Battle of Clynetradwell

Part of Earl of Sutherland and Earl of Caithness feud

Coats of arms of the Earl of Sutherland (left) and Earl of Caithness (right)

Date	October 1590
Location	Clyne, near Brora in the county of Sutherland, Scotland
Result	Earl of Caithness’s army retreats.

Belligerents

Clan Sutherland (supporters of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland)

Clan Sinclair (supporters of George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness)

Commanders and leaders

Patrick Gordon of Garty
John Gordon of Embo
John Gordon of Kilcalmkill
John Morray of Aberscross

George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness
Nicolas Sutherland of Forse
Donald Balloch Mackay of Scoury

Strength

400 or 500

1,500

Casualties and losses

John Morray killed.
16 common soldiers killed.
Gordon of Kilcalmkill and William Morray both wounded.

Nicolas Sutherland and Angus-Mack-Angus-Termack killed.
13 others killed.

The Battle of Clynetradwell was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1590 in the county of Sutherland between the forces of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland (chief of Clan Sutherland) and George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness (chief of Clan Sinclair).

The Earl of Sutherland and Earl of Caithness had long been at feud. In 1587 the Earl of Caithness’s forces had killed George Gordon of Marle, a relative of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland. An ally of the Earl of Caithness, John Sutherland, was also killed.

In 1590 Sinclair, Earl of Caithness gathered all of his forces and invaded Sutherland. He was in fact supported by the Sutherland Laird of Forse who was seated at Forse Castle, and who descended from the original line of Earls of Sutherland who had been ousted and replaced by the Gordons in the early 16th century, and the hamlet of Forse was in the county of Caithness. The Earl of Caithness was also supported by Donald Balloch Mackay of Scourie who was a half-brother of Huistean Du Mackay, 13th of Strathnaver, chief of the Clan Mackay. Huistean Du Mackay actually supported the Earl of Sutherland in 1590 but he and his half-brother Donald had long been disunited owing to a disputed chiefship: Donald Balloch was actually the elder of the two but his parents having been first cousins meant that their marriage was an irregular one under canon law and so he could not succeed as clan chief. Also, Donald Balloch Mackay had been banished out of Strathnaver and Sutherland for killing James Mackroy and therefore retired himself to the Earl of Caithness.

The Gordons of Sutherland watched the Earl of Caithness’s men driving away a large herd of cattle at Clynetradwell (or "Clentredvaill"). According to the Gordon account, the Gordons of Sutherland, more rashly than wisely rushed upon their enemies who were far superior in numbers. They skirmished with great obstinacy and rescued the cattle. The inhabitants of Sutherland then chased the Earl of Caithness’s army. However, Caithness’s archers under Donald Balloch Mackay were reformed three times after being thrown into confusion, and Donald Balloch Mackay encouraged his men to "stick to it". The combat was furious and long but in the end the Earl of Caithness’s army retreated. According to historian Angus Mackay, Donald Balloch Mackay saved the situation for the Earl of Caithness. Even the Gordon account states that Donald Balloch Mackay played the part of a good commander.

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