Battles & Campaigns · 1650
Battle of Carbisdale
Carbisdale, near Culrain, Sutherland, Scotland, UK
What happened
Strachan sent forward a single troop of horse to make his force look small. Montrose's scouts fell back onto his infantry, who were not ready for battle. Strachan's men attacked, Montrose's levies from Orkney broke, and the Royalist line collapsed.
Why it matters
It ended Montrose's attempt to raise the Highlands for King Charles II.
What came next
Montrose escaped wounded but was handed over to the government soon after and hanged in Edinburgh on 21 May 1650; after the Restoration, his remains received one of the grandest state funerals ever held in Scotland.
Did you know?
Strachan's trick worked because Montrose believed the small troop of horsemen was the whole enemy force.
Timeline
- 1 Sep 1644Battle of Tippermuir.
- 27 Apr 1650Battle of Carbisdale.
- 21 May 1650Montrose is hanged in Edinburgh.
- 1661After the Restoration, Montrose's remains receive a grand state funeral.
- 30 Nov 2011The battlefield is registered.