Battle of Red Ford

{{Short description|13th-century Scottish clan battle}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict=Battle of Red Ford | image=Loch Awe.jpg | image_size=250px | caption=Loch Awe where the battle is said to have taken place | partof= | coordinates= | date={{circa}} 1294 or 1296 | place=Loch Awe, Scotland | casus= | territory= | result= MacDougall victory | combatant1=Clan Campbell | commander1=Sir Colin Campbell | strength1=High | casualties1=Heavy | combatant2=Clan MacDougall | commander2=Alexander of Argyll | strength2=High | casualties2=Heavy | notes= }} {{Campaignbox Clan MacDougall-Clan Campbell feud}} The '''Battle of Red Ford''' or '''Battle of the String of Lorne''' took place in 1294 or else after September 1296 between Clan Campbell and Clan MacDougall in Lorne, Scotland.<ref name="Maughan 1897, p140">Maughan 1897, p140</ref> The battle was fought over disputed lands. It ended in defeat of the Clan Campbell of Lochawe.<ref name="Adam 1970, p205">Adam 1970, p205</ref> The battle was on the borders of Loch Awe and Lorne, with the site and battle named ''Red Ford'' (Scottish Gaelic: ''Ath Dearg'') after the ford which ran red with blood where the battle took place.<ref name="Adam 1970, p205">Adam 1970, p205</ref><ref name="Campbell">{{cite book |last=Campbell |first=Archibald |author-link=Archibald Campbell (Canadian politician) |year=1885 |title=Records of Argyll; legends, traditions, and recollections of Argyllshire Highlanders, collected chiefly from the Gaelic, with notes on the antiquity of the dress, clan colours, or tartans, of the Highlanders; |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924087975813 |location=Edinburgh and London |publisher=Blackwood and Sons |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924087975813/page/n225 172]-173 |access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref>

==Background==

Clan MacDougall allied itself with John Balliol, a competitor for the Scottish crown. After his coronation in 1292, the clan's chief, Alasdair MacDubhgaill, was rewarded by being appointed Sheriff of Argyll in 1293.<ref name="Paterson 2008, p19">Paterson 2008, p19</ref> Clan MacDougall were then able to extend their influence, which led to disputes with other clans like Clan Campbell and Clan Donald. Cailean Mor or "Great Colin/Colin the Great", the 4th Chief of Clan Campbell, signed a Ragman Role Oath of Fealty pledging allegiance to King Edward I of England with other nobles on August 27, 1296, and died in the Battle of the Red Ford on the String of Lorne in Netherlorn, Argyll, which took place some time afterwards.<ref name="Campbell"/>

==Battle== Although no exact details of the battle are at hand, a great many people died on both sides and the ford ran red with blood of the fallen and the wounded. Cailean Mór Caimbeul (Sir Colin Campbell) was killed in battle.<ref name="Maughan 1897, p140">Maughan 1897, p140</ref><ref name="Adam 1970, p205">Adam 1970, p205</ref><ref name="Campbell"/>

==Aftermath== thumb|right|230px|Kilchrenan Church where Sir Colin Campbell was buried after the battle After the battle, Sir Colin Campbell's body was carried to the church of St. Peter the Deacon at Kilchrenan and buried there.<ref name="Campbell"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/atoc/campbel2.htm |title=Clan Campbell History |access-date=2009-11-09 |year=2009}}</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|last=Patterson |first=Raymond Campbell |year=2008 |title=The Lords of the Isles, A history of Clan Donald|publisher=Birlinn Limited|location=Edinburgh|isbn=1-84158-718-4}} *{{cite book|last=Adam|first=Frank|year=1970|title=The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands|publisher=Johnston and Bacon|location=Edinburgh and London|isbn=0-7179-4500-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/clansseptsregime01adam}} *{{cite book|last=Maughan |first=William Charles |year=1897 |title=Annals of Garelochside, being an account historical and topographical of the parishes of Row, Rosneath and Cardross|url=https://archive.org/details/annalsofgareloch00maugiala |publisher=Alexander Gardner|location=Paisley and London}} {{refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Red Ford}} Battle of Red Ford Category:Clan Campbell battles Category:1290s conflicts Category:Conflicts in 1294 Category:1294 in Scotland Category:13th-century Scottish clan battles