The Battle of Invernahavon, located near the River Spey at the point where itis joined by the River Truim, where the battle is said to have taken place.
The Clan Davidson or Clan Dhai warriors were nearly wiped out in 1370 or 1386 (different sources for dates) at the Battle of Invernahavon.
The Battle of Invernahoven was a Scottish clan battle between the Clan Cameron and the Clan Chattan, a union of 400+ warriors that consisted of the Mackintoshes, Davidsons and MacPhersons. Clan Cameron was heading back to the Highlands, returning from a raid on Badenoch, the area around Kingussie. Travelling up the Spey Valley, they were overtaken at a place close to Invernahavon by a body of Chattan Confederation led by Lachlan, Laird of MacIntosh.
Invernahoven lies southwest of Newtonmore in the headwaters of the River Spey, at the point where it is joined by the River Truim. It appears that the Camerons were trying to cross the Truim to continue home.
In preparing for the battle the Davidsons were put in command of the right wing by Lachlan. As a result a disagreement resulted as to whether the Davidsons or MacPhersons would lead the right wing, which was the post of high honor in battle (a familiar dispute amongst the proud highlanders, arising even centuries later as the clans took to the battlefield at Culloden). The MacPhersons asserted that it was their prerogative to command the Chattan warriors, but the MacKintosh chief was definite in his support for the McDhai men. The MacIntosh chief settled the dispute in favour of the Davidsons (the MacIntosh had gain control of the Clan Chattan chieftainship from the older McDhai (Davidson) chiefs by marriage in 1291). Thus refuted, and to the annoyance of the Macphersons, Cluny MacPherson withdrew his men and abandoned the field just before the battle was to begin, All the while in plain sight of the enemy, leaving the Davidsons to command the right wing and take on the Cameron attack alone. With the loss of the MacPhersons, the Camerons now had greater numbers and exploited it to their advantage on the right wing. The ensuing battle resulted in a defeat for the Clan Chattan forces. It is said that an ally of the Camerons known as Charles MacGilony led the clan into battle; he is believed to have changed the outcome with his uncanny ability as an archer.
The battle resulted in the total defeat of the remaining Clan Chattan members (the Macintoshes and Davidsons) with the Davidsons being almost entirely cut off.
Clan McDhai (Davidsons) suffered badly in the battle and were nearly decimated, losing their Chief and seven of his sons plus a large number of fellow clan members. Thereafter, Clan Dhai and the Macphersons remained at odds for almost two centuries.
Ironically, towards the end of that disastrous day, the MacPhersons were finally coaxed into the battle by a man sent from Clan Mackintosh who turned up at the MacPhersons’ camp pretending to be from Clan Cameron and calling the MacPhersons cowards. The indignant MacPhersons filled with rage, attacked the Camerons’ camp that very night, making a dreadful slaughter of them—even killing Charles MacGilony, the Camerons' top archer—at a place now called Charles’s Valley.
Twenty six years later the feud between the clans of Chattan and Cameron would resurface again.
The Clan Davidson or Clan Dhai warriors were nearly wiped out in 1370 or 1386 (different sources for dates) at the Battle of Invernahavon.
The Battle of Invernahoven was a Scottish clan battle between the Clan Cameron and the Clan Chattan, a union of 400+ warriors that consisted of the Mackintoshes, Davidsons and MacPhersons. Clan Cameron was heading back to the Highlands, returning from a raid on Badenoch, the area around Kingussie. Travelling up the Spey Valley, they were overtaken at a place close to Invernahavon by a body of Chattan Confederation led by Lachlan, Laird of MacIntosh.
Invernahoven lies southwest of Newtonmore in the headwaters of the River Spey, at the point where it is joined by the River Truim. It appears that the Camerons were trying to cross the Truim to continue home.
In preparing for the battle the Davidsons were put in command of the right wing by Lachlan. As a result a disagreement resulted as to whether the Davidsons or MacPhersons would lead the right wing, which was the post of high honor in battle (a familiar dispute amongst the proud highlanders, arising even centuries later as the clans took to the battlefield at Culloden). The MacPhersons asserted that it was their prerogative to command the Chattan warriors, but the MacKintosh chief was definite in his support for the McDhai men. The MacIntosh chief settled the dispute in favour of the Davidsons (the MacIntosh had gain control of the Clan Chattan chieftainship from the older McDhai (Davidson) chiefs by marriage in 1291). Thus refuted, and to the annoyance of the Macphersons, Cluny MacPherson withdrew his men and abandoned the field just before the battle was to begin, All the while in plain sight of the enemy, leaving the Davidsons to command the right wing and take on the Cameron attack alone. With the loss of the MacPhersons, the Camerons now had greater numbers and exploited it to their advantage on the right wing. The ensuing battle resulted in a defeat for the Clan Chattan forces. It is said that an ally of the Camerons known as Charles MacGilony led the clan into battle; he is believed to have changed the outcome with his uncanny ability as an archer.
The battle resulted in the total defeat of the remaining Clan Chattan members (the Macintoshes and Davidsons) with the Davidsons being almost entirely cut off.
Clan McDhai (Davidsons) suffered badly in the battle and were nearly decimated, losing their Chief and seven of his sons plus a large number of fellow clan members. Thereafter, Clan Dhai and the Macphersons remained at odds for almost two centuries.
Ironically, towards the end of that disastrous day, the MacPhersons were finally coaxed into the battle by a man sent from Clan Mackintosh who turned up at the MacPhersons’ camp pretending to be from Clan Cameron and calling the MacPhersons cowards. The indignant MacPhersons filled with rage, attacked the Camerons’ camp that very night, making a dreadful slaughter of them—even killing Charles MacGilony, the Camerons' top archer—at a place now called Charles’s Valley.
Twenty six years later the feud between the clans of Chattan and Cameron would resurface again.
