Document record MAB55076 - BATTLE OF FYVIE
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Site of the Battle of Fyvie, fought on the 28-29th October 1644 between Royalist forces led by James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, and the Covenanter army led by Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyll.
Protected Status/Designation
- Registered Battlefield BTL22: Battle of Fyvie
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 7716 3900 (2619m by 3517m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ73NE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Fyvie |
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
Site of the Battle of Fyvie, fought on the 28-29th October 1644 between Royalist forces led by James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, and the Covenanter army led by Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyll.
On 27 October, Montrose occupied Fyvie Castle, but decided not to use Fyvie Castle, which was poorly fortified, as a base and instead occupied the higher ground to the east of the castle, which included ditches and dykes that could be used as entrenchments. For two days, the Royalists and Covenanters skirmished around the castle, but neither side could gain an advantage. Argyll's men attacked the hill and took the lower dykes, but Montrose ordered Colonel O'Cahan to drive them out. O'Cahan pushed back superior numbers of foot and supporting cavalry, capturing some much needed bags of black powder. Lothian, one of the Covenanter commanders, then sent five troops of horse in, but they fell back under musket fire. Argyll then mounted a cavalry attack, but Montrose withdrew his men to ground where they could not be seen by the horsemen, intending to lure them into a trap. However, the Atholl men fired too early before the cavalry had been fully drawn into the trap. The cavalry retreated, pursued by the Royalists who killed Lord Keith and at least forty officers. A third charge took place involving both a regiment of infantry and some troops of horse, and the Royalists were forced to retire back to the main body of the army, whom Argyll did not dare engage because they were on the high ground. That evening, Argyll withdrew about two miles. Skirmishing continued for another three days before shortage of feed for his horses caused Argyll to pull back two miles to Crichie. Montrose took this opportunity to withdraw, first to Turriff and then west into Badenoch and, from there, into Blair Atholl.
Period Notes
27 - 29 October 1644
MARREN, P, 1990, GRAMPIAN BATTLEFIELDS, p.167-172 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4619.
MOTT MACDONALD, 2022, FYVIE - ROTHIENORMAN REFURBISHMENT PROJECT HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT DESK STUDY, MM001 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7622.
CLYDE ARCHAEOLOGY, 2025, FYVIE REINFORCEMENT OVERHEAD LINE, ABERDEENSHIRE: HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT (Bibliographic reference). SAB8926.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ73NE0125;
External Links (0)
Sources/Archives (3)
- --- SAB4619 Bibliographic reference: MARREN, P. 1990. GRAMPIAN BATTLEFIELDS. N. N. p.167-172.
- --- SAB7622 Bibliographic reference: MOTT MACDONALD. 2022. FYVIE - ROTHIENORMAN REFURBISHMENT PROJECT HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT DESK STUDY. MM001.
- --- SAB8926 Bibliographic reference: CLYDE ARCHAEOLOGY. 2025. FYVIE REINFORCEMENT OVERHEAD LINE, ABERDEENSHIRE: HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Mar 17 2026 12:46PM
