Background
The Battle of Cromdale took place on May 6th 1690.
Cromdale is a village located about thirty-eight miles S.E. of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.The name means ‘bent haugh’ which in turn is influenced by the bend in the nearby River Spey.
Context of the battle
This battle has to be placed in context of the wider ‘Jacobite Uprisings’. This was a series of attempts to regain the thrones of England and Scotland for the deposed King James. James had been deposed due to his catholic leanings. At this time England and Scotland were, technically, separate countries but under the same king. This was at a time when both England and Scotland had adopted Protestantism following the Reformation in the previous century.
Both King James and his descendants engaged with the British governments of the day by force. These actions were attempts to regain the thrones of England and Scotland for the Stewart dynasty. Various battles occurred during the period 1689-1746 but the ultimate outcome was failure. Battles included the Boyne (Ireland) in 1690, Killiecrankie and Dunkeld in 1689, Sheriffmuir in 1715, Glen Shiel in 1719 and, finally, Culloden in 1746.
In interpreting this narrative readers should remember that ‘Jacobite’ is derived from the Latin term, ‘Jacob’ for James. In the 17th century Latin was widely used as a semi-official language.
The battle
Early on May 6th 1690, under cover of darkness, the government army of mounted dragoons, led by guides from Clan Grant, crossed the River Spey. They by-passed guards in the vicinity of Cromdale Kirk (church) and, upon the Haughs of Cromdale at Lethendry, made a surprise cavalry charge on the main body of the sleeping Jacobite army. Killing some 400 and capturing some 100, the Government troops forced the remainder to flee. Many of the Jacobites were near naked having been compelled to abandon their plaids in the confusing circumstances. (Plaids were an antecedent to kilts, comprising a wrap-around blanket type garment not dissimilar to a sari.)
Outcome of the battle
The complete route of the Jacobites ended the first Jacobite war in the Highlands.This destroyed any immediate chance of King James regaining the thrones occupied jointly by his daughter, Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange, both of whom were Protestants.
More information
For more information on important Scottish battles, the history of Scotland and general sightseeing please refer Visitors Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4