The Battle That Lasted Five Days

The Unbelievable Endurance of Highland Warriors

Prelude to War: The Tensions That Led to Harlaw

In the summer of 1411, a conflict erupted in Scotland that would test the endurance, strength, and sheer ferocity of Highland warriors. Known as the Battle of Harlaw, this brutal clash pitted the Gaelic-speaking Highland clans of the Lordship of the Isles against the Lowland Scots loyal to the Crown. While the battle is infamous for its bloodshed, one of the most astonishing details is how long it lasted—nearly five days of continuous fighting.

The origins of the battle lay in a dispute over the Earldom of Ross, one of the most powerful lordships in Scotland. Donald, Lord of the Isles, claimed the title through his wife, Mariota Leslie, whose family had a strong hereditary right to the land. However, the Scottish Crown, under Robert, Duke of Albany, sought to prevent the expansion of the Lordship of the Isles, fearing that a powerful Gaelic kingdom in the west could threaten royal authority. Albany backed a rival claimant, Euphemia of Ross, and refused to recognize Donald’s claim.