Battle of Drumoak
Who Fought
Clan Irvine (seated at Drum Castle) versus Clan Keith (Earls Marischal)
History & Significance
The Battle of Drumoak, also known as the Battle of Keith's Muir, was a Scottish clan battle that took place at Drumoak, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1402. It was fought between the Clan Irvine whose chiefs were seated at Drum Castle and the Clan Keith whose chiefs were the Earls Marischal.
According to Leslie, at around 1393, the feud between the Irvines of Drum and Keiths (Marischal) raged most fiercely. According to an old manuscript "the old feud was cruell betwixt the two families; as that Marischall's people burnt one of Drum's children in hot wort; and Drum burnt Hall-forest, and wasted sundry lands of Marischall's all in revenge of that wrong".
A foray was made by the Keiths upon the lands of the Irvines, but the Irvines overtook the Keiths before they could secure their plunder by crossing the River Dee. According to the New Statistical Account of Scotland a fight took place between the two clans on a moor on the north bank of the River Dee which is now known as Keith's Muir. The Irvines were victorious and drove their enemies across a deep and rocky part of the channel which is now known as Keith's Pot, where many of them were drowned. The leader of the Keiths is said to have made it to a rock that protrudes above the water line but was killed by the Irvine's arrows and this rock is now known as The Keith Stone.
By mediation of the King it was arranged for Irvine of Drum's eldest son to marry the daughter of Keith the Earl Marischal. There was never any difference between the two families after this marriage, but Irvine apparently held some resentment as although he was polite to his lady he never consummated the marriage. In 1411 Irvine of Drum took part in the Battle of Harlaw where he held command in the Lowland army and where he engaged in a duel with Maclean of Duart Castle in which both were killed.
Arrowheads have been found at Keith's Muir (moor) and have been linked with the battle.
Irvine, James M (2019) [Written from Christopher Irvine's manuscript of 1682]. Dr Christopher Irvin and his 'Original of the Family of Irvins'. New Generation Publishing. ISBN 978-1789554731.
The ground they fought on
The site of Battle of Drumoak lies on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Late Silurian To Early Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is felsic-rock.
The climax of the battle came as the defeated Keiths fled towards the River Dee, where many perished in a deep and rocky channel now called Keith's Pot. Their leader managed to reach a rock above the waterline but was struck down by Irvine arrows, and that rock has since borne the name The Keith Stone, a landmark that endures as a physical memorial to the Irvine victory.
Frequently Asked Questions
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