Battle of Logiebride

History & Significance

The Battle of Logiebride or Logie-Riach, also known as a Tumult in Ross was more of a small skirmish rather than an actual battle. The disturbance is said to have taken place on 4 February 1597 at the Logie Candlemas market near Conan House (a mile south-west of Conon Bridge) between men of the Clan Mackenzie against men of the Clan Munro and the Bain family of Tulloch Castle.

John MacLeod, brother, of the chief of the Clan MacLeod of Raasay was in dispute with the Bains of Tulloch Castle. In the ensuing battle men from the Clan Munro sided with the Bains while men from the Clan Mackenzie sided with MacLeod. However, according to Alfred John Lawrence's 1963 history of the Bain family, Alexander Bane, 2nd Laird of Tulloch's eldest son from his second marriage was Alexander Bane "The Younger of Tulloch". He was famous as "Alastair Mor Ban" because of his strength, fierceness and savage acts which concerned his father. When one of the Mackenzies claimed the Bane lands in Torridon, Alexander Bane the younger led a band of men to a public fair at Logie where they killed the Mackenzie and which resulted in the Battle of Logiebride.

The earliest account of the Battle of Logiebride was that by Sir Robert Gordon (1580–1656) who was living at the time of the battle, in his book the History of the Earldom of Sutherland written in the early 17th century.

Gordon states that in 1597 a "tumult" happened in Ross at a fair in Laggiewreid which almost put all the neighboring counties of Ross into combustion. He states that the quarrel was between John Macgillichallum (brother to the Laird of Raasay) and Alexander Bain (brother of Duncan Bain of Tulloch). Gordon goes on to state that the Munros assisted Bain and the Mackenzies assisted John Macgillichallum, who was killed along with John Mac-Murdo Mac-William, and three others of the Clan Mackenzie. Alexander Bain escaped but on his side John Munro of Culcraggie, with his brother, Hutcheon Munro, and John Munro Robertson were killed. The Munros and Mackenzies then prepared to invade each other but were reconciled by friends and neighbors.

John Mackenzie of Applecross wrote an account of the battle in his manuscript history of the Mackenzies in 1669. Mackenzie of Applecross stated that the year 1597 there fell out again an accident between the Mackenzies and Munros. John M'Gillichallum who was the brother of the Laird of Raasay claimed the lands of Torridon that belonged to the Bains of Tulloch. He alleged that Bain of Tulloch had promised him the land as he had been fostered by him as a child. Bain of Tulloch having died the lands went to his son Alister. Alister having got laws against John came prepared with men in arms including all of the Bains and part of the Munros to the Candlemas market at Laggievriid. John not knowing that laws were against him was at a merchant's shop buying some commodity when Alister Bain came up and struck him with a two handed sword killing him instantly. A Mackenzie tried to intervene but was struck through the back from behind and killed. The alarm was thrown up and the Bains and Munros fled in confusion with the Bains heading to the hills and the Munros to Foulis ferry. Two Mackenzies coming from the market at Chanonry and having heard what had happened allegedly killed thirteen Munros between Laggie and Mulchaich and Alister Bain's men were killed where ever they were seen. The Mackenzies having gained laws against the Munros for the killing of their kinsman burnt the lands of Lemlair. The Bains eventually submitted themselves to the Mackenzies and the Munros were reconciled by the mediation of friends.

The ground they fought on

The site of Battle of Logiebride lies on Lower Old Red Sandstone, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of Logiebride

David's Fort,homestead moat,Balavil Wood

Scheduled monument · ~0.4 mi

David's Fort is a homestead moat in Balavil Wood, Ross-shire, in the Scottish Highlands. The monument consists of a defensive earthwork surrounding a residential enclosure, typical of medieval and early modern Scottish domestic fortifications. Such moats provided both practical protection and a v…

Muir of Conon,chambered cairn 630m ENE of East End

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~1.1 mi

Muir of Conon is a Neolithic chambered cairn located in Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands, situated 630 metres to the east-north-east of East End. The monument occupies a landscape underlain by Middle Old Red Sandstone bedrock, a formation of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone dat…

Balvaird,chambered cairn 250m E of Balvaird House

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~1.2 mi

Balvaird is a Neolithic chambered cairn situated 250 metres east of Balvaird House in Ross-shire, Scotland. The monument stands on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a mixed sequence of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone deposited during the Middle Devonian period. This geology und…

Whiteleys, chambered cairn 300m SW of Craig Ruadh

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~1.7 mi

Whiteleys is a Neolithic chambered cairn located 300 metres south-west of Craig Ruadh in Ross-shire, Scotland. The monument sits on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a mixture of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone deposited during the Middle Devonian period. This solid foundation…

Brahan Wood, chambered cairn 835m NW of Brahan House

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~2 mi

Brahan Wood chambered cairn is a Neolithic funerary monument sited 835 metres north-west of Brahan House in Ross-shire, northern Scotland. Like other chambered cairns of the Neolithic period, it would have served as a communal burial place for the dead, its internal chamber constructed from stone…

Cairn Irenan, chambered cairn

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~2.2 mi

Cairn Irenan is a Neolithic chambered cairn located in Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands. Like other cairns of its type, it was constructed during the Neolithic period as a communal burial monument, with an internal stone chamber designed to contain multiple interments. The cairn sits on bedro…

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Battles near Battle of Logiebride

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• Battle of Logiebride · Wikidata
• Battle_of_Logiebride · Wikipedia