Just one year before Angus Mackay of Strathnaver, chief of the Clan Mackay had been killed and defeated at the Battle of Tarbat by Alexander Ross of Balnagowan, chief of the Clan Ross. Angus Mackay's son John Mackay returned a year later to attack the Rosses in revenge for the death of his father. According to 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon, who was a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, the Clan Sutherland joined the side of the Clan Mackay at this battle. However, 19th-century historian Angus Mackay disputes the Sutherland's presence at the battle stating that it would be unlikely that the Earl of Sutherland at the time would have assisted against the Rosses as he was married to a daughter of the Ross chief of Balnagowan, and also that the feudal superiority of the Sutherlands over the Mackays "nowhere existed save in his own fertile imagination".
Location and date
Most sources follow Gordon in giving the date of the battle as 11 July 1487. The Calendar of Fearn puts it in June 1486. Mackay dates the Battle of Tarbat to 1475 and "Allta-charrish" to 1478 or "a few years after". The location of the battle remains elusive. Most sources say that it took place in Strathoykel or Strathcarron. Whilst some interpret the latter as the River Carron in Wester Ross, it is more likely to be the Carron in Sutherland, that lies immediately south of the Oykel. Mackinnon's map locates it on the banks of the lower Carron, between Braelangwell and Invercharron. The most probable location is the Allt a'Charraigh, a burn between Braelangwell and Rosehall that flows into the Kilmachalmack Burn on the Strathoykel side of Meall Dheirgidh.
Accounts of the Battle
Conflicts of the Clans
An account of the battle was written in the book Conflicts of the Clans published by the Foulis press in 1764, written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland:
The year of God 1487, this conflict was fought; upon this occasion Angus Mackay being slain at Tarbat by the surname of Ross, as I have shown already, John Riabhach Mackay, came to the Earl of Sutherland, upon whom he then depended, and desired his aid to revenge his father's death, whereupon the Earl of Sutherland yields, and sent his uncle, Robert Sutherland, with a company of men, to assist him. Thereupon Robert Sutherland and John Riabhach Mackay did invade Strathoyckel and Strathcarron with fire and sword; burnt, spoiled, and laid waste divers lands appertaining to the Rosses. The Laird of Balnagown learning of his invasion, gathered all the forces of Ross and met Robert Sutherland and John Riabhach at a place called Aldicharrish. There ensued a cruel and furious conflict combat, which continued a long time, with incredible obstinacy; much blood was shed on either side. In the end, the inhabitants of Ross being unable to endure or resist the enemies' forces were utterly disbanded and put to flight. Alexander Ross, Laird of Balnagown, was slain with seventeen other landed gentlemen of the province of Ross, besides a great number of common soldiers. The manuscript of Fearn names these following among those that were slain: Mr. William Ross, Angus Macculloch of Terrell, John Waus, William Waus, John Mitchell, Thomas Waus, Houcheon Waus.
Robert Mackay wrote an account of the battle in his book the "History of the House and Clan of the Name Mackay", quoting from the historian Sir Robert Gordon :
John Mackay, some time after he had succeeded to his father's lands, resolved to revenge his death; for which purpose, having assembled his men, and put half of them under command of William-Dow Mackay, son of John-Abrach; and being also accompanied by the men of Assint, and such friends as he had in Sutherland, he invaded Strathoikel in Ross with fire and sword, burnt, wasted and spoiled all the lands belongingto all of the name Ross and their allies. Ross of Balnagown immediately raised all of the power of the county to oppose the invaders, upon which a most severe conflict ensued, and for a considerable time it appeared doubtful which party would have the victory. At length, however, the Ross-men, after great slaughter was made among them, gave way, and fled. Ross of Balnagown, and seventeen other proprietors of land in Ross were slain, together with an immense number of their followers. "The manuscript of Fern" says Sir Robert Gordon "contains the following names of the principle persons who were killed, Alexander Tarrell, William Ross, John Waus, William Waus, John Mitchell, Thomas Waus, and Hugh Waus. A great spoil of cattle was driven off, and divided among the victors in the customary manner. Sir Robert states that the Assint-men insisted that the men of Sutherland should receive no share of the spoil, but that William-Dow, who detected such injustice, said, that he should be an enemy to any who would act such a fraudulent and base part. This conflict happened at a place called Auldicharish.
Donald MacKinnon
Donald MacKinnon wrote an account in his book "The Clan Ross", again quoting from the historian Sir Robert Gordon :
''The Mackays did not forget this wicked deed, and five years later invaded Ross to avenge the death of their chief. Alexander Ross of Balnagown hurriedly called together the “gentlemen” of his clan and their men, and met the invaders at a place called Alt a’Charrais in Strathcarron. There a fierce battle was fought, and the Rosses were disastrously defeated. Sir Robert Gordon, alluding to this sanguinary fight says: “Much blood was shed…. The inhabitants of Ross, being unable to endure the enemy’s forces, were disbanded and put to flight. Alexander Ross, laird of Balnagown, was there slain, with seventeen other landed gentlemen of the Province of Ross, besides a great number of common soldiers”. Among the “gentlemen of the Province of Ross”, who fell along with their chief, were Angus MacCulloch of Tarell, Alexander Tarell, William Ross of Little Allan, John Vass, Thomas Vass, Hugh Vass, John Mitchell and William Ross, whose designation is not given.’’
Aftermath
In 1490 James IV of Scotland granted to David Ross, nephew and heir of John Ross, and grandson of John Ross of Balnagown, the lands of Strathoikel and Strathcarron, which had formerly belonged to Morgan Neilson Mackay, who along with his brother Neil Neilson Mackay, had attempted in 1433 to take over the lands of Strathnaver from their cousin, Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver, but had been defeated and killed at the Battle of Drumnacoub by Angus's forces. Although John Rivach Mackay received a remission from the king in 1494, the blood feud with the Rosses appears to have continued as David Ross of Balnagown and Iye Roy Mackay of Strathnaver were summoned to appear before the Earl of Argyll who was the Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. On 4 October 1496, each of them were bound by extending their hand to Argyll in the king’s name to keep the peace towards each other and that their "folks sal be harmless and skaithles", under the penalty of 500 merks if they failed. Notwithstanding the apparent reconciliation, David Ross of Balnagown and his brother Hucheon Ross, brought an action to the Lords of Council against the Mackays for spoils taken from their lands eight years earlier. On 15 March 1504, Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver secured from the king the lands of Ferencostrig, Strathhalladale, Creichmore, Assent, Coigach, Gruids, and Strathfleet. On 15 February, 1506, Iye Roy Mackay caused the charter that had been granted by Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles in 1415 to the Mackays who laid claim to these lands. However, the Lords of Council decided that the lands had belonged to Euphemia II, Countess of Ross. The Mackays continued to raid the Rosses well into the 16th century and did not stop until they became caught up in quarrels with their neighbours, the powerful Clan Sutherland.
