That fateful morning

It was on a freezing cold winter’s morning in February 1692 that a regiment of soldiers carried out an act so heinous and contrary to Highland custom that more than three centuries later its name still retains the power to evoke strong emotions.

In the early hours of February 13, 1692, 38 men, women and children of the MacDonald clan – or the MacIains as they were known – were murdered by troops acting on behalf of the government and whom they had billeted in their homes.

The MacDonalds had been rebels, but had taken the oath of allegiance to King William and so felt safe to extend the Highland hospitality to Captain Robert Campbell and his 120 soldiers for a fortnight before the massacre.

But Campbell had been told to ‘put all to the sword under 70’ in an early morning surprise attack, while his hosts were asleep.

It was to be an example of what could happen to other Highland clans considered a possible threat to the new regime in London under King William of Orange.

Among those murdered was chief of the MacDonalds of Glen Coe, Alasdair MacDonald, known as MacIain. As well as those who died by sword, bayonet and musket, others later died of exposure in the bitter winter conditions after being forced from their burning crofts.

Although such violence was not uncommon in the Highlands at this time, what made this shocking was that it had been ‘slaughter under trust’.

But if it was intended to scare the MacDonalds and their various clan branches into submission, the plan backfired and the memory of the black deeds carried out at Glencoe ensured Clan Donald’s support to the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745.