BattlefieldsBattle of Harlaw skirmish at Inverurie 1411
Medieval

Battle of Harlaw skirmish at Inverurie 1411

1411
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Also known as: MacDonald advance skirmish before Harlaw
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Government scouts
Forces
government cavalry scouts
VS
Victor
Clan Donald
Forces
MacDonald vanguard
Outcome
MacDonald advance guards cleared the route to Harlaw; government force fell back
The Battle

History & Significance

As Donald Lord of the Isles marched a massive force to claim the Earldom of Ross in 1411, advance parties encountered government scouts and militia near Inverurie. The clearing of government opposition from the approach to Aberdeen forced the government to commit to the major engagement at Harlaw that stopped the MacDonald advance. The preliminary skirmish showed the government the scale of the threat.

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