Glencoe massacre

Massacre of Glencoe Mort Ghlinne Comhann  (Scottish Gaelic)
Part of the first Jacobite uprising
Glencoe
Date 13 February 1692 Location Glen Coe, south of Fort William, Scotland grid reference NN12675646 Coordinates: 56°39′45″N 5°3′25″W / 56.66250°N 5.05694°W / 56.66250; -5.05694 Result MacDonalds massacred
Belligerents
Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot (Clan Campbell & Lowland Scots)	Clan MacDonald of Glencoe
Commanders and leaders
Robert Campbell of Glenlyon	Alasdair MacIain
Strength
120	Unknown
Casualties and losses
None	78
Location within Scotland

Early on the morning of 13 February 1692, in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite uprising of 1689 led by John Graham of Claverhouse, a massacre took place in Glen Coe, in the Highlands of Scotland. This incident is referred to as the massacre of Glencoe, or in Scottish Gaelic Mort Ghlinne Comhann, or murder of Glen Coe. The massacre began simultaneously in three settlements along the glen—Invercoe, Inverrigan, and Achnacon—although the killing took place all over the glen as fleeing MacDonalds were pursued. Thirty-eight MacDonalds from the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by the guests who had accepted their hospitality, on the grounds that the MacDonalds had not been prompt in pledging allegiance to the new monarchs, William III and Mary II. Another forty women and children died of exposure after their homes were burned.

In March 1689, James II landed in Ireland with French assistance in an attempt to regain his throne. In support, John Graham, Viscount Dundee raised a force of Highlanders for a campaign in Scotland. Despite victory at Killiecrankie on 27th July, Dundee was killed in the final charge and his troops suffered heavy casualties. Jacobite military resistance in Scotland ended with defeats at the Battle of Dunkeld in August 1689 and Cromdale in May 1690.

While unsuccessful, these were a major distraction for William III in fighting the Nine Years' War with France. A peaceful Scotland was important as links between Irish and Scottish branches of the MacDonalds as well as Scottish and Ulster Presbyterians meant unrest in one country often spilt into the other. Divisions between Lowlanders, Highlanders and internal factions within these groups made this a difficult task.