[3] The 2011 article by Iain G. MacDonald, "Donald of the Isles and the Earldom of Ross: West-Highland Perspectives on the Battle of Harlaw", also cites sources recording the victory.

[7] The Gaels of Alba acquired Brythonic elements from the conquest of the Kingdom of Strathclyde in the 11th century and increasingly absorbed Norman-French and Anglo-Saxon culture, influences which also spread to the Pictish areas of the northeast.

[8] The lands of Fortriu became part of the Province of Moray, which was conquered by Alba in 1130 and fragmented into territories that were semi-independent of the king in Edinburgh.

[9] There was a long history of conflicts between the Moray gentry and the clans of the West Coast, but some historians present Harlaw as a clash between the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, or between Celt and Teuton.

What it was to be subject to England the country knew and disliked; to be subdued by their savage enemies of the mountains opened to them sources of terror of unknown character and extent".

The Wolf of Badenoch had long been living with his mistress Mairead inghean Eachainn with whom he had a number of children, including Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar.

[24] Meanwhile, Donald (Domhnall), Lord of the Isles claimed the earldom of Ross through his marriage to Euphemia's aunt, Mariota, the oldest living female descendant of Uilleam.

[27] It took Donald time to ready his assault, but in 1411 he assembled his forces at Ardtornish Castle[28] on the Sound of Mull and invaded Ross.

[25] He imprisoned Mackay in a castle on the west coast and after the battle made peace with him, giving Angus his sister, Elizabeth, in marriage.

[33] The Earl of Mar, who had made a pact with Albany to lead an army for him, had plenty of warning of their advance,[33] and had assembled a force from among the gentry of Buchan, Angus and the Mearns (Kincardineshire).

[36] Mar gathered his troops at Inverurie, a strategic town on the Inverness-Aberdeen road, and on the morning of 24 July marched northwest to meet Donald.

[38][39] The same source and many others put Donald's army at 10,000 Islanders, Highland clans with marriage bloodlines as well as men of Ross,[37] They were armed with swords, bows and axes, short knives, and round targe shields.

[33] As an example, one Sir Gilbert de Greenlaw died at Harlaw and his tombstone at Kinkell Church[41] gives an idea of how Mar's knights were equipped.

Sir Gilbert carried a hand and a half sword and wore an open-faced bascinet helmet with a mail-reinforced arming doublet beneath plate armour.

[36] He probably split the army into three, with the knights as a cavalry reserve (some say they led the battle) and the infantry arranged in schiltrons, close-packed arrays of spearmen.

[47][48] By contrast, a MacDonald Seanchaí stated that just "two or three gentlemen of the name Munroe" were killed in the battle and that they were part of the Lord of the Isles' host.

[49] The same 17th century manuscript states that the "son of Macquarry of Ulva" and "two gentlemen of the name Cameron" were also killed on the side of Donald, Lord of the Isles.

[44] Wounded and too feeble to retreat, Mar and his surviving men camped on the battlefield,[50] expecting combat to resume in the morning.

[11] Suspecting that Donald had merely fallen back to rest and reinforce his troops, Albany collected an army and marched on Dingwall, seizing the castle and regaining control of Ross.

[2] Designed by William Kelly and located to the south of Harlaw House, the granite monument is hexagonal and 40 feet (12.2 m) tall.