Gordon Raid on Strathspey 1520
Who Fought
History & Significance
Clan Grant is a Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch, Grant of Grant, and several cadet branches, such as Grant of Glenmoriston.
The Chiefs of Clan Grant descended from Normans who arrived in Scotland during the medieval period, bearing the French name le Grand ('the tall', 'large'). The first Grants to appear in Scotland are recorded in the 13th century when they acquired the lands of Stratherrick. Sir Laurence le Grant, son of Gregory le Grant, was Sheriff of Inverness.
During the Wars of Scottish Independence, Clan Grant were supporters of William Wallace, and John and Randolph Grant were captured at the Battle of Dunbar (1296). The Clan Grant later supported Robert the Bruce in competition for the Scottish Crown. The victory of Robert the Bruce confirmed the Grants in their lands of Strathspey, where they became established Highland chiefs.
The acquisition of Castle Grant occurred during the 14th century. Originally a Clan Comyn stronghold, tradition holds that the castle was taken from the Comyns by a combined force of Grants and MacGregors.
The next available reference is of Duncan le Grant in 1434, and later, Sir Duncan Grant of Freuchie (Castle Grant), who inherited land in Dulnain valley in upper Speyside from his mother, Matilda of Glencarnie. Her family had partially owned it since 1180, when the Crown gave Kinveachy (approximately ten miles southwest of Castle Grant) to Gille Brigte, Earl of Strathearn.
By the 16th century the clan and its chief had become powerful enough to play a part in national politics. Their main allies being the Clan Gordon, whose chief was the powerful Earl of Huntly.
In 1535 James Grant, 3rd Laird of Freuchie was made responsible for the policing of Strathspey.
In 1580 Robert Grant, champion of the Grants, defeated an English champion at a jousting tournament while on an embassy in England. Towards the end of the 16th century the Grants began to quarrel with their old allies the Gordons, over religion. The Grants being Protestant and the Gordons being Catholic.
In 1586 the Earl of Huntly allied with the Clan MacDonald and Clan Cameron who both had a history of raiding the Grant's lands. The Grants responded by bringing in the Clan Gregor but they came off worse in a clash at Ballindalloch. By the late 16th century, Clan Grant had become an important clan in the Scottish Highlands. During this period, the clan's actions resulted in the murder of the Earl of Moray and the defeat of the Earl of Argyll at the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594. The Chief of Clan Grant ordered his men to retreat as soon as the action began. This treacherous move led to the defeat of Clan Campbell of Argyll.
The ground they fought on
The site of Gordon Raid on Strathspey 1520 lies on Moine Supergroup, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is gneissose psammite and gneissose semipelite.
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- The rulers of Strathspey, a history of the lairds of Grant and earls of Seafield · archive.org
- Clan Grant · Wikipedia