san a bhios a’ siubhal troimh Bhàideanach. Tha e thall mu choinneamh na creige mòire gruamaich ris an abrar crag Dhubh, fagus do’n chrìch eadar sgìreachd Lagain agus sgìreachd Cinn-a’-ghiùsaich, far am bheil an Spé agus Truim a’ coinneachadh a cheile.

 

B’ iad Clann Mhuireich, Clann an Tòiseich, Clann Dhaibhidh, agus Clann Chamshroin na fineachan a bha ’s a’ chomhraig so, agus bha ’n t-aobbar o ’n d’ éirich a’ chomh-strì ni-eiginn mar leanas:─Bha fearann aig Mac-an-Tòiseich ann an Lochabar, mar tha aige fathasd; agus aig an àm sin, an uair bha gnothuichean air an deanamh le làmhachas làidir, a chionn ’s nach robh lagh no binn a’ cur eagail air daoinibh, bha na Camshronaich, a bha ’n an tuathanaich air oighreachd Mhic-an-Tòiseich, air uairibh a’ diùltadh a’ mhàil a phàigheadh dha. Co dhiùbh bha iad ’s a’ chòir no ’s an eucoir ann bhi cumail a nach nach robh na bha e tagradh dligheach dha fhaotainn theagamh nach ’eil e nise glé fhurasd a dhearbhadh. Ach bha so ’n a aobhar strì agus cònsachaidh eutorra ’s an àm. Mu dbeireadh thug Mac-an-Tòiseich air falbh cuid do chrodh na tuatha mar aicheamhail, agus is e so bu cheann-fàth do bhlàr Inbhir-na-h-Amhann. Chuir na Camshronaich rompa gu’n cuireadh iad dioghaltas an gnìomh air Mac-an-Tòiseich air son an cuid feudalach. Thionail iad féin agus na ghabhadh am pàirt, thog iad orra fo ’n armaibh, agus dh’ imich iad air an aghaidh gus an d’ thàinig iad gu Inbhir-na-h-Amhann. Air do Mhac-an-Tòiseich fios a bhi aige gu’n robh na Camshronaich a’ tighinn, chruinnich e a chuid sluaigh, agus rinn e deas gu garbh chòmhdhail a thoirt dhoibh. Bha Clann Mhuireich, agus Clann Dhaibhidh le chéile gu bhi còmhnadh nan Tòiseach an aghaidh nan Camshronach; ach dìreach ’n uair bha iad gu dhol an ordugh baiteil thuit e mach gu mi-shealbhach gu’n d’ éirich eas-aonachd eutorra mu dhéidhinn a’ chinnidh bu chòir a bhi air an làimh dheis, agus o nach faigheadh tighearna Chluainidh an t-urram sin tharruing e féin ’s a chuid dhaoine air an ais, agns shuibh iad air cnoc a’ gabbail beachd air a’ chòmbraig, gun bhuille bhualadh fad an latha. Dhlùthaich na fineachan a nis air a chéile, Clann Chamshroin, Clann an Tòiseich, agus Clann Dhaibhaidh, ann an ordugh catha fo an cinn-fheadhna fa leth, agus:

 

“Bha bratach aig triath dha féin,

’S a ghaisgich bu treun m’a chruaidh.”

 

Bhuail iad air a chéile gu garg, a’ cogadh leis an treubhantas ghàbhaidh sin air son an robh ar sinnsire na Gàidhil riamh cho iomraideach. Mhair an iomairt ghailbheach so ùin fhada, agus is iomadh ceatharnach calma a bha ’n a shìneadh air an àraich mu’n do bhuadhaich taobh seach taobh. Mu dheireadh ghéil Clann an Tòiseich, agus Clann Dhaibhaidh. Cha b’urrainn iad seasamh ni b’fhaide roimh ionnsuidhean sgatharra Chloinn Chamshroin, agus theich iad ris a’ mhonadh a tha air taobh tuath na Spé, and an ruagadh leis an h-Abraich.

 

An déidh do Chloinn Chamshroin pilltinn o bhi leantuinn an nàimhdean chaith iad an oidhche air Creagan na Breagaich, am bràigh Noide Mòire, gun fhiamh gun eagal. Cho luath ’s a thàinig an t-anmoch chuir Mac an Tòiseich roimhe gu’n d’thugadh e oidheirp le seòltachd air an ni a dh’fhairslich air le spionadh. Chum ’s gu’n cuireadh e Clann Mhuireich agus Clann Chamshroin ’s a chéile dhealbh e car innleachdach a shoirbhich leis. Chuir e a bhàrd gu tighearna Chluainidh g’a bhrosnuchadh, mar gu’n d’thigeadh e o Mhac Dhòmhnuill Duibh, leis na briathriabh a leanas:─

 

“Tha luchd na foille air an tom,

’S am bad-shuileach donn ’n a dhraip:

Cha b’e bhur càirdeas ruinn a bh’ ann,

Ach bhur làmh féin a bhi tais.”

 

Air do thighearna Chluanaidh a’ chainnt thàireil so chluinntinn o’n bhàrd a thàinig, mar shaoil esan, o Mhac Dhòmhnuill Duibh, thog e air gun dàil le’ chuid feachd, agus thàinig e air na Camshronaich gun fhios gun fhaireach. “Fhuair Mac Dhòmhnuill Duibh,” tha e air a ràdh, “seòrsa caismeachd an oidhche sin ann aisling. Am feadh ’s a bha e’n a chadal, ’s a chasan am broilleach a bhràthar altruim, ’g an cumail blàth, bhruadair e gu’n robh na mucan ’g a thionnadh, agus mhosgail e le leithid do bhriosgadh ’s nach mòr nach do mharbh e a bhàthair altruim leis a’ bhreab a thug e dha. “Ged bha Clann Mhuireich ’n an tàmh an dé,” arse san air dha dùsgadh, “cha bhi an duigh.” Theich Clann Chamshroin an sin a mach ris a’ mhonadh. Rugadh air aon diubh a bha air dheireadh air càch, a thaobh a shean aois, agus mharbhadh e aig taobh sruthain a bha ’m bràigh Noide, d’an geirear o’n àm sin “Caochan-a’-Bhodaic.” Chum iad suas rathad Dhruim Uachdair, seachad air Coire Theàrlaich, Coir Uilleim, agus Coire nan Cisteachan, far an do thuit mòran diubh. Thionndaidh iad an sin a stigh gun Ceann Loch Eireachd, agus chum iad air an aghaidh suas ri taobh tuath an luich. ’N uair ràinig iad Ceann-Loch-Pataig, dh’fheuch iad aon uair eile ri iad féin a dhion, agus ri bacadh a chur air an luchd tòrachd. Am measg nan laoch a bha tilgeadh bha Ceann Dubh Mac Iain, duine treun a bha taghta aig cuspaireachd. ’Nuair bha e dol seachad fo Chrag Dhubh, an latha roimh sin, dh’fharraid e d’ a cheann-cinnidh, cò chas bu mhaith leis a chur deth eun beag a bha ’n a seasamh air craoibh. Fhreagair a cheann-cinnidh gu’m bu mhaith leis a churn a coise deise dheth, agus rinn Cann Dubh sin air ’iarrtas. Air an taobh eile bha Teàrlach Mór Mac Ghill Onfhaidh, a bha mar an ceudna ’n a dhuine treum aimeil, agus ’n a cheann-tighe. Choinnich an dithis so, agus thilg iad an saighdean, ach cha robh iad deònach a chéile chuimseachadh. ’S e b’ aobhar do so gu’n robh gnè chàirideis eutorra a thaobh comhaltais. Bha Ceann Dubh Mac Iain ’n a sheasamh air Meall-Ard-Laoich, agus an gaisgeach eile thall m’a choinneamh. Air an do thigherna Chluainidh umhail a chur nach robh iad da rìreadh chronaich e Ceann Dubh Mac Iain. “Chuimsicheadh tu ’n dé,” arse san, “cas deas an eoin bhig, an uair a dh’iarr mi ort, agus an diugh cha chuimisich thu Teàrlach Mór Mac Ghill Onfhaidh!” Bha Teàrlach Mór gu so ag eigheach,─“Tharam is tharad a Cheann Duibh,”─agus a nis dh’éigh Ceann Dubh ris,─ “Annam is annad a Theàrlaich,”─agus air dha so a ràdh thilg iad ’n an dithis, agus thuit iad le chéile aig an aon àm. Thogadh càrn far an do thuit Teàrlach, ris an abrar “Càrn Mhic Ghill Onfhaidh” gus an latha ’n diugh. Cha robh Ceann Dubh Mac Iain fhathad marbh ’n uair thog a chàirdean leò e, ’ga thoirt dhachaidh, an dùil gu’m biodh e beò; ach cha robh iad ach mu mhìle air falbh leis ’n uair thilg e ’n deò, aig allt ris an abrar o sin “Caochan Cheann Duibh.”

 

Tha cuid am barail gu’n do mharbhadh Mac Ghille Onfhaidh aig monadh a tha os ceann Fhorais, d’an ainm Coire Theàrlaich, ach o’n chaidh ràdh a cheanan chithear nach ’eil e cho coltach gur ann an sin a thuit e. Gidheadh feudaidh e bhi gur ann uaith-se a fhuair an Coire so ’ainm; oir tha e air aithris gu’m bu tric leis a bhi fantuinn feadh nam monaidhean eadar Lochabar agus Authol, far am faiceadh e féin iomchuidh, agus gu’m b’ àbhaist dha ràdh, gu’m b’ iad féidh nam beann a chuid-se feudail.

 

Air do Mhac Ghill Onfhaidh tuiteam, thàir Clann Chamshroin as a rìs, a’ cumail suas ris na beanntaibh, ’s na nàimhdean fathasd air an tòir, gus an d’ ràinig iad fagus do’n amhainn Tréig, air criochaibh Lochabair. Thuit mòran diùbh air an t-slighe, gu h-àraidh aig na uchdaich d’ an goirear Sliabh Loraig; agus bu cho dian a leanadh an ruig mu thimchioll deich mile fichead, ’s nach robh ach àireamh ro dheag dhiubh a fhuair beò dhachaidh, a dh’innseadh an sgeòil.

 

Is coir dhuinne bhi taingeil gu’m bheil ar crannchur againn ann an làithaibh a’s fear; gu’m bheil sìth agus sàmhchair a nis a’ riaghladh eadar na fineachan Gàidhealach; agus nach ’eil sinn air ar gairm, mar bha ar sinnsire o shean, gu bhi deargadh ar làmh ann am fuil ar cinnich, agus ar càirdean féin.

 

S.

 

Bàideanach.

 

Donald MacIntosh (1743–1808) in his Collection of Gaelic Proverbs (1785) gives the following explanation for one of the well-known proverbs to which the combat on the North Inch (Perth), also known as the Battle of the Clans, gave rise:

 

“Mackintosh, being irritated and disappointed by this behaviour of the  Macphersons, on the night following, sent his own bard to the camp of the Macphersons, as if he had come from the Camerons to provoke them to fight, which he accomplished by repeating the following satirical lines:– 

“Tha luchd na foille air an tom,

Is am baIg-shuileach donn na dhraip;

Cha b’ e bhur càirdeas ruinn a bh’ ann

Ach bhur làmh a bhi tais.”

 

i.e.–“The false party are on the field, beholding the chief in danger; it was not your love to us that made you abstain from fighting, but merely your own cowardice.” “This reproach so stung Macpherson that, calling up his men, he attacked the Camerons that came night in their camp, and made a dreadful slaughter of them, pursued them to the foot of Binn-imhais [Ben Nevis], and killed their chief, Charles Macgilony, at a place called Coire Theàrlaich, i.e.,Charles’s Valley.”

 

Perhaps a better translation would be:

 

                                    The traitors stood on the hillock,

                                    Whilst the brown bug-eyed one (i.e. MacIntosh) is in danger;

                                    It was not your friendship

                                    But your cowardice that stayed your hand.

 

References:

(Sir) John Foulis (of Colinton), ‘An Account of a Combat between the Macphersons and the Davidsons’, Archaeologica Scotica or The Transactions of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. 1 (1792), pp. 188–91

James D. G. Davidson, ‘The Battle of the North Inch of Perth, 1396’, Clan Chattan, no. 2 (1996), pp. 65–69

Graeme M. Mackenzie, ‘“The rarest decision recorded in history”: The Battle of the Clans in 1396’, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. LIX (1994–96), pp. 420–87

Donald MacIntosh, Collection of Gaelic Proverbs (Edinburgh: John Gillies, 1785)

Allan Maclean, ‘1396: The Battle of the North Inch’, Clan Chattan, vol. x, no. 3 (1997), pp. 142–45

Alexander Macpherson, ‘The Battle of Invernahaven in 1386, and the Conflict on the North Inch of Perth in 1939’, in Glimpses of Church and Social Life in the Highlands in Olden Times (Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1893), pp. 474–78

Euan Macpherson, ‘The Battle of North Inch’, The Scots Magazine, vol. 145, no. 3 (Sep., 1996), pp. 266–71

S., ‘Battle of Invernahavon in Badenoch; Blàr Inbhir na h-Amhann’, Cuairtear nan Gleann, no. 36 (Feb. 1843), pp. 331–34

Alexander M. Shaw, History of the Clan Battle at Perth, 1396 (London, 1874)

SSS NB 15, pp. 1311–12

 

Image:

Craig Ruadh, near to where the Battle of Invernahavon took place.