Battle of Champions The Battle of Champions was a trial by combat fought in 1478 or 1464 between two Scottish clans , Clan Gunn and Clan Keith . It took place at the chapel of St Tears ( St Tayre ) on the coast north of Wick in Caithness , between Ackergill Tower and Girnigoe Castle . It was arranged to settle a dispute with a battle between twelve men on horseback on either side . However , the Keiths arrived with two men on each of their twelve horses , and massacred the 12 Gunns . The clans finally signed a treaty of friendship in 1978 , ending the feud after 500 years . Background . It is recorded that the feud began when Dugald , Chieftain of the Keiths , abducted Helen of Braemore , daughter of Lachlan Gunn , when he discovered that she was betrothed to Alexander Gunn . The attack occurred on the night before the wedding , and Alexander was one of those slain by the Keiths . Helen subsequently committed suicide by throwing herself off Ackergill Tower . Subsequent conflicts between the two clans were for the most part indecisive , and losses were numerous on both sides . After long quarreling between the Keiths and Gunns it was decided that a " battle of champions " would be fought between twelve men on horseback on either side but the Keiths arrived with two men on each horse . Battle . Conflicts of the Clans . An account of the battle was written in the book " Conflicts of the Clans " , published by the Foulis Press in 1764 , written from a manuscript from the time of King James VI of Scotland ( 1566 – 1625 ) : " About the year of God 1478 , there was some dissention in Caithness betwixt the Keiths and the Clan Gunn . A meeting was appointed for their reconciliation , at the Chapel of St . Tayre , in Caithness , hard by Girnigo , with twelve horse on either side . The Crowner ( chieftain of Clan Gunn ) with the most part of his sons and chief kinsmen came to the chapel , to the number of twelve ; and , as they were within the chapel at their prayers , the Laird of Inverugie and Ackergill arrived there with twelve horse , and two men upon every horse ; thinking it no breach of trust to come with twenty - four men , seeing they had but twelve horses as was appointed . " " So the twenty - four gentlemen rushed in at the door of the chapel , and invaded the Crowner and his company unawares ; who , nevertheless , made great resistance . In the end eight the Clan Gunn were slain , with the most of the Keiths . Their blood may be seen to this day [ 1764 ] upon the walls within the Chapel at St . Tyre , where they were slain . Afterwards William Mackames ( the Crowner ' s grandchild ) in revenge of his grandfather , killed George Keith of Ackergill and his son , with ten of their men , at Drummuny in Sutherland , as they were travelling from Inverugie into Caithness . " Robert MacKay . Robert MacKay wrote an account of the battle in his book the " History of the House and Clan of the Name MacKay " ( 1829 ) , quoting from historian Sir Robert Gordon ( 1580 – 1656 ) : " After long quarelling between the Keiths and Guns , it was agreed that riders on twelve horses each side should meet at the Chapel of St Tayr , near Ackergill , to adjust all their differences . At the time appointed the chieften of the Guns with eleven men of his tribe attended ; and as the Keiths had not arrived , they employed the intermediate time in devotion . At length the Keiths appeared on twelve horses , but with double riders on each , and immediately set upon the Guns , and killed ever man of them , but with the loss of the greater part of their own number . Sir Robert who relates to the tragedy , says their blood was seen on the walls of the chapel in his time . The chieften or coroner ' s son , James Gunn , then left Caithness with his clan , and settled in Sutherland , where theybecame wardens of that district . William , son of this James , and a number of his tribe , afterwards intercepted George Keith of Ackergill , accompanied by his son and twelve of their followers , on their journey from Inverguey to Caithness , and killed them all in revenge of the above massacre . This William was surnamed Mackamish , i . e . son of James ; and thenceforward the chieften of the clan Gunn has always been titled Mackamissh . " Treaty ending the Keith / Gunn feud . By the 1970s , with North American members of both clans on friendly terms , the feud between them was no longer an issue . At the urging of their clan members , the Chief of Clan Keith , Sir James Ian Keith , Earl of Kintore , and the Commander of Clan Gunn , Ian Alexander Gunn of Banniskirk , signed a " Bond and Covenant of Friendship " on 28 July 1978 , at the site of St . Tears on the 500th anniversary of the battle there . The treaty has since been celebrated by some members of both clans at Highland games and other common gatherings .