MacKenzie suppression of Munro at Foulis 1550

Who Fought

History & Significance

Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis (died 1588), and 18th chief of the Clan Munro was a 16th-century Scottish chief. He was known as Robert Mor on account of his large stature. He was the eldest son of Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis. Although this Robert Munro is traditionally 15th Baron and 18th overall chief of the clan, he is only the 8th Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.

In 1550, Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron is recorded in a bond of manrent and friendship with George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, chief of Clan Gordon. The document dated 1550 is found amongst the papers in the charter chest of Gordon Castle. However, later Robert Mor Munro would support Mary, Queen of Scots in her feud against the Gordon House of Huntly.

In 1552, Robert Mor Munro sold lands in Wester Fowlis to Margaret Ogilvie, Lady of Moy who was the widow of William Mackintosh, 15th chief of Clan Mackintosh who had been executed at Aberdeen in 1550. In 1553, Queen Mary also granted a Crown charter of the same lands to Margaret Ogilvie. Later, Robert Mor Munro's first marriage would be to Margaret Ogilvie which would bring back to him these lands.

In the Parliament held at Edinburgh on 1 August 1560, amongst the names of those present is "Robert Munro of Fowlis". Robert Mor Munro was a staunch supporter and faithful friend of Mary, Queen of Scots and he consequently was treated favourably by her son James VI. George Buchanan states, that when the unfortunate princess went to Inverness in 1562 and found the gates of the castle shut against her; "as soon as they heard of their sovereign's danger, a great number of the most eminent Scots poured in around her, especially the Frasers and Munros, who were esteemed the most valiant of the clans inhabiting those countries in the north". These two clans took Inverness Castle for the Queen, which had refused her admission. The Queen later hanged the governor, a Gordon who had refused her admission.

Upon hearing of the danger of their princess, a great number of the ancient Scots, partly by persuasion, and partly of their own accord, flocked around her, particularly the Frasers and Monros, the bravest of these tribes. When the queen found herself sufficiently strong, she laid siege to the castle, which having neither a sufficient garrison, not being properly fortified for sustaining an attack, surrendered, when the commanders were executed, and the men dismissed.

According to one source the Clan Munro were among the clans who supported Mary, Queen of Scots in her victory over the Earl of Huntly at the Battle of Corrichie in 1562. In 1563, a charter was granted to Robert Mor Munro at Foulis Castle and was witnessed by his brother, George Munro and his great-uncle, William Munro, Vicar of Dingwall.

The ground they fought on

The site of MacKenzie suppression of Munro at Foulis 1550 lies on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scheduled Monuments near MacKenzie suppression of Munro at Foulis 1550

Cnoc nan Craiseag,cairn,Mount Eagle

Scheduled monument · ~1.4 mi

Cnoc nan Craiseag is a cairn situated on Mount Eagle in Cromartyshire, Scotland. The monument consists of a mound of stones constructed on bedrock composed of Middle Old Red Sandstone, formed during the Middle Devonian period. This underlying geology—a mix of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone an…

Cullicudden, church and burial ground

Scheduled monument · Medieval · ~2.9 mi

Cullicudden is a medieval church and burial ground located in Cromartyshire in the north of Scotland. The site occupies land underlain by Middle Old Red Sandstone bedrock, a complex geology of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone formed during the Middle Devonian period. This red sands…

Julian Paren / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Craig Castle,tower

Scheduled monument · ~2.9 mi

Craig Castle is a tower located in Cromartyshire, Scotland, dating to the medieval period. The structure represents a form of fortified domestic architecture characteristic of northern Scottish landholding, though detailed records of its construction date and original builders remain limited in t…

Jrimas / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Upperwood,cairn 165m SSE of

Scheduled monument · ~3.2 mi

Upperwood, cairn 165m SSE of is a prehistoric burial monument situated in Cromartyshire in the Scottish Highlands. The cairn consists of a mound of stones raised over the remains of one or more individuals, a funerary practice common throughout Bronze Age Scotland. The monument rests upon bedrock…

Belmaduthy,chambered cairn 410m SW of Belmaduthy Farm

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~3.3 mi

Belmaduthy is a Neolithic chambered cairn situated 410 metres south-west of Belmaduthy Farm in Ross-shire, Scotland. The monument stands on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a mixed sequence of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone laid down during the Middle Devonian period. This ge…

St Duthac's Church, Easter Suddie

Scheduled monument · ~3.7 mi

St Duthac's Church, Easter Suddie is a roofless stone church situated on Middle Old Red Sandstone bedrock in Ross-shire, northern Scotland. The building rests upon conglomerate and sandstone deposits laid down during the Middle Devonian period, geological foundations that have remained stable ben…

Other Tudor Battles

Battles near MacKenzie suppression of Munro at Foulis 1550

Explore the landscape around Ross-shire

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in the UK — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

• Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis · Wikipedia
• Clan Munro · Wikipedia
• Info No 22 · Clan Munro Association (clanmunro.org.uk)