Sutherland-Caithness conflict at Aultnamain 1487

Who Fought

History & Significance

Clan Sutherland also known as House of Sutherland is a Highland Scottish clan whose traditional territory is the shire of Sutherland in the far north of Scotland. The chief of the clan was also the powerful Earl of Sutherland; however, in the early 16th century, this title passed through marriage to a younger son of the chief of Clan Gordon. The current chief is Alistair Sutherland, who holds the title Earl of Sutherland.

The current Clan Chief is Alistair Charles St. Clair Sutherland, 25th Earl of Sutherland, son of late Elizabeth Millicent Sutherland, 24th Countess of Sutherland.

Since 2022, the heir presumptive of the chief is his elder daughter, Lady Rachel Elizabeth Sutherland, Mistress of Sutherland, after the premature death of Alexander Charles Robert Sutherland, Lord Strathnaver, only son of the 25th Earl.

The progenitor of the Clan Sutherland was a Flemish nobleman by the name of Freskin, who was also the progenitor of the Clan Murray. It has been claimed that Freskin was Pictish but it is much more likely that he was a Flemish knight, one of a ruthless group of warlords who were employed by the Norman kings to pacify their new realm after the Norman conquest of England. David I of Scotland who was brought up in the English court, employed such men to keep hold of the wilder parts of his kingdom and granted to Freskin lands in West Lothian. The ancient Pictish kingdom of Moray (Moireabh in Scottish Gaelic) was also given to Freskin and this put an end to the remnants of that old royal house. In a series of astute political moves Freskin and his sons inter married with the old house of Moray to consolidate their power. Freskin's descendants were designated by the surname de Moravia ("of Moray" in the Norman language). Freskin's grandson was Hugh de Moravia who was granted lands in Sutherland and was known as Lord de Sudrland. Hugh's younger brother, William de Moravia of Petty, was progenitor of the Clan Murray. Hugh's eldest son (also called William) was William de Moravia, 1st Earl of Sutherland. The place name and clan name of "Sutherland" came from it being the 'land to the south' of the Norse Earldom of Orkney and Caithness. Although the senior line of chiefs who were the Earls of Sutherland had the surname 'de Moravia', they often used the territorial surname 'Sutherland', and from Robert, 6th Earl (d. 1444) onward it is confirmed that they used the surname Sutherland. Previously to this younger sons of the family had also taken the surname 'Sutherland', thus creating the cadet branches of the Clan Sutherland.

During the Wars of Scottish Independence, chief William de Moravia, 3rd Earl of Sutherland (William Sutherland) fought at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where the English army was defeated. Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland (Kenneth Sutherland) was killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.

The ground they fought on

The site of Sutherland-Caithness conflict at Aultnamain 1487 lies on Morar Group, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scheduled Monuments near Sutherland-Caithness conflict at Aultnamain 1487

Rivra, chambered cairn 520m N of

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~0.7 mi

Rivra is a Neolithic chambered cairn situated in Sutherland, in the far north of Scotland, some 520 metres north of the settlement it takes its name from. The monument stands on bedrock of the Morar Group, a metamorphic psammite of Neoproterozoic age, which forms part of the ancient Lewisian comp…

Kyleoag, chambered cairn 150m NE of

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~0.7 mi

Kyleoag is a Neolithic chambered cairn located in Sutherland, in the far north of Scotland. The monument stands on bedrock formed from an unnamed igneous intrusion of felsic rock, dating to the Early Devonian period. This ancient geological foundation has weathered over more than 400 million year…

St Demhan's Cross or St Devenoc's Cross,cross slab

Scheduled monument · ~2 mi

St Demhan's Cross is a cross slab located in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands. The monument stands upon bedrock of the Morar Group, a psammite formation dating to the Neoproterozoic era, which characterises much of this region's ancient geology. The cross slab represents an important survival…

Dun Alascaig,broch

Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~2.2 mi

Dun Alascaig is a broch situated in Ross-shire, Scotland. This Iron Age circular stone tower stands upon bedrock of the Loch Eil Group, a Neoproterozoic psammite formation that provided the local stone for its construction. The broch belongs to a distinctive category of Scottish prehistoric archi…

Swordale, hut circle 1450m SE of, Bonar Bridge

Scheduled monument · ~2.6 mi

Swordale hut circle, 1450m south-east of Bonar Bridge, is a prehistoric domestic settlement in Sutherland, north-west Scotland. The structure sits on psammite bedrock of the Morar Group, a metamorphic rock formation dating to the Neoproterozoic era. This geology shaped the landscape where Iron Ag…

Clach a' Charra, standing stone 340m E of Ospisdale Bridge, Clashmore

Scheduled monument · Bronze Age · ~3 mi

Clach a' Charra is a Bronze Age standing stone located in Sutherland, in the far north of Scotland, positioned 340 metres east of Ospisdale Bridge near Clashmore. The monument stands on bedrock of the Morar Group, a psammitic formation of Neoproterozoic age that underlies much of this region and…

Other Medieval Battles

Battles near Sutherland-Caithness conflict at Aultnamain 1487

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• Clan Sutherland · Wikipedia
• Clan Sinclair · Wikipedia
• Aultnamain (tag) · Historylinks Dornoch