Siege of Brahan
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Brahan took place in November 1715 and was part of the Jacobite rising
of 1715. Highlanders loyal to the British-Hanoverian government of George I of Great Britain
laid siege to Brahan Castle
, seat of William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth
, who was a staunch Jacobite, loyal to the House of Stuart
.
throughout the rebellion of 1715. The rebellion was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Sheriffmuir
on the 13th of November 1715 and Mackenzie’s own forces under John Mackenzie of Coul had been defeated at the Siege of Inverness (1715)
on the same day. However it appears that the pro government forces of the Earl of Sutherland and Sir Robert Munro of Foulis who laid siege to Mackenzie’s seat of Brahan Castle, did so in revenge as Mackenzie had defeated them at the Skirmish of Alness
a month previously.
in April 1716 states the following about what happened at Brahan Castle
:
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
of 1715. Highlanders loyal to the British-Hanoverian government of George I of Great Britain
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
laid siege to Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle was situated south-west of Dingwall, in Easter Ross, Scotland. The castle belonged to the Earls of Seaforth, chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie, who dominated the area.-History:...
, seat of William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth was a Scottish nobleman.He who joined the Jacobite standard at Braemar, during the rising of 1715, and then, having raised 3000 men, was present at the battle of Sheriffmuir and was appointed lieutenant-general of the northern counties...
, who was a staunch Jacobite, loyal to the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
Background
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth had supported the Jacobite cause of the House of StuartHouse of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
throughout the rebellion of 1715. The rebellion was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Sheriffmuir
Battle of Sheriffmuir
The Battle of Sheriffmuir was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rebellion in England and Scotland.-History:John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, standard-bearer for the Jacobite cause in Scotland, mustered Highland chiefs, and on 6 September declared James Francis Edward Stuart as King...
on the 13th of November 1715 and Mackenzie’s own forces under John Mackenzie of Coul had been defeated at the Siege of Inverness (1715)
Siege of Inverness (1715)
In November 1715 during the Jacobite rising the town of Inverness and Inverness Castle were being held by the Clan Mackenzie, led by Sir John Mackenzie of Coul who supported the rebel Jacobite cause...
on the same day. However it appears that the pro government forces of the Earl of Sutherland and Sir Robert Munro of Foulis who laid siege to Mackenzie’s seat of Brahan Castle, did so in revenge as Mackenzie had defeated them at the Skirmish of Alness
Skirmish of Alness
The Skirmish of Alness was a conflict that took place in October 1715 in Alness, in the county of Ross in the Scottish Highlands. It was part of the Jacobite rising of 1715 and pitted Highlanders loyal to the British-Hanoverian government of George I of Great Britain against Highlanders loyal to...
a month previously.
Siege
An account of the Siege of Brahan is given by a Major Fraser of Castleleathers who took part in the siege:Aftermath
In the months following the defeat of the rebellion, the Jacobites gradually surrended their arms. An account from Lady Mackenzie of Seaforth to General Charles CadoganCharles Cadogan, 2nd Baron Cadogan
General Charles Cadogan, 2nd Baron Cadogan was a British peer, soldier and Whig politician.Charles Cadogan was the younger son of Henry Cadogan and his wife, Bridget, the second daughter of Sir Hardress Waller...
in April 1716 states the following about what happened at Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle was situated south-west of Dingwall, in Easter Ross, Scotland. The castle belonged to the Earls of Seaforth, chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie, who dominated the area.-History:...
:
“Yesterday Colonel Brooks came hither, with, I think, 400 men, besides the garrison, and Colonel Munro's Independent Company, who, I hear, are to quarter at Brahan till all the Highlanders give up their arms. It's surely hard that I, who have been so long a widow, should, without any offence given to King or Government, be the only woman in Britain so much harassed. The arms might be delivered up at Inverness as well as here ; for my diligence in sending to my tenants reiterated positive orders has appeared to the officers at this house by the delivering up of all the arms within a dozen miles to this, and by letters promising the rest at a further distance to be delivered up with all speed possible”.