Battlefield record MHG888 - Battle Site, Ruaig Haunsaid

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 0059 6579 (50m by 50m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet ND06NW
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish REAY
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Site of Conflict between Clans AD. 1437 (NAT) OS 6"map, Caithness, 2nd ed., (1907)

In 1437 raiders from Strathnaver (A MacKay 1914), Sutherland, led by Robert Neil - Wasse - McKay, Earl of Sutherland, were intercepted at Dounreay (ND 006 658) by Caithness men. The latter were forced to withdraw eastward to Water of Forss but, receiving reinforcements, drove the invaders W to Sandside (NC 950 642). Here McKays turned and pursued the Caithness men back to Dounreay.
This engagement is named the Chase of Sansett, or Ruoig Hansett (R Gordon 1813), and the Sandside Chase or Ruiog Haunsaid (R MacKay 1829). The Name Book (1873) (possibly following MacBain's Gaelic Dictionary) changed 'Ruiog' to 'Ruaig'. Standing stones (ND06NW 3) are said to mark graves of the slain.
R MacKay 1829; R Gordon 1813; A MacKay 1914; Name Book 1873.

No further information. Visited by OS (J B) 7 September 1964.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Weber, H (ed). 1813. Genealogical history of the Earldom of Sutherland by Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun. 68.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Beaton, D (ed.). 1914. History of the Province of Caithness and Sutherland from the Earliest Times to 1615. 101.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: MacKay, R. 1829. History of the Clan MacKay. 76.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 9, 51-2.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jan 28 2008 12:00AM

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