No other stronghold in the north was more identified with the history of the Highlands -- or indeed with the history of Scotland -- from the time of the Comyns downwards, than "the lofty Castle of Riven," so frequently burnt down and re-built. Standing on a prominent site on the south side of the River Spey, within half-a-mile of what is now Kingussie, it was a crossing point of tracks north, south, east, and west. Note that 'RIV-en' is the Gaelic pronunciation of the name.

      The first castle on the site was erected in 1229 by the Lord of Badenoch, Walter Comyn. It was most likely a 'motte and bailie' type introduced by the Normans whom the Kings of Scots granted many of the Scottish baronies. When the Comyns backed the losing side in the War of Independence from English rule, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray became the Lord. After sixty years of his rule and that of his descendants, the Lordship was granted to Alexander Stewart, fourth son of King Robert II in 1371. He was known as the 'Wolf of Badenoch' but his domain included Moray and Buchan as well. His descendants kept the district until 1451 when it was granted to the Earl of Huntly. This family later became the Dukes of Gordon and they retained dominion into modern times albeit with ever-shrinking power.

      The castles at Ruthven were erected largely to support the administration of the district although it is said that the 'Wolf' did reside there. Later Lords chose to live elsewhere but their factors operated from there including several Macphersons over the years.

      Authorities tell us that there were at least three castles on the site but it is likely that there were more or at least substantial renovations to keep up with the changing technology of warfare. We really don't know what these castles looked like because no drawings of them have emerged. Lachlan Shaw describes what he remembers of the last of these in his History of the Province of Moray (1775). He attended school there in his youth before construction of the barracks using the stones of the castle began in 1718; his recollection is illustrated in the drawing below.

      The last castle's condition was reported by Colonel John Hill in 1693, as "almost ruinous, being neither wind nor watertight, so that many of the soldiers there posted, through the incessant rains in the night time, have contracted fluxes, scurveys, and other diseases, and others of the soldiers do frequently desert because of the bad accommodation, there not being habitable space for 40 men, though there were 4 score centinells besides officers in the garrison . . ." Twenty-five years later this report led to the construction of Ruthven Barracks using the stones of the old castle.

      Early in the Rising of '45 the Highland army attempted to capture the barracks but Sgt Malloy and 11 soldiers defended it successfully. Later on the Jacobites were able to take it. After the defeat of the Highland army at Drummossie Moor the remnants of the force, several thousands strong rallied around the Barracks walls. When the Bonnie Prince said that he was returning to France, the assembled clansmen burned them before they dispersed and they have remained unrepaired in the two and a half centuries since then.