Battle of Tarbat

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The Battle of Tarbat was a Scottish clan battle fought on the peninsula of Tarbat, near to the village of Portmahomack, in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought in the year 1486 between the Clan MacKay and the Clan Ross, two powerful Highland clans.

The MacKays and Rosses had long feuded. Again and again the Rosses had suffered attacks on their lands and when at last, driven to desperation and thoroughly infuriated, they gathered their forces and marched against the Mackays, they were in the mood to teach the MacKays a severe lesson. The Mackays, with Angus of Strathnaver at their head, finding themselves fiercely attacked and being defeated by the Rosses, sought shelter in the church of Tarbat. There many were slain, and the church being set on fire, Angus Mackay and many of his clansmen were burnt to ashes. ^[1]^[2]

An account of the battle is written by Donald MacKinnon in his book "The Clan Ross":

Angus Roy MacKay of Strathnaver having on several occasions raided the Ross "country", firing houses, slaughtering men, women and children, and returning home with great booty, was at last hemmed in near the church at Tarbat, after a severe defeat he and some of his followers sought refuge in the church. Neither the sanctity of the church nor the fact that Angus Roy MacKay and Alexander Ross, 5th of Balnagown, were near relatives availed, for the men of Ross were exasperated, and promptly set fire to the building and left Angus Roy and his followers to perish in the flames. ^[3]

Although the Angus MacKay of Strathnaver and the Clan MacKay had been defeated by the Clan Ross, just one year later Angus's son John MacKay of Strathnaver returned and once again attacked the Rosses in what became known the Battle of Auldicharish.