800 1,600 Date August 1688 | Unknown Unknown Result Decisive Rebel victory | |
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Location Spean Bridge, United Kingdom Similar Stand‑off at the Fords of Arkaig, Battle of Craig Cailloc, Battle of Lochaber, Raid on Ross, Battle of Drumlui | ||
The Battle of Maol Ruadh (Mulroy or Maoile Ruaidh) was fought in August 1688 in the Lochaber district of Scotland between the Chattan Confederation led by the Clan Mackintosh against the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch and the Clan Cameron. The battlefield has been inventoried and protected by Historic Scotland under the Scottish Historical Environment Policy of 2009.
Because the rebel clans were victorious despite the government's superior numbers, it was the prototype for Dundee's victory at Killiecrankie the following summer.
The last clan battle
The Battle of Maol Ruadh (or Mulroy in English) is sometimes described as being the last of the private clan battles fought between Scottish clans. However, this is perhaps inaccurate as the Mackintoshes had official government support for their actions against the Macdonalds and their army was in part made up of government troops from an Independent Highland Company under Mackenzie of Suddie. This would therefore leave the Battle of Altimarlach, fought in 1680 between the Campbells and Sinclairs, as the last true clan battle.