The Raid on Ross (original) (raw)

Ewen Cameron, XIII Captain and Chief of Clan Cameron, along with a sizable body of Cameron men, joined Alexander of Lochalsh, Clan Ranald of Garmoran and Lochaber and Clan Chattan, on the famous raid to the county of Ross (clashing with the Mackenzies of Kintail) which ended in the forfeiture of the Earldom of Ross and the Lordship of the Isles. The counties of Inverness and Ross were targets for this raid, both being wasted by the invading forces.

Advancing from Lochaber to Badennoch, where the Mackintoshes joined them, the raiding party then proceeded to Inverness, where they stormed the Royal Castle, with Mackintosh placing a garrison in it. Afterwards they proceeded across Kessock Ferry and plundering the lands of Sir Alexander Urquhart, Sheriff of Cromarty, from which they carried away a large booty. The Lords of Lochalsh appear at this time to have had strong claims upon the Camerons to follow them in the field. They were superiors under the Lord of the Isles of the lands of Lochiel in Lochaber, in addition to the claims of a close marriage alliance (Ewen married a daughter of Celestine of Lochalsh). This would serve to explain the quite unusual mutual participation under a common banner between the Camerons and Mackintoshes in this raid.

Repeated attempts were made in the name of John, Lord of the Isles, to recover the Earldom of Ross. Alexander of Lochalsh, a natural brother of the Lord of the Isles, commanded a considerable number of followers. This ongoing action finally came to an end when he was defeated by the Mackenzies.