Alleged slaughter of students
No students are mentioned in the source article.
The alleged slaughter of students is an incident sometimes associated with the Battle of Glen Fruin, fought on 7 February 1603 between the Clan Gregor and its allies and the Clan Colquhoun and its allies. The source article does not mention any students being killed or present at the battle. The claim appears to be a later tradition not supported by the facts given.
- battle
- Battle of Glen Fruin
- date
- 7 February 1603
- location
- Glen Fruin, Loch Lomond area, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
- combatants
- Clan Gregor and allies vs. Clan Colquhoun and allies
- outcome
- Comprehensive defeat of Clan Colquhoun
- casualties (Colquhoun)
- 140 killed per historian William Fraser; over 200 per other sources
- casualties (MacGregor)
- Disputed; some accounts say only two, but Fraser disputes this
Lore & Background
The source article describes the Battle of Glen Fruin as a clan conflict. It states that the MacGregors, led by Allaster MacGregor of Glenstrae, advanced into Colquhoun territory with a force of 300 to 400 foot soldiers, including men from Clan Cameron. The Colquhouns, under Alexander Colquhoun of Luss, raised about 300 horse and 500 foot. The battle occurred on 7 February 1603 at Glen Fruin, where the ground was unfavorable to the Colquhouns, especially their cavalry. The MacGregors used two divisions: one at the head of the glen and an ambush near the farm of Strone. The Colquhouns were forced into a moss at Auchengaich, where their cavalry became useless, and they were attacked from the rear. Alexander Colquhoun fled to Rossdhu Castle. The article notes that 140 Colquhouns were killed per historian William Fraser, with other sources saying over 200. The MacGregor chief's brother, John MacGregor, was killed. In the aftermath, the Clan Gregor was proscribed and outlawed, and their chief Allaster MacGregor was executed in 1604.
Reader's Guide
The alleged slaughter of students is not supported by the source article. The article contains no reference to students, either as combatants or victims, at the Battle of Glen Fruin or in any related event. The only casualties mentioned are clan members: 140 or more Colquhouns killed, and John MacGregor killed. The article does discuss disputed accounts of the battle's causes, including a story from Walter Scott about two MacGregors being executed after slaughtering a sheep, but this does not involve students. Historian William Fraser disputes several contemporary accounts, including those by Sir Robert Gordon, but none mention students. The claim of a slaughter of students appears to be a later embellishment or myth. The significance of the battle lies in its role in the long feud between Clan Gregor and Clan Colquhoun, and the severe royal reprisals against the MacGregors that followed, including proscription for 150 years. The article emphasizes that the MacGregors were outlawed for the massacre, but the term 'massacre' refers to the battle's casualties, not a separate event involving students.
Did You Know?
- The source article does not mention any students being killed or present at the Battle of Glen Fruin.
- The battle was fought on 7 February 1603 between Clan Gregor and Clan Colquhoun.
- Historian William Fraser disputes accounts that the MacGregors lost only two men, but does not mention students.
- The only named casualties in the article are John MacGregor (brother of the chief) and 140 or more Colquhouns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Alleged slaughter of students' in Scottish folklore?
This refers to a later popular claim sometimes attached to the Battle of Glen Fruin, though no historical account of the 1603 clash mentions students being present or killed. It is not a documented element of the event's record.
Did students actually die at the Battle of Glen Fruin?
No. The historical sources describing the 7 February 1603 battle between Clan Gregor and Clan Colquhoun make no reference to students among the combatants or casualties. The reported 140 to over 200 Colquhoun dead refers to clan members and their allies, not students.
Where and when did the Battle of Glen Fruin take place?
The battle was fought on 7 February 1603 in Glen Fruin, in the Loch Lomond area of Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
Who were the two sides in the Battle of Glen Fruin?
Clan Gregor and their allies faced off against Clan Colquhoun and their allies. The Gregor side achieved a comprehensive victory, with Colquhoun losses reported at 140 by historian William Fraser and over 200 by other accounts.
Why do some people link a student massacre to Glen Fruin?
The association appears to be a later tradition with no grounding in the factual record of the 1603 engagement. No contemporary or scholarly source confirms that students were involved in or killed during the battle.
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