Battle of Siol Thormoid

The Battle of Siol Thormoid ("Siol Tormoit") was a Scottish clan battle fought in 1601, in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between the Clan MacDonald of Sleat and the Clan MacLeod. ’Conflicts of the Clans’ published in 1764 by the Foulis press, written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland. [http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/conflict/] ]

Background

Dòmhnall (Donald) Gorm of the Clan MacDonald of Sleat had married the sister of Sir Ruaraidh MacLeòid (Rory MacLeod) of Harris. For some reason Dòmhnall Gorm MacDhòmhnall (Donald Gorm MacDonald) did not like his wife. Sir Ruaraidh MacLeòid sent a message to Dòmhnall Gorm MacDhòmhnall, asking him to return his sister. Dòmhnall Gorm not only refused to obey this request, but also divorced her, marrying instead the sister of Coinneach MacChoinnich (Kenneth MacKenzie), Laird of Kintail.

Escalation

Sir Ruaraidh MacLeòid took this disgrace (as he thought it) so highly that he assembled his men and invaded part of Dòmhnall Gorm MacDhòmhnall's lands in the Isle of Skye, which lands Sir Ruaraidh MacLeòid claimed to be his. Dòmhnall Gorm MacDhòmhnall then assembled his forces and invaded MacLeòid's lands in Harris, which he wasted and spoiled, carrying away their store and bestial and killing some of the inhabitants. Ruaraidh MacLeòid and his men traveled to the Siol Thormoid, Isle of Uist (then Dòmhnall Gorm MacDhòmhnall's), sent his cousin, Dòmhnall Glas MacDhòmhnall, with some 40 men to spoil the island, and took much goods preserved in a church. Iain MacIain MacSheumais ("John Macian-MacJames", a kinsman of Siol Thormoid Gorm MacDhòmhnall), accompanied by 20 others, encountered Dòmhnall Glas MacLeòid. After a sharp skirmish, they killed Dòmhnall Glas MacLeòid and most of his company, rescuing the goods. Sir Rory, seeing the bad success of his men, retired home. Both sides continued to steal and slaughter. In end, Dòmhnall Gorm MacDhòmhnall assembled his whole force in the year of 1601 and invaded Sir Ruaraidh MacLeòid's lands, drawing them into a fight. Sir Ruaraidh MacLeòid was then in Argyll looking for advice from the Earl of Argyll against the Clan MacDonald. Alasdair MacLeòid (Alexander, Ruaraidh MacLeòid's brother) resolved to fight Dòmhnall Gorm MacDhòmhnall, even though his brother was absent. The battle lasted most of the day, both contending for victory with great obstinacy. The Clan MacDonald, in the end, defeated their enemies, taking Alasdair MacLeòid . The two side later made peace, and Alasdair MacLeòid was released.

References