Battle of the Shirts

The Battle of the Shirts, fought in 1544 near Loch Lochy in the Scottish Highlands, was a violent confrontation between two rival Scottish clans: the Frasers and the MacDonalds. The battle's unusual name arises from the hot weather on that day, which led many combatants to discard their heavy armor and fight in their shirts. Despite being significantly outnumbered, the MacDonalds, backed by their allies, secured a decisive victory, with only five of the 300 Fraser fighters reportedly surviving. The battle underscored the enduring and often deadly clan rivalries that characterized the Scottish Highlands during this period.