Alasdair Mac Colla

Sir Alasdair Mac Colla Chiotaich MacDhòmhnaill
Other name(s)	Alexander MacDonald
Nickname(s)	Fear thollaidh nan tighean ("The destroyer of houses")
Born	c. 1610 Colonsay, Hebrides, Scotland
Died	1647 (aged 36–37) Battle of Knocknanuss, County Cork, Ireland
Buried	Clonmeen, County Cork, Ireland
Allegiance	Irish Government (1641–1642) Irish Confederates (1642–1647) Scottish Royalists (1644–1646)
Years of service	1641–1647
Rank	Major general
Battles/wars	Wars of the Three Kingdoms Battle of Glenmaquin Battle of Tippermuir Battle of Aberdeen (1644) Battle of Inverlochy (1645) Battle of Auldearn Battle of Kilsyth Battle of Rhunahaorine Moss Battle of Dunaverty Battle of Knocknanuss †
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth MacAlister
Relations	Coll Ciotach (father)

Alasdair Mac Colla Chiotaich MacDhòmhnaill (c. 1610 – 13 November 1647), also known by the English variant of his name Sir Alexander MacDonald, was a military officer best known for his participation in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, notably the Irish Confederate Wars and Montrose's Royalist campaign in Scotland during 1644–5. A member of the Gaelic gentry of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, a branch of the Clan Donald active in the Hebrides and Ireland, Mac Colla is particularly notable for the very large number of oral traditions and legends which his life inspired in the Highlands.^[1]

During Montrose's campaign of 1644–5, in which the Royalist army won a series of remarkable victories, Mac Colla was given a knighthood. He died in 1647 in Ireland at the Battle of Knocknanuss.