The Battle at the Red Ford

The destinies, not only of Clan MacDougall and Campbell but of Scotland were forged by The Battle at the Red Ford even though it was a minor clan skirmish in a remote glen. In the late 13th century the rising force on Scotland's Western Seaboard was the MacDougalls. Controlling the Western mainland was MacDougall's castles, Dunollie and Dunstaffnage, near Oban in Argyllshire while their huge fleet of galleys commanded the seas.

The name Mhic Dhugaill which comes from Dubh Gall means Black Strangers or Norsemen. The son of Gilliebride, sub King of Argyll, Somerled was their progenitor. Gilliebride claimed descent from Harold Hardrada, King of Norway and Fergus King Dalviada (Argyll). An Uprising against the Norsemen, who ruled the West Coast in the mid 12th century, was led by Somerled and removed them from Lochaber Morven and North Argyll. As Somerled knew that he could not hold his conquest against the mighty Viking Sea Power, he proposed to Ragnhilda, the daughter of the Norwegian King of the Isles and the Isle of Man. Also know as Olaf the Red, he refused, wanting a more suitable suitor for her.

Olaf had a moored galley which Somerled had his shipwright swim to unseen then proceed to have holes bore in the hull underwater and filled them with tallow, Olaf put the galley to sea and as it rounded Ardnamurchan Point the tallow gave way and the boat began to sink. Carefully positioned nearby was Somerled's galley. He refused to help Olaf unless he agreed to Somerled marrying Ray Hilda. Olaf agreed and Somerled gained control of all the Western Seaboard. Somerled and Raynhiolda went on to have two sons, Dugall and Reginald. The elder of their sons Dugall, inherited the islands of Mull, Coll, Tiree, Jura and part of Lorn and he was founder of Clan Dougall. Reginald inherited Islay, Kintyre and part of Arran and was founder of Clan Donald.

The King in the Hebrides and Lord of Lorn was Ewen who was the third MacDougall chief. Due to Ewen being the vassal of the King of Scots for his mainland possessions and a vassal of the King of Norway for the islands he was in a difficult position. Ewen tried to remain loyal to both the decaying Norwegian empire and the expanding Kingdom of mainland Scotland.

In 1263 Ewen was forced to choose when King Hakon of Norway, with a huge fleet of more than 200 Viking long ships intent on the invasion of Western Scotland, arrived in Oban Bay. Admiring Ewen's loyalty to two masters, Hakon allowed him to stay even though he refused to join him. Not long afterwards Ewen made a decision and attacked part of the Viking fleet off Mull while it was sailing south.

At the Battle of Largs in Ayrshire in 1263 the Vikings were defeated and this signalled the end of Norse domination.With a huge fleet of swift galleys, each holding 40 men, MacDougall power was now at its peak and was effectively controlling the whole West Coast of Scotland.

1265 saw the death of Ewen and his son Alexander who was "the greatest of the twelve lords" succeeded him. When Argyll became a shire in 1292 Alexander was appointed to rule. This all-powerful clan was challenged in it's over lordship of Lorn by the rise of the small Clan Duibhne or Diamid. Their headquarters, a square stone fortification, was on the islet of Innis Chonnell on Loch Awe. The clan was led by the ambitious Cailean Mor (Big Colin).

Cailean Mor exasperated the MacDougalls by gradually pushing the boundaries of his land further west. Eion Bacach (Lame John) was the strong willed son of the MacDougall Chief. He led the clan to war with the upstart young clan to settle matters once and for all. The MacDougalls went clad in Raven Winged Helmets, Chain Mail and the Short Swords of their Viking ancestors. With them they carried a crystal ball brought back from the Holy Land and renowned for its magical properties. At the West End of Loch Scammadale the Captain of the Clan, MacDougall of Rarey halted. He passed the crystal ball among his men to ascertain who was likely to die. A sort of pass-the-parcel began as each warrior tried to pass the stone quickly to the next. The ball selected the same man three times so therefore he was sent back to Dunollie with instructions to follow the coast and avoid the enemy.

He arrived back safely but could not escape his destiny. On his return he ran in to the Campbells and was killed.

As the MacDougalls continued along the shores of Loch Scammadle the charm leapt from its keeper's sporran. As this was considered a bad omen MacDougall of Rarey refused to go any further and with his men returned home. However there is a more logical explanation for this super natural event that is that the keeper threw the charm in to the water himself hoping to avoid the inevitable fight ahead.

The depleted MacDougalls in their Viking armour met the Campbell's, probably clad in saffron tunics rendered iron hard with fulmars grease (a nature seabird) and armed with bull hide targets and long cross hilted swords, at the streing (pass) of Lorn between Lochs Avich and Scammadale at the Allt - a - chomhla - chaidh (the burn of meeting). Big Colin and Lame John began to have a discussion regarding issues of clan boundaries and who had supremacy over the lands of cam-beuls.

The discussion soon turned into verbal abuse then in to war.

Heavy losses were had on both sides at this dreadful slaughter. The nearby burn ran red with blood. Ath Dearg (the red ford) became the name for this crossing place as one could cross the swollen stream over the bodies of the dead.

Until a MacDougall archer crept up beside a large boulder and fired an arrow that killed Cailean Mor, it seemed that the outnumbered MacDougalls would be cut down.

Big Colin's followers sorrowfully bore his body away and the battle was ended. His falling place is still marked by a pile of stones called Cairn Cailean (Colin's Cairn). The burial ground, where the dead of both sides were laid to rest is near by but is covered by the remains of ancient shielding.

Also near by is Tom-a-Phiobair (the pipers hillock) where a Campbell piper played throughout the battle.

No boundaries are set among pipers so when the MacDougall piper fell the Campbell piper saw and went on to compose a pipe tune in memory of the musician.

My loss! My loss! That I have not three hands,
Two engaged with the pipe and one with the sword.
My loss! My loss! That I have not three hands,
Two engaged with the pipe and one with the sword.
My loss! My loss! Low lies yonder MacDougall with his pipe,
Whose sound was soft and sweet to me.

Cailean Mor's body was carried to the church of St. Peter the Deacon at Kilchrenan on Loch Awe side and buried there. Although the exact burial place is unknown, in 1816 the Duke of Argyll inserted in the gable of the present church, a 14th century gravestone in memory of his ancestor.

The ones to come off worse that day in 1294 were Clan Campbell, as their castle on Loch Awe side was seized by the MacDougalls and they confirmed their overlordship of Campbell lands.

The Campbell's Chieftainship was passed to Colin's 24 year old son, Neil. He became the first Mhic Cailean Mhor (son of Great Colin) which became the patronymic of the Chiefs of Clan Campbell.

Educated at Dundee High School, one of Neil's classmates, a young man from Renfrewshire, was William Wallace.

Wallace, in 1297, came seeking assistance from Neil. He had joined an uprising against English domination and led an army of common people.

The big question was would Neil join him? Well a deal was struck between Wallace and Neil. Firstly Wallace would help Neil recover his lands and then Neil would assist Wallace. So the MacDougalls were pushed back and the Campbell's joined Wallace for the decisive Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Then came Falkirk, Wallace's defeat and the regained domination by England. Neil Campbell was forced in to hiding, and his small clan was scattered.

Eight years later saw the final chapter in the long war of independence start when Robert the Bruce killed the Red Comyn in Dumfries Greyfiars Monastery. The Red Comyn was the nephew of the 4th MacDougall Chief Alexander of Argyll, Lord of Lorn, so he was forced to join a blood feud.

In Scotland kith and kin always ranked higher than politics.

The entire might of the MacDougall was thrown against Bruce by the Red Comynn and they very nearly captured him at Dalrigh near Tyndrum.

Therefore in support to the cause of Robert the Bruce, Neil Campbell promptly called out his clan. Although the Campbell's would probably have chosen to support who ever was on the opposite side of the MacDougalls.

At the Pass of Brander near Taynuilt in the autumn of 1308 Clan Campbell and Bruce's army fell upon the MacDougalls.

Reluctantly Sir Alexander of Lorn gave allegiance to Bruce although his Comyn wife glared her hatred. They were exiled to Gylen Castle on the island of Kerrera.

Lame John their son, escaped and renewed his allegiance to Edward II, and in 1311 was made English Admiral of western Seas.

The MacDougalls forfeited most of the mainland possessions granted to Sir Neil Campbell after the Battle of Bannockburn although Lame John MacDougall and his galleys were not finally destroyed until 1318 by combined fleets of King Robert and Angus Oy MacDonald of Islay.

Setting aside his first wife, Neil Campbell married Marjorie Bruce, the Kings sister. Thus beginning Clan Campbell's inexorable and irresistible rise to overlordship of Argyll and the Western Seaboard and, at one point, of Scotland itself.