Angus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver

Angus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver (died 1486) was a chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

Angus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver was the eldest son of Neil Mackay, 8th of Strathnaver and his wife who was a daughter of George Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis, chief of Clan Munro. His maternal grandmother, through Munro of Foulis, was a daughter of Ross of Balnagown, chief of Clan Ross.

The blood feud that had raged since 1370 between the Clan Mackay and the Clan Sutherland had become assauaged, so much so that one of Angus Roy Mackay’s daughters married Sutherland of Dirlot.

The Keiths who lived in Caithness were akin to the Sutherlands of Dirlot, both families having obtained their lands in Caithness through marriage with daughters of Reginald Cheyne (of Clan Cheyne). According to historian Angus Mackay, it is probable that the chief of Clan Gunn, who was a man of great power and the Crowner of Caithness, resented the intrusion of the Keiths who were newcomers to the area. The Clan Keith of Aberdeenshire had great influence at court through their chief, the Earl Marischal. In Caithness relations became so hostile that the Keiths were determined to crush the Gunns if possible.

According to Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, the Keiths "mistrusting" their own forces "sent to Angus Mackay entreating him to come to their aid", which he did. According to historian Angus Mackay it is not known exactly why Mackay chose to support the Keiths, but it could have been partly because of the prospect of plunder, but also because at the time Sir Gilbert Keith of Inverguie was collector of customs for Caithness, Strathnaver and Sutherland, and in this function might have crossed the Gunns and befriended the Mackays, securing Mackay's help. As such in 1464 Angus Roy Mackay advanced on Caithness where the Battle of Tannach took place. The Mackays were joined by the Keiths and the MacLeods of Assynt. The Gunns were defeated being overwhelmed by numbers, but not without great slaughter on both sides. Soon after this the Keiths massacred the Gunn chief and some his sons in what is now known as the Battle of Champions. The Parliament of 1478 took measures to end the blood-shed in Ross, Sutherland and Caithness.

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