300 years ago today, on 10 June 1719, the endgame of a remarkable and little known passage of British history was played out - the Spanish invasion of Scotland.

After GB declared war on Spain at the end of 1718 the Spanish devised a plan to land thousands of troops in both England and Scotland and stir up revolt among Catholics. However the ships carrying 5000 soldiers destined for a landing in England were scattered in a storm and returned to Spain.

The two heading for Scotland made it and in April 1719 landed 307 Spanish troops plus a contingent of ex-patriot Scots led by George Keith, 9th Earl Marischal at Loch Alsh. Problems emerged immediately, the thousands of volunteers failed to materialize and the Spaniards suffered badly in the damp, cold Scottish spring. On 10 May the Royal Navy bombarded and destroyed Eilean Donan Castle where they had stored their ammunition.

An army of British, Hanoverians and Dutch led by Gen Wightman set out from Inverness in the east to tackle the invaders who mached out to meet him and took up defensive positions on the slopes of Glen Shiel. However when battle was joined on 10 June British mortar fire dislodged the demoralized Spaniards and drove the Scots from the hillside. The battle was soon over, casualties were light with most suffered by the attacking British. The entire Spanish force was taken prisoner and repatriated some months later. The Scottish commanders including Earl Marischal all escaped to France.

The 1719 Jacobite Rebellion was over.