340th Anniversary of the Battle of Altimarlach

That the Parliament recognises the 340th anniversary of the Battle of Altimarlach, which took place on 13 July 1680, near Wick, Caithness; notes that this was the last significant battle to be fought in Scotland between two clans, with the Sinclairs, under the command of George Sinclair of Keiss, fighting the Campbells, led by Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy, over the right to the Girnigoe Estates in Caithness; understands that in 1676 the 6th Earl of Caithness died without an outright heir and both John Campbell and George Sinclair believed that they were entitled to inherit the estate; is aware that, during the latter half of the 17th century, life was difficult for many Highland clans, with some struggling to survive, with the late Earl of Caithness’ Sinclair estate virtually bankrupt; acknowledges that he allegedly borrowed money from the Campbells for the purpose of shoring up the clan’s estates and that, on his death, John Campbell, being the main creditor to Sinclair, obtained the Girnigoe Estates as well as the Earldom in 1677 as repayment for his loan; appreciates that George Sinclair was unhappy with Campbell’s accession to the Earldom and put forth his claim by stating that he was a direct relative of the late Earl, and he went on to seize the Caithness estates, as well as occupying areas in and around the town of Wick; is aware that the dispute continued and saw Campbell gaining royal permission to invade Caithness and uphold his claim as the rightful Earl and that, along with his own men, Campbell was provided with several companies of the king’s troops, and they marched north to Wick from Perth with a force believed to be 800 strong; understands that the battle against several hundred Sinclairs ended in a decisive victory for Campbell, with as many as 200 Sinclairs slain, an outcome generally viewed as a humiliating defeat; understands that peace was made the following day when a truce was signed in the old Wick Town Hall and that, afterwards, Campbell split up part of his army around Caithness, where he levied the rents and taxes and ruled over the people in an oppressive manner, and is aware that, ultimately, Campbell remained Earl of Caithness only until 1681 when Sinclair took his case to the Privy Council and, by act of parliament, was granted the Earldom, making him the 7th Earl, and putting the title back into the Sinclair family where it has remained ever since.