Battle of Maol Ruadh

Battle of Maol Ruadh
Part of the Scottish clan wars
Cairn at roadside near Maol Ruadh, site of the Battle of Mulroy
Date August 1688 Location Maol Ruadh, east of Spean Bridge, Scotland grid reference NN271826[1] Coordinates: 56°54′11″N 4°50′19″W / 56.90306°N 4.83861°W / 56.90306; -4.83861 Result Decisive Rebel victory
Belligerents
Rebels: Clan MacDonald of Keppoch Clan Cameron	Government backed troops: Chattan Confederation led by Clan Mackintosh Highland Independent Company: Clan Mackenzie
Commanders and leaders
Coll Macdonald, 16th of Keppoch	Lachlan MacKintosh of Torcastle Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie (killed in action)[2]
Strength
800	1,600
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Maol Ruadh (Mulroy or Maoile Ruaidh) was fought in August 1688 in the Lochaber district of Scotland between the Chattan Confederation led by the Clan Mackintosh against the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch and the Clan Cameron.^[3] The battlefield has been inventoried and protected by Historic Scotland under the Scottish Historical Environment Policy of 2009.^[4]

It is sometimes described as the last of the private battles between clans of the kind fought in the Highlands in ages past, but this is perhaps inaccurate as the Mackintoshes had official support for their actions against the Macdonalds and their army was in part made up of government troops.

Because the rebel clans were victorious despite the government's superior numbers, it was the prototype for Dundee's victory at Killiecrankie the following summer.

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