The extent of Campbell power around Loch Awe before the war is not known, but as Colin Mor was made Ballie of Loch Awe circa 1296, presumably it was not insignificant. Although it is believed that the Campbells held Innis Chonnel Castle prior to the MacDougall possession known to have existed in 1308, historians aren’t certain. At the time of the novel, however, it was in MacDougall hands. In a letter to King Edward, Lorn mentions three castles in his possession on Loch Awe.
The hatred between Bruce and the MacDougalls was rivaled by that of their kinsmen the Comyns. The “harrying of Buchan” following the Battle of Inverurie (Hill of Barra) on May 23, 1308, which takes place in the beginning of the book, appears to have been one of the few times Bruce let vengeance reign unfettered. The destruction was so great that it allegedly took years to recover and was talked about for generations.
By contrast, King Robert did indeed accept the submission of William (Uilleam II), the Earl of Ross, without reprisal for Ross’s role in the capture—and subsequent imprisonment—of Bruce’s ladies (his wife, daughter, sisters, and the Countess of Buchan). Not long after Ross’s submission, his son Hugh (Aodh) was married to Bruce’s sister Matilda.
Alexander MacDougall, Lord of Argyll, is said to have been too old and infirm at the time to fight at Brander. He submitted to Bruce after a siege of Dunstaffnage Castle, attending the king’s first parliament in March 1309 at Ardchatten, but later followed his son into exile, where he died in 1310.
As usual, some of the castles mentioned in the book are also known by different names. Auldearn Castle is also known as Old Even, and Glassery (Glassary) Castle as Fincharn.
Medieval rat torture was far more gruesome than I suggest. A cage with a rat underneath would be placed on the stomach of the victim and heated from above. The rat, in an attempt to get out, would eat a slow hole into the gut of the victim. Charming (and perhaps providing a little too much “color” of the age)!
Finally, readers of the third book in my Campbell trilogy,
Highland Scoundrel
, might note the connection of Arthur’s sword to Duncan’s, which was engraved with the word
Steadfast
and had been passed down through the generations from the time of Bruce. Although my invention, it was indeed customary to engrave swords and pass them down.
Not enough? Make sure to check out my website, www.monicamccarty.com, for more information and “picture books” of some of the places mentioned in the books.