Glencoe

The Massacre of Glencoe

The infamous Massacre of Glencoe took place in Glencoe on 13 February 1692, following the Jacobite uprising of 1689-91. It is estimated that 30-40 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by government forces billeted with them, on the grounds they had not been prompt enough in pledging allegiance to the new monarchs, William III of England and II of Scotland and Mary II.

It seems that the lateness in pledging allegiance on behalf on the MacDonalds was simply a mistake. Almost all the other Jacobite clans had already capitulated and signed the oath. But in the case of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, there was a hitch. Their chief, MacIain arrived at Fort William on 31 December 1691 ready to submit. But there was nobody at the fort empowered to receive his surrender. The nearest competent official was at Inveraray, 40 miles distant. By the time MacIain got there, it was 6 January – five days after the deadline. And thus their fate was sealed.

The cold-blooded massacre that followed over a month later was, in its immediate aim of killing off Highland Jacobitism (for a while), a huge success. Following the slaughter at Glencoe, William would never again face serious Jacobite unrest in Scotland. But the fact that men, women and children were slaughtered under truce by soldiers they had received as guests shocked the whole of Scotland and permanently tarnished William’s reputation.

Following the massacre, many of the Glencoe Macdonalds eventually returned and rebuilt their houses, and went on to take part in the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745. The settlement remained populated until at least the 18th century. Today, little trace survives of the original settlements, or of the massacre itself, but tourists can view the stone memorial which stands as a chilling reminder of history and take advantage of a visit to the modern visitor centre.