The Battle at Mortlach Part 1

Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile, Scotland 1st Edition, 1856-1891

Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland (CC-BY (NLS))

Cropped by myself to highlight places mentioned

The 14th century historian, John of Fordun wrote in The Chronicle of the Scottish Nation, that a shortly after the coronation of Malcom II, a large Norwegian army and fleet arrived in the north and stayed for a long period, stripping the countryside.

Malcolm destroyed the army in a night attack with only 30 men lost.

Fordun then wrote that seven years into his reign Malcolm, in thanks for the blessings upon him, decided to create

" new episcopal see at Marthillach (Mortlach), not far from the spot where he had overcome the Norwegians, and gained the victory"

Since no other victory over the Norwegians is mentioned, it assumed that it is the same battle.

Fordun states that Malcom came to the throne in 1004 CE.

The first bishop of this new episcopal see was Beyn.

Hector Boece's The History of Scotland published in 1527 also includes an account of the battle. Boece recounts Malcolm defeated and seriously wounded, flees Moray, leaving the Danes to capture the castles at Nairn, Elgin and Forres.

Malcolm recovered and fearing that the Danes would become more powerful, more Danes arrived to occupy Moray, gathers a large army to drive the Danes out. The two forces meet at Mortlach. Exhorting their men to fight the two armies clash and Kenneth of the Isles, Grime of Strathearn and Patrick of Dunbar were killed, and the Scots driven back. The terrain was narrow with ditches from some previous war, slowing flight and pursuit. Here at the chapel to St Molaug, Malcolm calleded for divine support, and promised a cathedral church. the Scots returned and attacked the Danes, Malcolm came across the Danish leader Onetus, on horseback, but without a helmet, and struck him from the horse, where he was slain by Malcolm's foot solders. The fighting continued until the Danes were driven from the field, the other Danish leader, Olaf fled with a small number of men to Moray. The Scots with many leaders killed were unable to pursue.

Raphael Holinshed's "Historie of Scotlande" first published in 1577 derives it's account of the battle from Boece and adds nothing to the tale.

Rev. Lachlan Shaw's History of The Province of Moray from 1775, includes a detailed description of the battle.

In Shaw's account Malcolm II was defeated at the Battle of Forres in 1008 and Danes settled into Moray. In, 1010 Malcolm raised a powerful army to drive the Danes out. Rev. Shaw wrote that a short distance east of the house of Carron, is the evidence of a camp, which is thought to have been where the Danes camped before marching to "Mortlich" (note an alternative spelling of the town). Malcolm's army marched to "Achindun" (Auchindoun), two miles away.

The Danes were camped on both sides of the river Dulenan (Dulnain) near the church. Malcolm had the river dammed a mile upriver, and in morning when his army moved to attack, broke the dam. This caused the river to flood so that each half of the Danish force was unable to cross to support the other. The Danes on the south side, which was the smaller part of the Danes, were destroyed. When the river level fell the main force of the Danes attacked, but were utterly defeated and fled to Moray, their commanders Enecus and Magnus or Manus were killed. Three Scottish thanes died; Kenneth Thane of the Isles, Dunbar Thane of Laudian, and Graeme Thane of Strathern.

Shaw then says that in memory of the victory the episcopal see of Murthlac was created.

Following defeats at Balbryde, Aberlemno, Gemrie, and Cruden, the Danes left the kingdom (of Scotland) by 1012 CE.