Siege of Inverness (1649)
Encyclopedia
The siege of Inverness that took place in 1649 was part of the 17th century Scottish Civil War that was in itself part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
.
On the 5th of February 1649, Charles II had been proclaimed king when it was decided that Charles and his friends who were in exile should make a second attempt to recover the kingdom once again led by the royalist army leader James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
. As a result a rising took place in the north of Scotland under Colonel Hugh Fraser who was joined by John Munro of Lemlair, Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine and Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty.
On the 22nd of February they entered Inverness
where they expelled the garrison of Inverness Castle
and afterwards demolished the walls and fortifications. On the 26th of February a council of war was held. Here they framed certain enactments in terms of which they took the customs and excise of the six northern counties into their own hands. Soon afterwards General David Leslie, Lord Newark was sent north to attack them. The clans then retreated from Inverness back into Ross-shire
. Leslie placed a garrison in the Castle Chanonry of Ross
and terms of surrender were made between him and all of the clans except for the Mackenzies. As soon as Leslie left for the south the Mackenzies attacked and retook the Castle Canonry of Ross.
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose eventually landed in Ross-shire the following year in 1650, expecting support from the clans who had rebelled in 1649. However by this time many of them had switched sides and actually opposed him at the Battle of Carbisdale
.
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of the same monarch...
.
On the 5th of February 1649, Charles II had been proclaimed king when it was decided that Charles and his friends who were in exile should make a second attempt to recover the kingdom once again led by the royalist army leader James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
. As a result a rising took place in the north of Scotland under Colonel Hugh Fraser who was joined by John Munro of Lemlair, Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine and Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty.
On the 22nd of February they entered Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
where they expelled the garrison of Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle sits on a cliff overlooking the River Ness, in Inverness, Scotland. The red sand stone structure evident today was built in 1836 by architect William Burn. It is built on the site of an 11th century defensive structure. Today, it houses Inverness Sheriff Court. There has been a...
and afterwards demolished the walls and fortifications. On the 26th of February a council of war was held. Here they framed certain enactments in terms of which they took the customs and excise of the six northern counties into their own hands. Soon afterwards General David Leslie, Lord Newark was sent north to attack them. The clans then retreated from Inverness back into Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
. Leslie placed a garrison in the Castle Chanonry of Ross
Castle Chanonry of Ross
Castle Chanonry of Ross, also known as Seaforth Castle, was located in the town of Fortrose, to the north-east of Inverness, Highland, Scotland. Nothing now remains of the castle...
and terms of surrender were made between him and all of the clans except for the Mackenzies. As soon as Leslie left for the south the Mackenzies attacked and retook the Castle Canonry of Ross.
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose eventually landed in Ross-shire the following year in 1650, expecting support from the clans who had rebelled in 1649. However by this time many of them had switched sides and actually opposed him at the Battle of Carbisdale
Battle of Carbisdale
The Battle of Carbisdale took place close to the Village of Culrain on 27 April 1650 and was part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
.
See Also
- Siege of Inverness