The Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach (Scottish Gaelic: "plentiful slaughter";[1] also known as Tuttim–Tarwach, Tuttim–Turwigh, Tuttim–Tarwigh or Tutim Tarvach) was a Scottish clan battle in which the Mackays wiped out raiders from the Clan MacLeod of Lewis who were returning from an attack on Mackay land in Strathnaver. The Mackays caught up with the raiders on the north bank of the River Oykel some three miles west of where the river joins the River Cassley at the head of the Kyle of Sutherland. The battle probably took place in 1406, but the date is uncertain from the manuscripts.
Angus Mackay, 6th of Strathnaver had married[1] Sidheag, sister of Roderick, chief of the MacLeods.[2] When Angus died, he left his brother Black Hugh (Uistean Dow or Houcheon Dubh) as regent ("tutor") for his two sons Angus Dow (Dubh) and Rory Gald[1] (Roderick Gald, "Lowland").[3] When Roderick heard that his sister was in dispute with Hugh Mackay in 1406,[4] he decided to resolve the matter by sending a company of men to the Reay Country, the Mackay lands that bordered Caithness. The men were led by Roderick's brother, Malcolm (Máel Coluim or Maol Choluim) MacLeod, later known as Gille-caluim Beag, Gill-callum-beg-Macbhowan[3] or Gilealm Beg McBowen ("Malcolm the Little"); "gille" had come to replace "maol" in such names.
Failing to come to an amicable agreement, Malcolm ravaged Mackay lands in Strathnaver, and the Sutherland district of Brae-Chat (Breachat),[1] around Lairg at the south end of Loch Shin. This provoked both the Mackays and Robert Earl of Sutherland, the latter sending a company of men under Alexander Murray of Cubin (Alistair Ne-Shrem-Gorme)[3] to join Hugh Mackay in pursuit of the raiders.[5]
Battle plansedit
The River Oykel and its estuary the Kyle of Sutherland stretch across the Highlands from Dornoch on the east coast almost to Ullapool on the west coast. The river is the traditional boundary between Sutherland to the north and Ross to the south, and is a major transport artery linking the East Coast to the MacLeod territory of Assynt in the west. The Mackays and Sutherland men caught up with the MacLeods as they were crossing the Tutim Burn, laden down by booty and stolen cattle.
Battleedit
Initially Mackay tried to just recover his property. When the MacLeods objected, a "long, furious, cruel, and doubtful...rather desperate than resolute"[6] battle ensued, which ended with the slaughter of all the MacLeods except one, who managed to return to Lewis and report the defeat before dying of his wounds.[7]
Aftermathedit
Angus Dow succeeded his uncle as chief of the Mackays when Hugh died two years later. Despite his defeat by Donald, Lord of the Isles, at the Battle of Dingwall in 1411, the Mackays appear to have prospered and expanded under Angus Dow and he is regarded as the ancestor of all the Mackay chiefs. By 1427 he was important enough to be one of the chiefs summoned to a parliament in Inverness, where they were arrested by James I.[8] At that time he had 4,000 men under his command[8] according to the Scotichronicon; such power led to his nickname of Enneas-en-Imprissi, "Angus the Absolute".
Numerous cairns once marked the battlefield, but their stones have since been used for building dry stone walls.[7] A cemetery was later built on the hillside to the east of the battlefield;[3] according to local legend the cemetery wall was built from the cairns. Today the A837 road runs through the battlefield.
See alsoedit
Battle of Harlaw (1411) - after Dingwall, the Mackays joined the Lord of the Isles in his attempt to seize the Earldom of Ross
Battle of Drumnacoub (1429 or 1431) - near Tongue, decisive battle of civil war between Angus Dow's offspring
Battle of Auldicharish (1487) - Mackays defeated Clan Ross in Strathcarron after a raid on Strathoykel
Notes and referencesedit
Most descriptions of the battle are based on that in Gordon's Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
^ abcdAnon (1764), The History of the Feuds and Conflicts Among the Clans in the Northern Parts of Scotland and in the Western Isles: from the year M.XX1 unto M.B.C.XIX, now first published from a manuscript wrote in the reign of King James VI, Foulis Press Referred to as Conflicts of the Clans, this is probably based on Gordon's account.
^Early authors thought that Malcolm himself was chief of the MacLeods, rather than Roderick.
^ abcdSociety for the Benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy (1845), The New Statistical Account of Scotland : Inverness, Ross and Cromarty, W. Blackwood and Sons, pp. 405–6
^1406 is the date given by Conflicts of the Clans and many other sources, although the New Statistical Account of Scotland merely repeats Gordon's comment that the battle happened whilst Robert son of Nicholas was Earl of Sutherland. Gordon says that Nicholas died in 1399, but the NSAoS authors dismiss the accuracy of his dates and say that "1397 may be considered as about the time of this event". 1395 is the date used by a source that calls the battle Tuttim-Turwigh, but the origin of this combination is not clear.
^Gordon, Sir Robert of Gordonstoun (1615–30), A genealogical history of the earldom of Sutherland, from its origin to the year 1630 Now available on CD (ISBN1897955847); most other accounts are based on Gordon's.
^Gordon cited on p406 of New Statistical Account of Scotland.
^ abYoung, Andrew (1857), The Angler and Tourist's Guide to the Rivers, Lakes and Remarkable Places in the Northern Counties of Scotland: To which is Added, Instructions to Young Anglers, Adam and Charles Black, p. 89
battle, tuiteam, tarbhach, scottish, gaelic, plentiful, slaughter, also, known, tuttim, tarwach, tuttim, turwigh, tuttim, tarwigh, tutim, tarvach, scottish, clan, battle, which, mackays, wiped, raiders, from, clan, macleod, lewis, were, returning, from, attack. The Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach Scottish Gaelic plentiful slaughter 1 also known as Tuttim Tarwach Tuttim Turwigh Tuttim Tarwigh or Tutim Tarvach was a Scottish clan battle in which the Mackays wiped out raiders from the Clan MacLeod of Lewis who were returning from an attack on Mackay land in Strathnaver The Mackays caught up with the raiders on the north bank of the River Oykel some three miles west of where the river joins the River Cassley at the head of the Kyle of Sutherland The battle probably took place in 1406 but the date is uncertain from the manuscripts Battle of Tuiteam TarbhachPart of the Scottish clan warsBattlefield looking westwards from the cemetery The Tutim Burn joins the Oykel roughly level with Tuiteam house the white building on the right Date1406 LocationNorth bank of River Oykel57 58 32 N 4 38 45 W 57 97556 N 4 64583 W 57 97556 4 64583ResultDecisive Mackay victoryBelligerentsClan MackayClan SutherlandClan MacLeod of LewisCommanders and leadersAngus MackayHugh MackayAlexander MurrayMalcolm MacLeodStrengthUnknownUnknownCasualties and lossesUnknown1 survivor Mouth of the Tutim Burn looking east towards the cemetery Tutim cemetery Contents 1 Background 2 Battle plans 3 Battle 4 Aftermath 5 See also 6 Notes and referencesBackground editAngus Mackay 6th of Strathnaver had married 1 Sidheag sister of Roderick chief of the MacLeods 2 When Angus died he left his brother Black Hugh Uistean Dow or Houcheon Dubh as regent tutor for his two sons Angus Dow Dubh and Rory Gald 1 Roderick Gald Lowland 3 When Roderick heard that his sister was in dispute with Hugh Mackay in 1406 4 he decided to resolve the matter by sending a company of men to the Reay Country the Mackay lands that bordered Caithness The men were led by Roderick s brother Malcolm Mael Coluim or Maol Choluim MacLeod later known as Gille caluim Beag Gill callum beg Macbhowan 3 or Gilealm Beg McBowen Malcolm the Little gille had come to replace maol in such names Failing to come to an amicable agreement Malcolm ravaged Mackay lands in Strathnaver and the Sutherland district of Brae Chat Breachat 1 around Lairg at the south end of Loch Shin This provoked both the Mackays and Robert Earl of Sutherland the latter sending a company of men under Alexander Murray of Cubin Alistair Ne Shrem Gorme 3 to join Hugh Mackay in pursuit of the raiders 5 Battle plans editThe River Oykel and its estuary the Kyle of Sutherland stretch across the Highlands from Dornoch on the east coast almost to Ullapool on the west coast The river is the traditional boundary between Sutherland to the north and Ross to the south and is a major transport artery linking the East Coast to the MacLeod territory of Assynt in the west The Mackays and Sutherland men caught up with the MacLeods as they were crossing the Tutim Burn laden down by booty and stolen cattle Battle editInitially Mackay tried to just recover his property When the MacLeods objected a long furious cruel and doubtful rather desperate than resolute 6 battle ensued which ended with the slaughter of all the MacLeods except one who managed to return to Lewis and report the defeat before dying of his wounds 7 Aftermath editAngus Dow succeeded his uncle as chief of the Mackays when Hugh died two years later Despite his defeat by Donald Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Dingwall in 1411 the Mackays appear to have prospered and expanded under Angus Dow and he is regarded as the ancestor of all the Mackay chiefs By 1427 he was important enough to be one of the chiefs summoned to a parliament in Inverness where they were arrested by James I 8 At that time he had 4 000 men under his command 8 according to the Scotichronicon such power led to his nickname of Enneas en Imprissi Angus the Absolute Numerous cairns once marked the battlefield but their stones have since been used for building dry stone walls 7 A cemetery was later built on the hillside to the east of the battlefield 3 according to local legend the cemetery wall was built from the cairns Today the A837 road runs through the battlefield See also editBattle of Harlaw 1411 after Dingwall the Mackays joined the Lord of the Isles in his attempt to seize the Earldom of Ross Battle of Harpsdale 1426 Mackay raid into Caithness Battle of Drumnacoub 1429 or 1431 near Tongue decisive battle of civil war between Angus Dow s offspring Battle of Auldicharish 1487 Mackays defeated Clan Ross in Strathcarron after a raid on StrathoykelNotes and references edit nbsp Most descriptions of the battle are based on that in Gordon s Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland a b c d Anon 1764 The History of the Feuds and Conflicts Among the Clans in the Northern Parts of Scotland and in the Western Isles from the year M XX1 unto M B C XIX now first published from a manuscript wrote in the reign of King James VI Foulis Press Referred to as Conflicts of the Clans this is probably based on Gordon s account Early authors thought that Malcolm himself was chief of the MacLeods rather than Roderick a b c d Society for the Benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy 1845 The New Statistical Account of Scotland Inverness Ross and Cromarty W Blackwood and Sons pp 405 6 1406 is the date given by Conflicts of the Clans and many other sources although the New Statistical Account of Scotland merely repeats Gordon s comment that the battle happened whilst Robert son of Nicholas was Earl of Sutherland Gordon says that Nicholas died in 1399 but the NSAoS authors dismiss the accuracy of his dates and say that 1397 may be considered as about the time of this event 1395 is the date used by a source that calls the battle Tuttim Turwigh but the origin of this combination is not clear Gordon Sir Robert of Gordonstoun 1615 30 A genealogical history of the earldom of Sutherland from its origin to the year 1630 Now available on CD ISBN 1897955847 most other accounts are based on Gordon s Gordon cited on p406 of New Statistical Account of Scotland a b Young Andrew 1857 The Angler and Tourist s Guide to the Rivers Lakes and Remarkable Places in the Northern Counties of Scotland To which is Added Instructions to Young Anglers Adam and Charles Black p 89 a b Mackenzie Alexander History of the Mackenzies p 67 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach amp oldid 1154298775, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
