Battle of Blare Tannie

The Battle of Blare Tannie or Blar-Tannie was a Scottish clan battle fought in the 15th century in Caithness, in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between men of the Clan Keith and Clan MacKay from Strathnaver against men of the Clan Gunn and possably their allies the Clan Oliphant and Clan Sutherland from Caithness

Background

The cause of the battle seems to have been a claim made by one of the Oliphants, then allies of the Sutherlands of Duffus to some lands held by the Keiths. The lands were later granted to the Oliphants by King James IV. Also the Keiths requiring the assistance of the MacKays indicates that they were opposed by a powerful force. [The "History of the House and Clan of the Name MacKay" by Robert MacKay (1829): Quoting, Charter by James IV to George Oliphant and Lady Duffus, his spouse of the lands of Berridale, Auldwick. - "Robertson's Index"]

The date of the battle varies in different accounts.

Accounts of the Battle

ir Robert Gordon

Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656) wrote an account of the battle in his book the "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland":

"About the year 1464, some serious disputes had arisen between Keith of Ackergill and the Guns and other inhabitants of Caithness. The Keiths, mistrusting their own forces, they sent to Angus MacKay (the son of Niel-Wasse) intreating him to come to their aid; whereunto he easily conescended. Then did the inhabitants of Caithness convene in all haste, and met the Strathnaver men and the Keiths, at a place in Caithness called Blare Tannie, i.e The Moor of Tanach. There ensued a cruel fight, with great slaughter on either side. In the end the Keiths had the victory, by the means chiefly of John-More-MacK-Ean-Reawich, who is very famous in these countries for his valour and manhood shewn at this conflict" ["Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland". p.69. by Sir Robert Gordon]

Conflicts of the Clans

Another account of the battle was written in the book "Conflicts of the Clans" first published by the Foulis Press in 1764, written from a manuscript from the time of King James VI of Scotland (1566 - 1625): In this account battle is dated as taking place in 1438:

"About the year of God 1438, there fell some variance betwixt the Keiths and some others of the inhabitants of Caithness. The Keiths, mistrusting their own forces, sent to Angus Mackay of Strathnaver (the son of Neil Wasse), entreating him to come to their aid, whereunto he easily yielded; so Angus Mackay, accompanied with John Mor MacIan-Riabhaich, went into Caithness with a band of men, and invaded that country. Then did the inhabitants of Caithness assemble in all haste, and met the Strathnaver men and the Keiths at a place in Caithness called Blair-tannie. There ensued a cruel fight, with slaughter on either side. In the end the Keiths had the victory, by means chiefly of John Mor MacIan-Riabhaich (an Assynt man), who was very famous in these countries for his manhood shown at this conflict. Two chieftains and leaders of the inhabitants of Caithness were slain, with divers others. This Angus Mackay, here mentioned, was afterward burnt and killed in the Church of Tarbat, by a man of the surname of Ross, whom he had often molested with incursions and invasions." [ [http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Hty_Sct/Conflict_Clans/CC/Blar_Tannie.html Conflicts of the Clans ] ] [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/conflict/Blar_Tannie.html Conflicts of the Clans ] ]

References