Key Facts
- Date
- September 1562
- Duration
- Three days
- Garrison size
- 12–14 persons
- Outcome for commander
- Alexander Gordon hanged for treason
- Queen's stay
- Slept at castle 11–14 September 1562
Strategic Narrative Overview
Finding herself denied access to her own castle, Mary rallied supporters from local clans, notably the Frasers and Munros. Her growing force laid siege to Inverness Castle, which was poorly garrisoned and inadequately fortified. The castle surrendered after three days, unable to resist the assembled royal supporters. The swift collapse demonstrated the limited military capacity of the Gordon-held garrison against a determined besieging force.
01 / The Origins
In September 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots, travelled to Inverness as part of an assertion of royal authority in the north. George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, Sheriff of the county and chief of Clan Gordon, ordered the castle gates barred against her. His subordinate Alexander Gordon refused the Queen entry on 9 September, an act of open defiance that threatened Mary's prestige and control over the region.
03 / The Outcome
Following the castle's fall, Alexander Gordon was hanged for treason and his head displayed on the castle walls. Most garrison members were imprisoned, though the rank and file were released. Mary then occupied the castle, sleeping there from 11 to 14 September before moving on to Spynie Palace. The episode was an early sign of deteriorating relations between Mary and the powerful Earl of Huntly.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Alexander Gordon.
Side B
1 belligerent
Mary, Queen of Scots.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.