Battle of Daltullich

Battle of Daltullich
	Part of the Scottish clan wars
	; Cawdor Castle, the historic seat of the chiefs of Clan Calder and later the seat of the Campbells of Cawdor
Date	1499
Location	Daltullich, Strathnairn, Scotland
Result	Strategic Campbell victory as heiress not recovered by the Calders; Tactical Calder victory as Campbells forced to retreat
Belligerents
Clan Campbell	Clan Calder
Commanders and leaders
Campbell of Inverliver	Hugh Calder; Alexander Calder
Strength
	Sixty men
Casualties and losses
Six, or seven, or eight, sons of Campbell of Inverliver killed	Unknown

Last updated May 12, 2023

The Battle of Daltullich was a Scottish clan battle that took place in the autumn of 1499 at a place called Daltullich which is near to Strathnairn in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between men of the Clan Calder and Clan Campbell. The heiress to the chiefship of the Clan Calder, Muriel, was carried away as agreed by men of the Clan Campbell to marry into the Campbell family, but they were pursued by her paternal uncles who tried to prevent this from happening.

Background

The Thane of Cawdor, chief of Clan Calder's son, John Calder, predeceased him but left two daughters of his own, Janet and Muriel.^[6] There is some obscurity regarding Janet and Muriel was born after their father had died but survived to claim the succession.^[6] The old Thane then tried to have Muriel set aside and for one of his other sons to be placed in the succession.^[6] If an entail that had been made in 1488 had stood then the estates would have reverted to the nearest male heir of the Calders.^[6] However, as the old Thane had made another entail on his son John, the father of Muriel, and against his eldest son William, he had by royal charter secured the succession to either his male or female issue.^[6]

Muriel was the maternal granddaughter of Rose of Kilravock Castle who initially intended to marry her to one of his grandsons.^[5] However, Rose of Kilravrock was being prosecuted by the laird of Cromartie for the spoil of his lands via Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll who was the justice-general for the whole of Scotland and to make the process easier Kilravrock agreed to deliver his grandchild Muriel to Argyll.^[5] In pursuance of this agreement the ward of marriage of Muriel was granted to Argyll, "by the king's gift", on 16 January 1495.^[5] She was kept in the house of Kilravrock and Argyll granted to him a bond of maintenance and friendship dated 1 February 1499.^[5]

The battle

In the autumn of 1499, Argyll sent Campbell of Inverliver, with sixty men, to receive the child and send her south to be schooled,^[2] or to be brought to Inveraray Castle.^[5] As Inverliver was travelling on his way with Muriel, at Daltullich, close to Strathnairn, he found himself being pursued by Muriel's paternal uncles, Alexander and Hugh Calder, who had a superior force.^[2]^[5] Inverliver sent Muriel off with six men and turned to stop the Calders.^[2]^[5] To deceive the Calders a sheaf of corn was dressed in some of the child's clothes and kept at the rear.^[5]^[2] The conflict was sharp and there was considerable loss of life.^[7] Among those killed were six,^[2]^[3] or eight,^[5] of Campbell of Inverliver's sons. When he thought that Muriel was out of reach of her uncles he retreated leaving the fake child to the pursuers.^[5]^[2] Another account of the battle states that Campbell of Inverliver had inverted a large camp kettle as if to conceal Muriel and that he then ordered his seven sons to defend it to the death while he hurried on with the girl.^[4] The seven sons were all killed but when the Calders lifted up the camp kettle there was no Muriel there and Campbell had gained so much time that further pursuit was useless.^[4]

Campbell of Inverliver apparently said the following in Scottish Gaelic during the battle:^[1]

S fhada glaodh o' Lochow, 's fhada cobhair o' chlann dhaoine

Which translates in English as:^[1]

Tis a far cry from Lochow, and a distant help from the children of my people

Aftermath

For his success, Campbell of Inverliver was rewarded with the £20 land of Inverliver.^[1] According to tradition, upon Muriel being seized a nurse bit off a joint in her little finger in order to mark her identity.^[4] Upon the Campbells being congratulated on their safe arrival, someone asked what should be done if Muriel died before she became of marriageable age, to which Campbell of Auchinbreck replied that "she can never die, as long as a red-haired lassie can be found on either side of Loch Awe".^[4] A legal fight ensued and in 1502 Muriel's right as heiress was established in law.^[6] The following year the old Thane of Cawdor died leaving his sons to carry on the quarrel for some time.^[6] In 1510, Muriel was married to Sir John Campbell who was the second or third son of Argyll.^[8]^[5]^[2] Sir John Campbell then received the estate of Calder,^[5]^[2] and his and Muriel's descendants are the Earls Cawdor and the chieftains of the Clan Campbell of Cawdor. In memory of the marriage, in the old hall of Cawdor Castle is cut, "S.I.C" and "D.M.C", with the inscription "Ceri manimemineris mane".^[2] Another interpretation of this is that it says "S.J.C" (Sir John Campbell) and "M.C" (Muriel Calder) but from the style of the carvings it appears that it was from a later generation.^[9]

John Calder, the Precentor of Ross, came to the assistance of the Calders with the intention of maintaining the old line.^[6] William Calder, Vicar of Barivan who was the eldest son of the old Thane, successfully claimed the lands of Little Urchany.^[6] John Calder the Precentor also secured the lands in the burgh of Nairn that belonged to the Calders for his nephew, William Calder the Vicar.^[6] The Calders of Asswanly had also received lands near Elgin in 1440.^[7]

Related Research Articles

Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan became Earl of Argyll and later Duke of Argyll.

Duke of Argyll is a title created in the peerage of Scotland in 1701 and in the peerage of the United Kingdom in 1892. The earls, marquesses, and dukes of Argyll were for several centuries among the most powerful noble families in Scotland. As such, they played a major role in Scottish history throughout the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The Duke of Argyll also holds the hereditary titles of chief of Clan Campbell and Master of the Household of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Cawdor</span> Title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom

Earl Cawdor, of Castlemartin in the County of Pembroke, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1827 for John Campbell, 2nd Baron Cawdor.

Gillespie Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician who was killed at the Battle of Flodden.

Clan Macnaghten, Scottish Gaelic: MacNeachdain, is a Scottish clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cawdor Castle</span> Historic site

Cawdor Castle is a castle in the parish of Cawdor in Nairnshire, Scotland. It is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. Originally a property of the Calder family, it passed to the Campbells in the 16th century. It remains in Campbell ownership, and is now home to the Dowager Countess Cawdor, stepmother of Colin Campbell, 7th Earl Cawdor.

Clan Calder is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan is recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms but as it does not currently have a clan chief it is therefore considered an armigerous clan.

Ian Campbell, 12th and 5th Duke of Argyll,, styled Marquess of Lorne between 1949 and 1973, was a Scottish peer and Chief of Clan Campbell. He was the 12th Duke of Argyll in the Peerage of Scotland, 5th Duke of Argyll in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute.

Thane of Cawdor is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. The current 7th Earl Cawdor, of Clan Campbell of Cawdor, is the 25th Thane of Cawdor.

Clan MacIver or Clan MacIvor, also known as Clan Iver, is a Scottish clan recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The clan, however, does not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Because of this the clan can be considered an armigerous clan. The clan name of MacIver is of Gaelic origin, derived from an Old Norse personal name. Various forms of the surname MacIver, like MacGiver, are considered sept names of several historically large Scottish clans, such as clans Campbell and Mackenzie. There exists a Clan Iver society in Fife, Scotland.

Clan Campbell of Cawdor is a highland Scottish clan and a branch of the larger Clan Campbell. While the clan is recognised by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, the clan does not have a clan chief recognised by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. Also, because the clan does not have a clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms it is considered an armigerous clan. The head of the Clan Campbell of Cawdor is the Earl Cawdor, currently held by Colin Campbell.

Thane was the title given to a local royal official in medieval eastern Scotland, equivalent in rank to the son of an earl, who was at the head of an administrative and socio-economic unit known as a thanedom.

John Campbell of Stackpole Court and Cawdor (1695–1777), was a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Pembrokeshire, Nairnshire, Inverness Burghs and Corfe Castle.

John Munro of Foulis was a Scottish clan chief of the highland Clan Munro in Rosshire, Scotland. He is by tradition the 11th Baron of Foulis and 14th overall chief of the clan. However, he is actually only the 4th chief of the Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence.

Sir John Campbell was a Scottish nobleman and the eponymous ancestor of the Campbells of Cawdor.

Thane of Calder was a title of nobility in the Kingdom of Scotland.

Clan MacPhail or the Sons of Paul is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Known in Scottish Gaelic as Conchie Dhu or Condochy Doye, the clan is mainly associated with the confederation of Clan Chattan.

Lachlan Mor Mackintosh, 16th of Mackintosh was the chief of the Clan Mackintosh, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. He was also chief of the confederation of clans that was known as the Clan Chattan.

This article collects the History of Nairn, Nairn is a town and Royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is an ancient fishing port and market town around 17 miles (27 km) east of Inverness. It is the traditional county town of Nairnshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Rose, 15th of Kilravock</span> Scottish politician and laird (1663–1732)

Hugh Rose, 15th Baron of Kilravock and Chief of Clan Rose, (1663–1732) was one of the Scottish representatives to the first Parliament of Great Britain as MP for Nairnshire.

References

1 2 3 4 Wimberley, Douglas (1893). "Campbells of Inverliver". Memorials of four old families, viz. Campbell of Kilmartin [and some notes on the family of Campbell of Inverness], Gordon of Lesmoir, Irvine of Drum, Wimberley of South Witham & Beechfield. With pedigrees and ... illustrations. Inverness: D. Wimberley. p. 26.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shaw, Lachlan (1827). The History of the Province of Moray. Elgin: J. Grant. p. 156.
1 2 Coventry, Martin (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
1 2 3 4 5 Lee, Henry James (1920). History of the Campbell Family. New York City: R.L. Polk & Company. pp. 42-43.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Cawdor, John Frederick Vaughan Campbell; Innes, Cosmo (1859). The Book of the Thanes of Cawdor: A Series of Papers Selected from the Charter Room at Cawdor. Edinburgh. pp. 102-104.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Bain, George, F.S.A Scot (1893). History of Nairnshire. Nairn: Telegraph Office. pp. 184-186.
1 2 Way, George of Plean; Squire, Romilly of Rubislaw (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. Glasgow: HarperCollins (for the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). p. 369. ISBN 0-00-470547-5.
↑ The House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches of the Clan Campbell, from the year 420 to the present time. 11 St Enoch Square, Glasgow: John Tweed. 1871. p. 143.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
↑ Bain (1893). p. 188.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Wimberley-1] 1 2 3 4 Wimberley, Douglas (1893). "Campbells of Inverliver". Memorials of four old families, viz. Campbell of Kilmartin [and some notes on the family of Campbell of Inverness], Gordon of Lesmoir, Irvine of Drum, Wimberley of South Witham & Beechfield. With pedigrees and ... illustrations. Inverness: D. Wimberley. p. 26.

[Shaw-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shaw, Lachlan (1827). The History of the Province of Moray. Elgin: J. Grant. p. 156.

[Coventry-3] 1 2 Coventry, Martin (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.

[Lee-4] 1 2 3 4 5 Lee, Henry James (1920). History of the Campbell Family. New York City: R.L. Polk & Company. pp. 42-43.

[ThanesofCawdor-5] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Cawdor, John Frederick Vaughan Campbell; Innes, Cosmo (1859). The Book of the Thanes of Cawdor: A Series of Papers Selected from the Charter Room at Cawdor. Edinburgh. pp. 102-104.

[Bain-6] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Bain, George, F.S.A Scot (1893). History of Nairnshire. Nairn: Telegraph Office. pp. 184-186.

[Collins-7] 1 2 Way, George of Plean; Squire, Romilly of Rubislaw (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. Glasgow: HarperCollins (for the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). p. 369. ISBN 0-00-470547-5.

[8] The House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches of the Clan Campbell, from the year 420 to the present time. 11 St Enoch Square, Glasgow: John Tweed. 1871. p. 143.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

[9] Bain (1893). p. 188.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]