³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Thachair Blàr Khringen ann an sia ceud deug ’s a dhà-dheug (1612). Bha e ann an Nirribhidh. Bha am blàr eadar Nirribhich agus Albannaich. Bha còig ceud Nirribheach a’ feitheamh ris na h- Albannaich. Bha na h-Albannaich air an rathad don t-Suain. Ach bha na Suainich agus na Nirribhich nan nàimhdean. Bha na Nirribhich am falach anns a’ choille. Bha na h-Albannaich anns a’ ghleann. Bha Seòras Mac na Ceàrdaich aig an aghaidh. Chaidh Seòras a mharbhadh an toiseach. Loisg na Nirribhich air na h-Albannaich le crois-bhoghachan agus gunnaichean. Bha bean Sheòrais còmhla ris. Bha, agus am pàiste. Chaidh fear de na Lochlannaich dhan ionnsaigh. Bha e a’ dol a thoirt a’ phàiste gu sàbhailteachd. Ach bha a’ Bhean-uasal Nic na Ceàrdaich a’ smaoineachadh gun robh e a’ dol a mharbhadh a’ phàiste. Thug i sgian a-mach. Shàth i an Lochlannach. Thuit e marbh. Rinn na Nirribhich a’ chùis air na h-Albannaich. Bha ceud is trithead Albannach air fhàgail beò. Bha iad nam prìosanaich. Chaidh do chaill mòran Nirribheach am beatha. Ach cha robh an sgrios seachad. Air an làrna-mhàireach thug na Nirribhich na h-Albannaich a-mach. Mhuirt iad iad, fear mu seach. Tha na Nirribhich a’ comharrachadh a’ bhatail gach samhradh. Ach chan eil iad moiteil às a’ mhurt sin. Bha ceithir Albannaich dheug air fhàgail beò aig an deireadh. Bha na ceudan anns an fheachd aig an toiseach. Tha carragh-cuimhne ann do Sheòras Mac na Ceàrdaich. Tha sin ann am baile air a bheil Kvam. Tha Kvam sìos an gleann bho Khringen. Bha Seòras na nàmhaid do na Nirribhich. Ach thathar a’ toirt spèis dha an-diugh. Taobh a-muigh Ghallaibh, chan eil mòran ann an Alba a’ cuimhneachadh Blàr Khringen an-diugh. Ach tha mòran ga chuimhneachadh ann an Nirribhidh. Ann an ionad nam bùthan ann an Otta, tha taisbeanadh mòr ann. Tha dealbhan brèagha ann a tha ag innse eachdraidh a’ bhatail.

The Battle of Kringen took place in 1612. It was in Norway. The battle was between Norwegians and Scots. Five hundred Norwegians were waiting for the Scots. The Scots were on their way to Sweden. But the Swedes and the Norwegians were enemies [to each other]. The Norwegians were hiding in the forest. The Scots were in the glen. George Sinclair was in the lead. George was killed first. The Norwegians fired on the Scots with crossbows and guns. George’s wife was with him. So was their child. One of the Scandinavians went towards them. He was going to take the child to safety. But Lady Sinclar was thinking that he was going to kill the child. She took out a knife. She stabbed the Scandinavian. He fell dead. The Norwegians defeated the Scots. 130 Scots were left alive. They were prisoners. Not many Norwegians lost their lives. But the destruction wasn’t complete. The next day the Norwegians took the Scots out. They murdered them, one by one. The Norwegians commemorate the battle every summer. But they are not proud of that murder. 14 Scots were left alive at the end. Hundreds were in the force at the start. There is a memorial to George Sinclar. That’s in a town called Kvam. Kvam is down the glen from Kringen. George was an enemy to the Norwegians. But he is looked upon with respect today.  Outside Caithness, not many in Scotland remember the Battle of Kringen today. But many remember it in Norway. In the shopping centre in Otta there is a big exhibition. There are beautiful pictures that tell the story of the battle.