Battle of the Spoiling Dyke

Battle of the Spoiling Dyke
	Part of the Scottish clan wars
	; The ruins of Trumpan Church
Date	1578
Location	Trumpan Church, Ardmore Bay, Scotland
Result	MacLeod victory
Belligerents
Clan MacDonald of Sleat	Clan MacLeod
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of the Spoiling Dyke (also known as the Battle of the Spoiled Dyke, (Scottish Gaelic: Blar Milleadh a’ Ghàraidh, Millegearaidh) was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1578 on the island of Skye between the MacDonalds of Uist^[1] and Clan MacLeod.^[2]^[3]

The MacDonalds of Uist barred the doors of Trumpan Church, or Kilconan Church as it was once known, east of the shores of Ardmore Bay. They then set fire to the church full of worshipers. No one escaped alive except one girl who, although mortally wounded, managed to give the alarm. On hearing the news, the chief of Clan MacLeod and his men set off for Ardmore bay where a battle ensued. The MacDonalds were killed almost to a man. The corpses of the MacDonalds were dragged and then buried in a turf dyke, and the incident remembered as the "Battle of the Spoiling Dyke". The atrocity by the MacDonalds was to exact vengeance on the MacLeods for their atrocity of the massacre of MacDonalds in the Cave of Frances on the Isle of Eigg a couple of years earlier.^[4] This again was a tit-for-tat revenge between the two feuding clans.^[2]^[5]^[6]

References

^ "Skye, Trumpan Church". Canmore: National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
^ ^a ^b Clan MacLeod@Electric Scotland.com
^ "The Massacre at Trumpan Church and the subsequent Battle of the Spoiled Dyke" Archived 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. The Hendry Family. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
^ Kieran, Ben. Blood and Soil: A World History of Genocide and Extermination from Sparta to Darfur, Yale University Press, 2007 ISBN 0-300-10098-1, ISBN 978-0-300-10098-3. p.14
^ Battle of the Spoiling Dyke@The Son of Scotland.co.uk Archived May 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ Clan Warfare Archived May 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

57°17′N 6°13′W / 57.29°N 6.22°W / 57.29; -6.22

[Canmore-1] "Skye, Trumpan Church". Canmore: National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 12 March 2023.

[Dyke1-2] Clan MacLeod@Electric Scotland.com

[3] "The Massacre at Trumpan Church and the subsequent Battle of the Spoiled Dyke" Archived 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. The Hendry Family. Retrieved 25 May 2008.

[4] Kieran, Ben. Blood and Soil: A World History of Genocide and Extermination from Sparta to Darfur, Yale University Press, 2007 ISBN 0-300-10098-1, ISBN 978-0-300-10098-3. p.14

[5] Battle of the Spoiling Dyke@The Son of Scotland.co.uk Archived May 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

[6] Clan Warfare Archived May 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

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[6]

v t e Isle of Skye
Main settlements	Portree Broadford Dunvegan Kyleakin Uig (Snizort)
Crofting townships and settlements	Achachork Aird of Sleat Ardvasar Armadale Ashaig Bernisdale Bornesketaig Boreraig Borreraig Borrodale Borve Bracadale Breakish Brogaig Bualintur Camastianavaig Camuscross Carbost, Loch Harport Carbost, Trotternish Claigan Colbost Drumfearn Drynoch Dunan Duntulm Eabost Edinbane Elgol Ellishadder Eynort Eyre Fasach Feorlig Feriniquarrie Ferindonald Fiskavaig Flashader Flodigarry Galtrigill Garafad Geary Gedintailor Gillen Glendale Halistra Harlosh Harrapool Heaste Heribusta Hungladder Idrigill Isleornsay Kensaleyre Kilbride Kilmaluag Kilmarie Kilmore Kilmuir Kilvaxter Kingsburgh Kylerhea Lealt Lower Breakish Luib Milovaig Mugeary Ollach Ose Peinachorran Peinlich Portnalong Ramasaig Roag Sconser Skeabost Sligachan Staffin Stein Struan Suladale Talisker Tarskavaig Teangue Torrin Totaig Tote Treaslane Trumpan Uig (Duirinish) Uigshader Ullinish Upper Breakish Vatten
Mountains and hills	Am Basteir Beinn na Caillich Blà Bheinn Bruach na Frìthe Clach Glas Glamaig Healabhal Bheag Healabhal Mhòr Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh Sgùrr MhicChoinnich Sgùrr na Banachdaich Sgùrr nan Gillean Sgùrr Dearg Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh Ruaidh Marsco Quiraing/Meall na Suiramach Sgùrr Alasdair The Storr
History and prehistory	Armadale Castle Battle of the Spoiling Dyke Caisteal Maol Battle of the Braes Cill Chriosd Corriechatachan Dùn Ringill Duntulm Castle Dunvegan Castle Fairy Flag Flora MacDonald High Pasture Cave Mugearite Neil Mackinnon Sir Lachlan Mackinnon (clan chief) Sir Rory Mor's Horn Rubha an Dùnain
Local culture	Isle of Skye Music Festival MacCrimmon pipers Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Skye Camanachd Skye Live Festival Skye Museum of Island Life Talisker whisky Té Bheag "The Skye Boat Song"
Peninsulas	Duirinish Minginish Sleat Strathaird Trotternish Waternish
Surrounding islands	Ascrib Islands Crowlin Islands Eilean Bàn Eilean Fladday Eilean Mòr Eilean Tigh Eilean Trodday Fladda-chùain Guillamon Island Harlosh Island Isay Lampay Longay Mingay Oronsay Pabay Raasay Scalpay Rona Soay Staffin Island Tarner Island Wiay
Other	MV Glenachulish Skye Bridge

See also

References