Battle of Blar Na Pairce

The Battle of Blar na Pairce (Scottish Gaelic: Blàr na Pàirce "Battle of the Park") was a Scottish clan battle that took place just outside Strathpeffer some time between 1485 and 1491.^[1] It was fought between men of the Clan Donald or MacDonald and the Clan Mackenzie (led by Kenneth Mackenzie).^[2][3]

Battle of Blar na Pairce
Part of Rebellion of Dòmhnall Dubh
Clan crests of Clan Mackenzie (left) and Clan Donald (right)
Date Between 1485 and 1491 Location Blar na Pairce, Strathpeffer, Scotland grid reference NH47325690[1] 57°34′36″N 4°33′13″W Result Crown (Scottish) victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland: Clan Mackenzie Clan Brodie	Lordship of the Isles: Clan Donald
Commanders and leaders
Kenneth Mackenzie	Gillespick MacDonald
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The chief of Clan Donald, Lord of the Isles, had resigned the title of Earl of Ross to the king in 1477. After this the province of Ross was constantly invaded by the MacDonald islanders. As a result, a battle was fought between the Clan Donald islanders, led by Gillespick MacDonald against the Clan MacKenzie. The MacDonald islanders were defeated with many men being drowned in the River Conon.^[3][4]

References

1. "Site Record for Blar Na Pairce". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 15 September 2019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. Roberts, John L. (1999). Feuds, Forays and Rebellions: History of the Highland Clans 1475-1625. Edinburgh University Press. p. 122.
3. Gordon, Robert (1813) [Printed from original manuscript 1580 – 1656]. A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Edinburgh: Printed by George Ramsay and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company Edinburgh; and White, Cochrance and Co. London. p. 77. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
4. "The Conflict of Blair-ne-pairk". The History of the Feuds and Conflicts among the Clans in the Northern Parts of Scotland and in the Western Isles. Glasgow: Printed by J. & J. Robertson for John Gillies, Perth. 1780 [Originally published in 1764 by Foulis press]. pp. 14-15. Written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland (Sir Robert Gordon's A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland).

Bibliography

• Dagg, C (2007). Blar na Pairce, Highland (Contin parish), desk-based assessment and metal detecting survey, Discovery Excav Scot. Vol. 8. Wiltshire, England: Cathedral Communications Limited. p. 109.
• Mackenzie, Alexander (1894). History of the Mackenzies, with genealogies of the principal families of the name. Inverness: A. & W. Mackenzie. pp. 88-96. Retrieved 15 September 2019.