Battle of Bealach nam Broig

Ben Wyvis seen from the west. Carn Mòr is the smaller hill on the far left, the pass lies between the two.

Date	probably 1452 (may be as early as 1299)
Location	between Inverness and Ullapool, near Garbat grid reference NH422713 Coordinates: 57°42′3″N 4°39′4″W / 57.70083°N 4.65111°W / 57.70083; -4.65111
Result	"Munros and Dingwalls won a sorrowful victory"

Belligerents

Allies of the Earl of Ross:
Clan Munro
Clan Dingwall
Clan Fraser of Lovat

Septs of Clan Mackenzie:
Clan MacIver
Clan Macaulay
Clan MacLeay
Clan MacLennan

Commanders and leaders

George Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis
William Dingwall, Baron of Kildun
Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat

Supporters of Alexander Mackenzie, 6th of Kintail:
Donald Garbh MacIver
Duncan Macaulay.

Strength

Unknown

Casualties and losses

According to Sir Robert Gordon (1625):
"lost a great number of men"
According to Alexander Mackenzie (1894):
140 Dingwalls killed
11 Munros killed

According to Sir Robert Gordon (1625):
"Utterly Extinguished"
According to Alexander Mackenzie (1894):
"Extirpated" (Extinct)

The Battle of Bealach nam Broig (Scottish Gaelic: Pass of the Brogue; also known as the Great Battle of Bealach nam Broig, Bealach nam Brog, Beallighne-Broig, Bealach na Broige) was a battle fought between Scottish clans from the lands of north-west Ross, against north-eastern clans of Ross who supported the Earl of Ross. The actual date of the battle is debated, it probably occurred in 1452 but the Conflicts of the Clans suggests a date as early as 1299.

Bealach nam Brog lies about 20 miles northwest of Inverness in the parish of Fodderty, overlooking the A835 road that goes west past Loch Glascarnoch to Ullapool. The pass separates the high ridge of Ben Wyvis from the lower summit of Carn Mòr, overlooking Loch Bealach Cùlaidh to the east. Thomas describes it as 2 miles NW of Garbat, at the watershed between the Strathrannock River and Garbat River, and also as being between Ferrin-Donald and Loch Broom. The Garbat and Strathrannock both run into the Blackwater, a tributary of the River Conon that flows east from Loch Glascarnoch.

"A perfect specimen of an arrowhead" was found near the battlefield in 1913.

The earliest account of the Battle of Bealach nam Broig was written by Sir Robert Gordon (1580–1656) in his book History of the Earldom of Sutherland.

A rising took place against the Earl of Ross by highlanders living in the mountains, consisting of the "Clan-juer" (Clan Iver), "Clantalvigh" (Clan-t-aluigh, i.e. Clan Aulay), and "Clan-leajwe" (Clan-leaive, i.e. Clan Leay).

The Earl Ross responded by capturing the leader of the insurrection and imprisoned him at Dingwall Castle. Incensed, the revolting clans seized the Earl of Ross's second son at Balnagown, to aid in the release of their leader, and carried him with them. The Munros and Dingwalls in response pursued and overtook the rising clans at Bealach nam Broig. A bitter battle ensued, fuelled by old feuds and animosities. In the end the MacIvers, MacAulays and MacLeays were almost utterly extinguished and slain, and the Munros and Dingwalls won a hollow victory: though the Earl's son had been rescued, they had lost a great number of men.

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Wikipedia