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The Battle of Auldearn took place on 9 May 1645 near the village of Auldearn. It was one of the engagements of the Scottish Civil War between the Royalists (mostly Royalist Irish mercenaries and Highland Clansmen), under the Marquis of Montrose, and the Covenanters, led by Major-General Baillie. Auldearn was the first time the Marquis of Montrose’s Royalist forces faced a seasoned Covenanter army, and thanks to his brilliant tactics, he managed to deal them a crushing defeat despite being outnumbered. Often seen as Montrose’s greatest victory, it stood out as a major Royalist success during a time when their fortunes in England were less impressive. The battle is also remembered as one of the last in Europe to feature significant use of the bow—long obsolete elsewhere since the 16th century, yet still wielded by some Highlanders. No other known 17th-century European battlefields have yielded evidence of bows being used so extensively. Despite the Royalist win, both sides suffered heavy losses, with the Covenanters losing an estimated 1,500 men.