Battle of Torran Dubh

Battle of Torran Dubh
Part of the Scottish clan wars
Torran Dubh
Date 1517 Location Torran Dubh, near Rogart and Strathfleet, county of Sutherland, Scotland Result Clan Sutherland victory
Belligerents
Clan Sutherland supported by men from the Clan Gordon	Clan Mackay
Commanders and leaders
Alexander Sutherland, 1st of Killipheder John Murray of Aberscross William Mackames of Clan Gunn	John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver Donald Mackay
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
38	216

Battle of Torran Du
Part of the Scottish clan wars
Torran Du
Date 1517 Location Torran Du, near Rogart and Strathfleet, county of Sutherland, Scotland Result Victory for Murrays, Rosses and Gunns
Belligerents
Murrays of Aberscross Clan Ross Clan Gunn	Clan Mackay Clan Matheson Polsons
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Torran Dubh also known as the Battle of Torran-dow or the Battle of Torran Du was a Scottish clan battle that was fought in 1517 in Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands.

There are two very different accounts of this battle. The first was written by 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, who himself was a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, and it describes a battle fought between the Earl of Sutherland's forces who defeated the Clan Mackay of Strathnaver. The Earldom of Sutherland having recently passed to the Gordon family through marriage. However, this version of events is disputed. Firstly, late 19th-century historian Sir William Fraser states that Alexander Sutherland, who according to Gordon led the Earl of Sutherland's force at the battle, was in prison for the whole year of 1517 when the battle is supposed to have taken place. Secondly, early 20th-century historian Angus Mackay states that the battle was actually fought between the Clan Mackay, who were defeated, but who had fought against the Murrays of Aberscross, the Clan Ross and the Clan Gunn, and cited a historic manuscript as his source. Angus Mackay also agreed with Fraser's observations about Alexander Sutherland being in prison when the battle is supposed to have taken place.

John de Moravia, 9th Earl of Sutherland (John Sutherland), chief of the Clan Sutherland died in 1514. He was succeeded by his sister, Elizabeth de Moravia, 10th Countess of Sutherland (Elizabeth Sutherland). Elizabeth would go on to marry Adam Gordon, the second son of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly, chief of the powerful Clan Gordon in 1517. Adam and Elizabeth's son Alexander Gordon would become the heir to the Earldom of Sutherland and chiefship of the Clan Sutherland.

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