Scotland Killiecrankie

The Battle of Killiecrankie.

27th July 1689.

First the history of the battle and then we move onto the spectacular scenery.

The Pass of Killiecrankie is where the River Garry flows through a stunning wooded gorge, forming part of the natural corridor linking the Scottish Highland and Lowlands.

This Pass is best known for the battle that took place here on 27th July 1689.

First, since I have just done a leap through time from Robert the Bruce who died 1329, I had better add just a bit of background or it will be well nigh impossible to understand the following battles.

So quick explanation of the time line of Scottish Monarchy.

David 11 son of Robert the Bruce, ruled from 1329 to 1371 but died without issue.

The nearest legitimate heir was then Robert 11 Grandson of Robert the Bruce.

His parents were Marjorie, daughter of Robert the Bruce and Walter the Steward.

At this point Steward changes to Stewart.

Robert 11 was the first of the Stewart Kings.
1371 to 1390.

Robert 111 1390 - 1406

He was followed by a succession of James Stewart kings, father to son, till we got to James V.

We then got a Queen, Mary Queen of Scots only child of James V.

Mary was later executed on the order of Queen Elizabeth of England.

Once Scotland throws off winter I hope to get some photography related to Mary Queen of Scots and then elaborate on her reign.

Following her death the throne went to her son James V1, through descent from Henry V11.

Meantime in England Elizabeth did not marry and therefore had no heir, on her death in 1603 James V1 of Scotland became James 1 of England and so the union of the crowns occurred.

James being heir through his descent from Henry V11 ( James 1V having married Margaret daughter of Henry V11 of England in 1503.

Elizabeth's passing also saw the end of the Tudor line and the beginning of the Stuart dynasty. Here the name Stewart becomes Stuart ( French Spelling).

Now we are at 1625 and the death of James V1.

His son Charles 1 took the throne, passing it down the line to his grandson James V11 in 1685. however in 1689 James V11 was deposed.

He was a Catholic Monarch ruling over very many Protestants in Scotland and England, not a popular ruler, rebellion was rife in both Kingdoms.

On the birth of his heir, the Protestant nobility were alarmed and promptly sent for William of Orange, nephew and son in law of James, to intervene.

On the arrival of William and his army, James V11 was forced to flee the country to France where he was welcomed by King Louis X1V.

However, not everyone approved of this new King William, and still supported James.

Known as Jacobites from Jacobus, Latin for James.

This divided Scotland, loyalties to the Stuart dynasty were high, especially in the Highlands and despite a Convention of Parliament, set up to decide on the rival claims and ultimately deciding on William, a small minority of committed Jacobites held out against the decision.

Most prominent of those was John Graham of Claverhouse , Viscount Dundee .("Bluidy Clavers" to his enemies; "Bonnie Dundee" to his supporters).
The tartan on this page is the Graham tartan.

Dundee raised the Royal Standard for King James and so began the first Jacobite rebellion and the Battle of Killiecrankie.

Dundee gathered troops in the Highlands and marched to Blair Castle, seat of the Marquis of Atholl, supporter of William.

Other members of the Atholl family were loyal to James and with the Marquis away in England at this time, Dundee took the castle.

Blair was vital, in that it like the Pass, was the link between North and South.

The government was forced to respond and confront Dundee.

They sent an army against him led by General Hugh Mackay of Scourie, a veteran soldier originally from the Highlands.
With his army of 3500 soldiers he marched towards Blair to meet Dundee.

Dundee, being no fool, knew he had to engage in battle in the Pass of Killiecrankie where, though short of troops he had the advantage of forcing the battle in very difficult terrain.

On the side where Mackay was forced to approach, the foot paths were slippery, muddy and very narrow, so narrow it was difficult to walk even three abreast.

Dundee led his men from the castle to a ridge in the Pass, where he had the advantage of higher ground.

At 7 pm that evening Dundee gave the order to charge and in true Highland fashion they did just that, the fierce slaughter, decided the outcome of the battle within minutes.

Mackay fired on the advancing charge but had time for only one round of fire before Dundee's men were among them with broadswords.

Mackay ordered a change of tactics and in fact, led his men into the gap in Dundee's charge, but when Mackay looked round it was to find all but one of his men had turned tail and fled.

They fled down to the river closely followed by some of Dundee's men.

(In the photographs following this, you will see one called "Soldiers Leap")

Mackay escaped over the hills leaving behind him, on the battlefield, over 2000 dead wounded or captured men.

The Highland Victory was complete.

However Dundee lost his life the following day due to injuries sustained in the battle and was buried at Old Bair in St Brides Chapel.......photograph of that will follow when I get some nice weather again.

That battle was won by the Jacobites but due to the death of Dundee, further smaller battles around this time were lost and it was to be the best part of a quarter of a century before enough Jacobite support was raised for a more serious rebellion.

Now please go get some light relief by admiring the scenery:-)
Press next to get there.
Jeaney

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