On 24 July 1411, the forces of Donald, Lord of the Isles, and Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar, fought the Battle of Harlaw near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. The day-long struggle caused heavy losses on both sides and produced no decisive tactical victor. Mar’s army held the field and Donald withdrew, stopping the westward lord’s advance toward Aberdeen. The battle became remembered as “Red Harlaw.”
Battle of Harlaw key facts
- Date: 24 July 1411
- Location: Harlaw, north-west of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
- Western commander: Donald, Lord of the Isles
- Government and north-eastern commander: Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar
- Main dispute: Control of the Earldom of Ross and the balance of power in northern Scotland
- Result: Militarily inconclusive, but Donald’s advance was halted and Aberdeen was not attacked
Why was the Battle of Harlaw fought?
The immediate cause was a dispute over the Earldom of Ross, an enormous northern territory of strategic importance. Donald claimed Ross through his wife, Mariota, while Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, supported a rival line and exercised control over the earldom.
The dispute was part of a larger struggle between the expanding Lordship of the Isles and the Stewart-dominated government. Donald raised a major army, defeated opposition in the north, took Inverness and marched toward Aberdeen. The Earl of Mar gathered men from Aberdeenshire, Angus and Kincardineshire to stop him.
Which clans and families fought at Harlaw?
Donald’s force drew heavily from the western Highlands and Islands. Clan Donald formed the political heart of the Lordship of the Isles, while Clan MacLean and other allied kindreds fought in the host. Read more about Clan Donald and the Lords of the Isles and Clan MacLean of Duart.
Mar’s army included north-eastern nobles, knights, burgesses and their followers. Families associated with his side included Gordon, Keith, Leslie and Irvine, along with men from Aberdeen led by Provost Robert Davidson. Explore the histories of Clan Gordon, Clan Keith, Clan Leslie and Clan Irvine.
Modern clan labels can simplify a medieval army. Men fought through bonds of lordship, kinship, landholding and local obligation, and later traditions do not always prove the presence of every surname branch. The broad family connections are important, but they should be presented with care.
What happened during the battle?
Mar’s force was substantially smaller, but it included heavily armoured men-at-arms and cavalry. Donald’s larger army advanced across the plateau. Fighting continued for much of the day, with repeated attacks and counterattacks.
Important men fell on both sides. Sir James Scrymgeour, Sir Alexander Irvine and Provost Robert Davidson were among the north-eastern dead. Hector MacLean of Duart—remembered in tradition as Red Hector of the Battles—was killed on Donald’s side.
Neither army destroyed the other. Donald withdrew after the battle, while Mar remained on the field. That withdrawal gave the government side the strategic advantage: Aberdeen was preserved and Donald’s advance ended.
Was Harlaw a Highland-versus-Lowland battle?
It is often described that way, and the clash did involve different political, linguistic and military worlds. Donald’s lordship was rooted in Gaelic western Scotland, while many of Mar’s supporters came from the Scots-speaking north-east and operated within a more feudal military structure.
Yet a simple cultural war is misleading. Both sides were Scottish, both were connected to wider noble politics, and the core issue was land and power—especially Ross. Alliances crossed neat cultural boundaries. Harlaw is best understood as a succession and lordship conflict with a strong regional dimension.
What were the consequences of Harlaw?
The battle did not permanently settle the Earldom of Ross. Donald retained influence, and the Lordship of the Isles remained a major power for decades. Nor did Harlaw begin an immediate, uninterrupted collapse of Clan Donald authority.
What it did accomplish was to halt the 1411 campaign. Donald failed to press on to Aberdeen, and the north-eastern coalition demonstrated that the Lordship’s power had limits. In later memory, Harlaw became a defining story for both the Gaelic west and Aberdeenshire.
Can you visit the Harlaw battlefield?
Yes. The battlefield lies near Inverurie and is included in Scotland’s official Inventory of Historic Battlefields. The Harlaw Monument, erected in the early twentieth century, stands within the landscape. Visitors should remember that much of the area is working farmland and follow local access guidance.
Find a clan connected with Scotland’s north and west
Harlaw’s story reaches through MacDonald, MacLean, Gordon, Keith, Leslie, Irvine and many other communities. Explore your own name through heritage pieces made for home and family.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Battle of Harlaw?
The fighting was tactically inconclusive. Mar held the field and Donald withdrew, so Mar’s side achieved the more important strategic result.
Why is it called Red Harlaw?
The name reflects the battle’s reputation for unusually heavy and bloody fighting.
Did Harlaw stop the Lordship of the Isles?
It stopped Donald’s 1411 advance toward Aberdeen, but the Lordship remained powerful for much of the fifteenth century.
Where was the battle fought?
It was fought near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland.
Related Scottish clan history
Sources and further reading
Consult Historic Environment Scotland’s Inventory entry for the Battle of Harlaw for the protected battlefield, historical background and participants.