The Battle of Harlaw was a major event even by the bloody standards of the time.
In the summer of 1411, the ageing Donald of Isla, Lord of the Isles, invaded mainland Scotland with a huge, battle-hardened army, only to be fought to a bloody standstill on the plateau of Harlaw, fifteen miles from Aberdeen, a town he had threatened to sack.
His principal aim was to gain the Earldom of Ross from Euphemia, Countess of Ross who had been made a ward of her uncle, the Duke of Albany. Donald may have believed that Euphemia was either dead or being pressured by her uncle to enter a nunnery. She eventually renounced the Earldom in favour of John Stewart, Earl of Buchan, in 1414, three years after the Battle.
The Lord of the Isle raised an army, the core of which were battle hardened Irish galloglasses, clad in mail and wielding battleaxes, savage fighters who were notoriously effective against mounted troops. There is no contemporary description of the armament of the rest of his army and descriptions stated in later narratives cannot be confirmed.
Before capturing Dingwall Castle, Donald was attacked by Clan Mackay killing many and taking more prisoners. Dingwall was garrisoned and Donald defeated the Laird of Lovat, near Beauly, before attacking Inverness, calling more men to his standard.
On leaving Inverness, his force was probably well over 10,000 strong and he headed towards Aberdeen stopping at the “ferm toun of Harlaw” near Inverurie.
Here they were met by an army led by the Earl of Mar, assisted by many brave knights, gentlemen from Angus and the Mearns along with Robert Davidson, Provost of Aberdeen supported by Burgesses of Guild and many tradesmen.