Battle of Champions
The Battle of Champions was a trial by combat fought in 1478 or 1464 between two Scottish clans, Clan Gunn and Clan Keith. It took place at the chapel of St Tears (St Tayre) on the coast north of Wick in Caithness, between Ackergill Tower and Girnigoe Castle. It was arranged to settle a dispute with a battle between twelve men on horseback on either side. However, the Keiths arrived with two men on each of their twelve horses, and massacred the 12 Gunns. The clans finally signed a treaty of friendship in 1978, ending the feud after 500 years.
| Battle of Champions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Scottish clan wars | |||||||
Looking east to Girnigoe, St Tears is up on the right | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Clan Keith | Clan Gunn | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Keith of Ackergill | George Gunn † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 24 | 12 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| >12 | 12 † | ||||||
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