BattlefieldsKeppoch Murders context — clan conflict origin 1663
Jacobite Risings

Keppoch Murders context — clan conflict origin 1663

1663
Inverness-shire, Scotland
Also known as: Murder of MacDonald of Keppoch 1663 · MacDonald of Keppoch clan succession dispute
Era
Jacobite Risings
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Inverness-shire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Rightful Keppoch MacDonalds
Forces
Keppoch household
VS
Victor
Murderers (rival MacDonalds)
Forces
Rival MacDonald claimants
Outcome
Young chief of Keppoch and his brother murdered by rivals; clan later avenged the killing
The Battle

History & Significance

The Keppoch Murders of 1663 — in which the young chief of Keppoch and his brother were murdered by rival MacDonalds backed by Keppoch's tutors — became one of the most notorious clan crimes of the Restoration period. The murders were eventually avenged by a MacDonald force that killed the killers at the Battle of Mulroy in 1688 — the last clan battle on Scottish soil. The Keppoch clan's complex and violent internal history provides essential context for understanding why Alexander MacDonald of Keppoch, the '45 chief, was so committed to the Jacobite cause — asserting rightful authority through military action was the clan tradition.

Casualties & Losses

Keppoch chief and brother murdered

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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