Battle of Glenlivet | |||||||
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Site of the Battle of Glenlivet | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Protestants: Clan Campbell Clan Murray Clan Stewart Clan Forbes Clan Maclean Clan Grant Clan MacNeil Chattan Confederation/Clan Mackintosh/Clan Macgillivray |
Catholics: Clan Gordon Clan Hay Clan Comyn Clan Cameron Chattan Confederation/Clan Macpherson | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Earl of Argyll |
Earl of Huntly Earl of Erroll | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
10,000 | 2,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
500 | 14 | ||||||
Designated | 14 December 2012 | ||||||
Reference no. | BTL33 |
The Battle of Glenlivet was a Scottish clan battle fought on 3 October 1594 near Glenlivet, Moray, Scotland. It was fought between Protestant forces loyal to King James VI of Scotland who were commanded by Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, against Catholic forces who were commanded by George Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly, and Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll. The Catholics won a decisive victory in the battle, but in the aftermath were subdued by King James.[2][3]
Before the arrival of James in the north, Argyle had met Huntly and Errol at Glenlivet in Banffshire (Oct. 4). Argyle's army was greatly superior in numbers, but to his Highland infantry in their plaids and bonnets were opposed a strong body of cavalry armed with lances and clothed in mail. Treachery in Argyle's ranks gave another advantage to the enemy; and, though the accounts of the action are somewhat conflicting, Argyle appears to have sustained a severe defeat ...