BattlefieldsBattle of the Braes Skye 1882
modern

Battle of the Braes Skye 1882

1882
Scotland
Era
modern
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
fifty Glasgow police officers serving eviction summonses for Lord MacDonald estate.
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Braes crofting community including women
Outcome
Police overpowered and summonses served only after a fight. Several crofters and police injured. The confrontation attracted national press attention and eventually led to the Napier Commission and the Crofters Holdings Act of 1886.
The Battle

History & Significance

Braes crofters on Skye resisted the attempt by Lord MacDonald's factor to serve summonses for non-payment of rent. When a party of fifty police from Glasgow arrived to enforce the summonses they were met by a crowd of men and women who fought them with sticks and stones at the Braes peninsula. The Battle of the Braes was the opening confrontation of the Crofters War.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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