On 7 February 1603, Clan MacGregor and their allies fought against Clan Colquhoun and its supporters at the Battle of Glen Fruin. The MacGregors, a formidable clan claiming lineage from King Alpin of Dalriada, had seen a significant reduction in their ancestral territories due to encroachments by other clans, including the Campbells, Buchanans, Drummonds, and Colquhouns. In retaliation, the Colquhouns killed several MacGregors passing through their territory, prompting the MacGregors to seek vengeance by launching further raids on Colquhoun lands and setting fire to their homes.