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Massacre of Glencoe: Last act of the Highland War

In the early hours of 13 February 1692, Scottish government soldiers under the command of Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon fell upon their hosts, the Macdonalds of Glencoe. In a cold-blooded breach of highland...

Siege of Inveraray during the Jacobite Rising of 1715

In October 1715, the western Jacobite clans under Major-General Alexander Gordon of Auchintoul marched into Argyllshire with the intention of capturing the town and castle of Inveraray, the capital of Clan Campbell and the...

Highbridge Skirmish: Opening shots of the Jacobite ’45

On 16 August 1745, two companies from the 2nd Battalion of St Clair’s 1st Regiment of Foot (Royal Scots) marching to reinforce the garrison of Fort William were attacked by a party of Macdonalds...

Duke of Cumberland’s ‘new’ bayonet drill

No account of the battle of Culloden would be complete without mention of the Duke of Cumberland’s ‘new’ bayonet drill that was supposedly introduced to his infantry battalions while they were in camp in...

Battle of Glen Trool: A victory for Robert the Bruce?

Bruce's Stone at the head of Loch Trool in Galloway overlooks the site where it is said by the poet John Barbour that Robert the Bruce defeated an English force led by Aymer de...

Mons Graupius Identified

 “…which will you choose – to follow your leader into battle, or to submit to taxation, labour in the mines, and all the other tribulations of slavery? Whether you are to endure these for...

Battle of Killiecrankie and the Jacobite Rising of 1689

At the battle of Killiecrankie on 27 July 1689, Scottish government forces under the command of Major-General Hugh Mackay of Scourie were defeated by a Jacobite army loyal to the deposed King James commanded...

Roman roads in Scotland

Myth and fable surround much common understanding of Roman roads, they are for instance proverbial for their straightness and all lead to Rome. Or at least so we are commonly told. The purpose of...