In 1429, Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, 3rd Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald, besieged Inverness Castle and burnt the town of Inverness to ashes.^[1] Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lord Fraser having obstructed his passage through his territory and causing him to take a circuitous route, the Lord of the Isles was determined to punish the Fraser chief.^[1][2] He set out from Lochaber leaving a strong party in Inverness and made reprisals on Fraser and his tenantry.^[1][2] The Lord of the Isles' force was strengthened day by day with new arrivals from the west until he came to lay siege to Fraser's castle of Lovat.^[1][2] However, the Frasers were too many and attacked the MacDonalds near Lovat, while the people of the country killed all of those who straggled from the main body.^[1] The Frasers attacked the MacDonalds at Fanellan, and so they were obliged to abandon the siege and retreat.^[1][2]

Several skirmishes took place along the march but when the MacDonalds reached the moor of Caiplich which was a few miles west of Inverness, they halted and stood at bay to give battle.^[1][2] The MacDonalds fought with courage and determination, but to no avail and were defeated by the Frasers.^[1][2] The MacDonald's being completely routed and defeated by the Fraser's vassals, the engagement was remembered locally as the Battle of Mamsha.^[1][2]

The men of the Isles were for a long time thereafter unwilling to interfere with the peace and tranquility of Fraser country in Inverness-shire,^[1] that was known as The Aird.^[2]