Battle of Champions

Who Fought

History & Significance

The Battle of Champions was a trial by combat fought in 1478 or 1464 between two Scottish clans, Clan Gunn and Clan Keith. It took place at the chapel of St Tears (St Tayre) on the coast north of Wick in Caithness, between Ackergill Tower and Girnigoe Castle. It was arranged to settle a dispute with a battle between twelve horse on either side. However, the Keiths arrived with two men on each of their twelve horses, and massacred the 12 Gunns. The clans finally signed a treaty of friendship in 1978, ending the feud after 500 years.

It is recorded that the feud began when Dugald, Chieftain of the Keiths, abducted Helen of Braemore, daughter of Lachlan Gunn, when he discovered that she was betrothed to Alexander Gunn. The attack occurred on the night before the wedding, and Alexander was one of those slain by the Keiths. Helen subsequently committed suicide by throwing herself off Ackergill Tower. Subsequent conflicts between the two clans were for the most part indecisive, and losses were numerous on both sides. After long quarreling between the Keiths and Gunns it was decided that a "battle of champions" would be fought between twelve men on horseback on either side but the Keiths arrived with two men on each horse.

About the year of God 1478, there was some dissention in Caithness betwixt the Keiths and the Clan Gunn. A meeting was appointed for their reconciliation, at the Chapel of St. Tayre, in Caithness, hard by Girnigo, with twelve horse on either side. The Crowner (chieftain of Clan Gunn) with the most part of his sons and chief kinsmen came to the chapel, to the number of twelve; and, as they were within the chapel at their prayers, the Laird of Inverugie and Ackergill arrived there with twelve horse, and two men upon every horse; thinking it no breach of trust to come with twenty-four men, seeing they had but twelve horses as was appointed.

So the twenty-four gentlemen rushed in at the door of the chapel, and invaded the Crowner and his company unawares; who, nevertheless, made great resistance. In the end eight the Clan Gunn were slain, with most of the Keiths. Their blood may be seen to this day upon the walls within the Chapel at St. Tyre, where they were slain. Afterwards William Mackames (the Crowner's grandchild) in revenge of his grandfather, killed George Keith of Ackergill and his son, with ten of their men, at Drummuny in Sutherland, as they were travelling from Inverugie into Caithness.

After long quarreling between the Keiths and Guns, it was agreed that riders on twelve horses each side should meet at the Chapel of St Tayr, near Ackergill, to adjust all their differences. At the time appointed the chieften of the Guns with eleven men of his tribe attended; and as the Keiths had not arrived, they employed the intermediate time in devotion. At length the Keiths appeared on twelve horses, but with double riders on each, and immediately set upon the Guns, and killed ever man of them, but with the loss of the greater part of their own number. Sir Robert who relates to the tragedy, says their blood was seen on the walls of the chapel in his time.The chieften or coroner's son, James Gunn, then left Caithness with his clan, and settled in Sutherland, where they became wardens of that district. William, son of this James, and a number of his tribe, afterwards intercepted George Keith of Ackergill, accompanied by his son and twelve of their followers, on their journey from Inverguey to Caithness, and killed them all in revenge of the above massacre. This William was surnamed Mackamish, i.e. son of James; and thenceforward the chieften of the clan Gunn has always been titled Mackamissh.

The ground they fought on

The site of Battle of Champions lies on Middle Devonian sandstone, bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is major:{sandstone}, Minor{siltstone,marl}.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of Champions

Castle Girnigoe and Castle Sinclair

Scheduled monument · ~0.7 mi

Castle Girnigoe is a ruined late medieval and early modern fortress located on a headland near Wick in Caithness, northern Scotland. The castle was developed from the late 15th century onwards by the Sinclair family, earls of Caithness, with significant construction and modification continuing in…

Green Hill,broch 300m W of Mordwall

Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~2.6 mi

Green Hill Broch is an Iron Age broch located 300 metres west of Mordwall in Caithness, Scotland. Brochs are distinctive circular stone towers unique to northern Britain, typically dating from the Iron Age. This example stands upon Middle Old Red Sandstone bedrock of Middle Devonian age, which wo…

Keiss Castle,350m SSE of Square of Keiss

Scheduled monument · ~4.4 mi

Keiss Castle is a ruined stone tower situated near the village of Keiss in Caithness, northern Scotland. The castle dates to the medieval period and stands as evidence of the fortified settlements that characterised the Scottish far north. The structure comprises the remains of a substantial towe…

Kirk Tofts,broch,Keiss

Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~4.5 mi

Kirk Tofts is a broch situated near Keiss in Caithness, north-east Scotland. This Iron Age stone tower stands on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a conglomerate of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone deposited during the Middle Devonian period. The solid geology of this northern landscape provi…

Hempriggs, broch 200m S of

Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~4.7 mi

Hempriggs is a broch located 200 metres south of the settlement of Hempriggs in Caithness, Scotland. Brochs were Iron Age defensive structures built across northern Scotland between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. These distinctive round stone towers typically stood between 10 and 15 metre…

Tannach Mains,broch 275m N of

Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~5.2 mi

Tannach Mains is a Iron Age broch situated in Caithness, northern Scotland. The monument stands on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a mixed sequence of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone laid down during the Middle Devonian period. This local geology of relatively soft sedimentar…

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• Battle of Champions · Wikidata
• Battle_of_Champions · Wikipedia