Inverness in Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

The Great Raid of 1545

Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 26, 2018

1. The Great Raid of 1545 Marker

Inscription.

The Great Raid of 1545. . The Great Raid of 1545. In 1545, a MacDonald-led force stormed Urquhart. Over the next month they systematically stripped the castle and Glen Urquhart of everything of value. The loot was carried away down the Great Glen. They burned what they could not take. , The Payback The 1545 raiding party targeted the territory of the Laird of Grant, owner of Urquhart, who had fought against the MacDonalds at Blàr na Lèine, the Battle of the Swampy Meadow in Gaelic. , They Even Took the Locks The plunder stripped from the castle included: • Tuelf feddir beddis, with the bowstairs, blancattis and schetis [twelve feather beds with bolsters, blankets and sheets] • Five pottis, sax pannys, two brew calderovnis, ane bascyn, sax speittis [five pots, six pans, two brewing vats, one basin, six roasting spits] • Lokkis, durris, zettis, burdis, beddis, chearis, formes [locks, doors, iron gates, tables, beds, chairs, benches] • Thre grite boittis [three great boats] , Gael Force The Great Raid was the final MacDonald attack on the castle. The first had been in 1395 when Donald MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles, seized Urquhart as he extended his power east from Scotland's western seaboard. Over the next 150 years, the castle was devastated by raids and periods of occupation as the MacDonalds and the Crown struggled for control. , Renaissance Raiders The MacDonald Lords of the Isles presided over a Gaelic cultural renaissance in the Western Highlands and Islands. Their rule, almost independent of the Crown, provided the stability needed for Gaelic art, music and poetry to reach new heights of sophistication. Their downfall brought chaos and conflict to the Highlands, the Age of the Forays, Linn nan Creach. , The MacDonalds’ Takeaway Menu 3,337 sheep · 2,355 cattle · 2,204 goats · 1,700 sacks of oats · 750 sacks of barley · 371 horses · 122 pigs · 64 geese · 2 oxen , ( photo caption ) An artist’s impression of the Great Raid of 1545.

The Great Raid of 1545 In 1545, a MacDonald-led force stormed Urquhart. Over the next month they systematically stripped the castle and Glen Urquhart of everything of value. The loot was carried away down the Great Glen. They burned what they could not take.

The Payback
The 1545 raiding party targeted the territory of the Laird of Grant, owner of Urquhart, who had fought against the MacDonalds at Blàr na Lèine, the Battle of the Swampy Meadow in Gaelic.

They Even Took the Locks
The plunder stripped from the castle included:
• Tuelf feddir beddis, with the bowstairs, blancattis and schetis [twelve feather beds with bolsters, blankets and sheets]
• Five pottis, sax pannys, two brew calderovnis, ane bascyn, sax speittis [five pots, six pans, two brewing vats, one basin, six roasting spits]
• Lokkis, durris, zettis, burdis, beddis, chearis, formes [locks, doors, iron gates, tables, beds, chairs, benches]
• Thre grite boittis [three great boats]

Gael Force
The Great Raid was the final MacDonald attack on the castle. The first had been in 1395 when Donald MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles, seized Urquhart as he extended his power east from Scotland's western seaboard. Over the next 150 years, the castle

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was devastated by raids and periods of occupation as the MacDonalds and the Crown struggled for control.

Renaissance Raiders
The MacDonald Lords of the Isles presided over a Gaelic cultural renaissance in the Western Highlands and Islands. Their rule, almost independent of the Crown, provided the stability needed for Gaelic art, music and poetry to reach new heights of sophistication. Their downfall brought chaos and conflict to the Highlands, the Age of the Forays, Linn nan Creach.

The MacDonalds’ Takeaway Menu
3,337 sheep · 2,355 cattle · 2,204 goats · 1,700 sacks of oats · 750 sacks of barley · 371 horses · 122 pigs · 64 geese · 2 oxen

( photo caption )
An artist’s impression of the Great Raid of 1545.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1545.

Location. 57° 19.445′ N, 4° 26.504′ W. Marker is in Inverness, Scotland, in Highland. Marker can be reached from Scotland Route A82, 3.7 kilometers south of River Enrick (Route A831), on the left when traveling south. Located at Urquhart Castle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Inverness, Scotland IV63 6XL, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Great Kitchen (here, next to this marker); The Service Close (a few steps from this marker); Loch Ness and the Great Glen

Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 26, 2018

2. The Great Raid of 1545 Marker

(a few steps from this marker); The Great Hall (a few steps from this marker); The Gatehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Stables (within shouting distance of this marker); Destroying the Gatehouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Inverness.

Also see . . .
1. Urquhart Castle. (Submitted on December 9, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Urquhart Castle on Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 9, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 26, 2018

3. The Great Raid of 1545 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 631 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 9, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.