SCOTLAND HISTORY

Clan MacAlister:

Origins of the Clan:

The founder of the Clan MacAlister was Alasdair Mor MacDonald. He was a younger son of Donald MacDonald of Islay who was the founder of Clan Donald and great-grandson of King Somerled. During the 14th century the MacAlisters were allies of the powerful Clan Comyn which is now known as Clan Cumming. The Comyns were rivals to the thrown and enemies of the soon to be King Robert the Bruce. Bruce himself killed the Comyn chief and the Comyn's allies were soon forced to submit to the Bruce. The Clan MacAlister was often small in numbers therefore they made alliances with more powerful people. They soon became allies of Robert the Bruce. The clan is known to have settled in Kintyre under Charles MacAlister in 1481. Charles MacAlister was a great allie of the Stuarts and King James III of Scotland. The principle family of the Clan MacAlister were known as "MacAlister of Loup". In 1598 Godfrey MacAlister murderd his tutor Charles MacAlister. He then besiged Charle's sons in their home at Askomull. Two years later the Clan MacAlister attacked the Clan Montgomery. They seized everything belonging to the Chief John Montgomery of Skelmorlie including £12,000 worth of possessons. Two years after Archibald MacAlister along with Angus Og MacDonald carried out a similar attack on the inhabitants of the Isle of Bute against the Clan Stuart. A year later and Archibald MacAlister and Angus Og MacDonald were accused of being rebels, charged with treason and hanged in Edinburgh Tollbooth. Alexander MacAlister 8th of Loup led the clan when they fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. He was succeeded by his brother, Charles MacAlister who married a daughter of the Chief of Clan Lamont. By 1707 the MacAlister's House and lands of Tarbet had passed to the Clan MacLean. However the MacAlisters of Loup were flourishing and Duncan MacAlister made his way to Holland in 1717. There he established himself as a great officer and through him the MacAlister name flourishes in Europe.

Clan MacArthur:

Origin of name:

It is the MacArthur clan tradition to say that they are descended from the legend of King Arthur but of course King Arthur is just a mythical legend with no historic evidence or proof that he ever existed. From the Welsh-speaking areas of Strathclyde which is now Glasgow and also Rheged and Gododdin which is now the area of Edinburgh, the earliest surviving Scottish poem tells of the resistance leader 'Arthur' fighting against the English of Northumbria where they defeated Gododdin. When Scotland's Welsh speaking Kingdoms were wiped out the launguage only remained in Wales and Cornwall, England. The Authurian legend was developed all over these areas however Arthurs seat is always thought to have been beside Edinburgh. In the 13th century a MacArthur married the heiress of Duncan mac Duibhne. Later the Clanh Ua Duihne carried the nickname Cam beul. It is therefore MacArthur tradition to say that the Clan Campbell was an off-shoot of the Clan MacArthur.

14th Century & Wars of Scottish Independence:

The MacArthurs fought beside King Robert the Bruce against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1333. They were rewarded with lands in mid-Argyll which had been taken from oppossers of the Bruce, the Clan MacDougall. The Clan MacArthur prospered and spread. The clan grew into two main branches: The MacArthurs of Loch Awe and the MacArthur Campbells of Strachur.

15th Century & Clan Conflicts:

When King James I of Scotland returned from his English imprisonment his wrath fell upon the MacArthurs among others. Through wave of executions and estate seizures the MacArthurs were stunted and the Clan Campbell became the prodominant race north of Glasgow. The MacArthur chief, Iian Macarthur who could summon 1000 men of the Clan MacArthur was executed and most of the clan lands were confiscated. The Clan MacArthur became close allies with the Clan MacDonald of Sleat and were constantly at odds with the Clan Campbell. Another branch of MacArthurs became amorours to the MacDonalds on the Isle of Islay.

16th Century & Clan Conflicts:

In 1567 Duncan MacArthur and his son of the Loch Awe MacArthur family, became the victims of their own success when jealousy of their power drove neighbours to drown them in the loch during a skirmish. A conflict of some sort took place. In the archives of Inveraray Castle a charter dated 1567 confirms that a pardon was granted to the Campbells of Inverawe for the "drowning of Clan Arthur". It is believed that the Macarthurs trying to defend themselves were driven into the loch. In the 1970's an ancient sword was unearthed on the shore of the loch. [edit] 17th Century & Civil War During the Civil War the Clan MacArthur supported the Royalist cause. One MacArthur became a baillie in Kintyre and chamberlain of James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings:

During the Jacobite Uprisings large numbers of MacArthurs fought on both sides during the uprisings of 1715 to 1716 and 175 to 1746. Later during the eighteenth century many MacArthurs emigrated from Scotland choosing to restart in America, Canada, Australia and the West Indies.

Spelling variations and Septs:

Spelling variations of MacArthur and septs of the Clan MacArthur include: Arthur, MacArthur, McArthur, McArthure, MacArther, MacArtur, Carter, MacCarter, McCarter, McCartor, Makcairter, McKairtour, MacArtor, McArtor, MacArter, McArter, MacArtair, McArtair, McArtan, McArta, Maccart, Makarta, Magarta, Mcharter, Makkarthyre, Makarturicht, McCarthair, Makarthour.

Clan MacBain:

Origin of name:

There are several possible Gaelic origins for this name but the most likely is bheathain which means lively one. This could also have been renderd as Mac ic Bheatha which means MacBeth, a name which was very important in early Scottish history. When King Malcolm II of Scotland deposed the MacBeth line from the Scottish thrown his power was constantly challenged by the powerful Scottish noble families of Moray. Various members of the family sought shelter in other parts of the kingdom. According to tradition the MacBains sought out his kin among descendents of Gillichatten Mor more commonly known as the Chattan Confederation. The earliest certain record of the name in its more modern form appeared in an old Kinrara manuscript of the mid 14th century, which names both Bean Macmilmhor and his son, Milmor MacBean.

Wars of Scottish Independence:

In the 14th century during the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan MacBain supported King Robert the Bruce. The MacBains are credited with killing the steward of John the Red Comyn, who was Bruce's rival to the thrown. John the Red Comyn was the Chief of Clan Cumming/Comyn, he was stabbed to death by Robert the Bruce himself at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries in 1306.

16th Century:

Logiebride 1597, At a time of peace between the Clan MacKenzie and Clan Munro a fight broke out at a fair in logiebride which almost put the whole of Ross-shire into combustion. The fight began between John Macgillichallum (brother to the Laird of Raasay) and Alexander Bane (brother to Duncan Bane of Tulloch). The Munros took the side of Alexander Bane and the MacKenzies took the side of John Macgillichallum. John Macgllicham was killed along with John Mac-Murdo Mac-William and three others from the Clan MacKenzie. Alexander Bane escaped but three on his side were also killed; John Munro of Culcraggie, his brother Hutcheon Munro and John Munro Robertson. The Clans MacKenzie and Munro then began assisting each side in preparing to invade each other. However nothing ever came of it and peace was resumed.

17th Century:

Paul MacBean the 12th chief of the clan was in huge debt and was forced to relenquish his lands in 1685. The loss of the lands at Kinchyle must have been sorely felt however the present chief has done much to retrieve some of the Clan MacBain clan lands and establish a MacBain memorial park on the slopes of Loch Ness.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings:

The Clan MacBain supported the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715. Many of the MacBains were captured and transported to the plantations in Virginia, Maryland and South Carolina after the Stuart defeat. The Clan MacBain also took the side of the Jacobites during Uprisings of 1745 to 1746 where many of them fought at the Battle of Culloden. during the battle Gillies MacBean, a man said to be at least 6ft 4ins tall, with his back to a wall cut down 13 to 14 of his enemy until he was mortally wounded. It is said that a government officer made an attempt to call back his men to save him but MacBean was already dead. It was a MacBain who assisted the Chief of Clan Cameron of Lochiel who was injurd and unable to walk, to escape to safety. After Culloden the chief struggled to keep the remaining clan lands together and they were finally sold in 1760.

19th Century:

It was a MacBain who commanded the Gordon Highlanders regiment against the Boers of South Africa in 1881.

The Clan Today:

The present chiefly line descends from the younger son of Paul MacBean, the 12th chief during the 17th century, the elder line having ended in a daughter, Elizabeth Margaret Macbean, who married Dougald Stuart around 1790, but died without issue. The present chief has continued the work of his father, who retreived some of the clan lands and established the Macbain memorial park on the slopes above Loch Ness.

Septs of Clan:

MacBian Bain Bane Bayne Bean Beattie Binnie Cobain Cobean MacBain McBain MacBean Macbeath Macbeth Macbheath Macilvain MacVean

Clan MacDonald :

History of the Clan :

Like the Clan MacDougall, the MacDonalds trace their ancestry to King Somerled of the Isles. The MacDougalls descend from Somerled's eldest son Dugall. King Somerled's second son was called Ranald who was the the founder of the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald branch. Ranald had a son called Donald who was the founder of what would become the main Clan Donald. Clan MacDonald or Donald is one of the oldest, one of the largest and probably the most famous of all Highland Scottish clans. The clan's Celtic history dates back beyond the 6th century AD to the great clans of the country which is now known as Ireland. As well as having Irish ancestry the MacDonalds also have Swedish and Norwegian ancestry. All of these blood lines came together in Scotland in the 12th century to form the Scottish clan MacDonald or Donald. A man known as 'Somerled MacGillebride MacGillamnam' was the founder of what was then called the Clan Domhnaill in the 12th century. These ancient MacDonald ancestors are regarded as the heads of the ancient race of 'Conn' and the lineal Kings of Dalriadic Scotland.

Scottish-Norwegian War:

The MacDonalds had always supported Norway however this alliance broke when the Norwegians were defeated at the Battle of Largs in 1263 by the Scottish forces. Norway's King Haakon was defeated and his fleet was wrecked by the skilled maneuvers of King Alexander III of Scotland. Three years later the Norwegians submitted their last islands to the Scottish crown. Angus MacDonald the son of Donald then made peace with King Alexander III of Scotland.

Wars of Scottish Independence:

In the 14th century during the Wars of Scottish Independence the MacDonalds fought with Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. It was Donald's great grandson, Angus Og who was the 6th Lord of the Isles who sheltered King Robert the Bruce. Angus led a small band of Islesmen at the Battle of Bannockburn. In recognition of Clan Donalds support King Robert the Bruce proclaimed that Clan Donald would always occupy the honored position on the right wing of the Scottish army.

Lord of the Isles:

begins The clan takes its name 'Donald' from the first name of the 1st Lord of the Isles who was the grandson of King Somerled who lived until 1269. Donald's son was the original 'Mac' which means 'son of'. It was Donald's great grandson, Angus Og who was the 6th Lord of the Isles who sheltered King Robert the Bruce. In recognition of Clan Donalds support King Robert the Bruce proclaimed that Clan Donald would always occupy the honored position on the right wing of the Scottish army. In 1380 the Clan MacLean, Clan MacLeod and Clan MacKinnon were together all defeated in battle by Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, who vindicated his right as Lord of the Isles.

15th Century:

Earldom of Ross: The title and territory of the Earl of Ross had originally been held by the Chief of Clan Ross. However Angus Og's grandson called Donald married the first female heiress of the Earl of Ross. He later successfully claimed the position of Earl of Ross through marriage. This was secured by the Battle of Harlaw on 24th July 1411 where most of the highland clans supported Donald in preventing the Duke of Albany and his army of Scottish Lowlanders from claiming the position for himself. However the Earldom of Ross was lost in 1471 when it went to the House of Stuart.

Clan Conflicts: In 1411 prior to the Battle of Harlaw The Clan Donald defeat the Clan MacKay at the Battle of Dingwell. The MacKays then submitted to MacDonald.

The Battle of Split Allegiances 1429: This conflict was between forces led by Alexander MacDonald, 3rd Lord of the Isles, who was in pursuance of his claim to the Earldom of Ross and the Royalist army of King James I. It is believed is that Donald Dubh, XI Captain and Chief of Clan Cameron, rose in support of the Lord of the Isles, and that Cameron clansmen joined a "large force" (recorded as being 10,000 men) in sacking the town of Inverness and surrounding crown lands. On the return of their army to Lochaber they were intercepted by King James I with his large army. Donald Dubh, finding himself opposed to his Sovereign, led his men in deserting the Lord of the Isles and joined forces with the King. The Clan MacKintosh is also said to have done likewise and the Lord of the Isles army was defeated/sued for peace, with Alexander submitting to the King and being imprisoned afterwards.

Battle of Blar-na-Pairc, 1477: The Lord of the Isles had resigned the Earldom of Ross into the Kings hands. After this the province was continually molested with incursions by the Islanders into the Clan MacKenzie territory. A MacDonald cousin called Gillespick MacDonald invaded the MacKenzie country with great hostility. The MacKenzies assembled their army and met the invading Islanders by the River of Conon, about two miles from Brayle, where there ensued a sharp and cruel skirmish. The Clan MacKenzie fought so hard and pressed the enemy so, that in the end the outnumbered Gillespick MacDonald was overthrown and most of his men slain or drowned in the river of Conon.

The Battle of Bloody Bay 1480: When William Dubh MacLeod was killed (or taken prisoner) supporting John MacDonald against his bastard son Angus Og Macdonald the flag was also said to have been unfurled in the Battle of Badh na Fola - the Battle of Bloody Bay. According to MacDonald chronicles William was taken prisoner by Angus Og and Allan Moidertach but had been so severely wounded that he died on his way back to Dunvegan. It is said by the Seanachie of Sleat that Ronald Bain, son of Allan the laird of Moidart seized MacLeod's galley but an Irishman prevented it from being steered away by thrusting the blade of an oar below the stern post of the galley between it and the rudder. As already mentioned the flag was guarded by a dozen warriors and one after another they were slain. There is a special account of one of them - Murchadh Breac (Murdo the pock-marked) who was struck by a spear and collapsed on deck of the galley but kept holding the flag up by sticking its pole into the gaping hole of his body until he was relieved of his charge by a comrade. On account of the Seanachie of MacDonald William Dubh was taken prisoner by Allan Moidertach and Angus Og. After the Battle of Bloody Bay the MacDonalds raided Skye on behalf of Clan Leod's part supporting John MacDonald against Angus Og. William Dubh must have been prisoner then as his son Alasdair was not yet chief of the clan when he withstood the raging MacDonalds and was severely wounded between the shoulders by a battleaxe from which he never really recovered. Thence he was hunchbacked and so comes his name Alasdair Crotach.

The Battle of Skibo and Strathfleet around 1480: MacDonald of the Isles, accompanied by about five or six hundred of his clan, came into Sutherland and camped by the Castle of Skibo, whereupon Neil Murray (son or grandson to Angus Murray, slain at Druimnacoub) was sent by John, Earl of Sutherland, to resist them, in case they harmed the inhabitants. Neil Murray, believing that the MacDonalds would go about spoiling the country, attacked the MacDonalds by Skibo and killed one of their chieftains, Donald Dow MacDonald, along with fifty others. MacDonald, with the rest of his company, escaped back into their own country. Shortly thereafter another company of MacDonald's came to Strathfleet in Sutherland and spoiled that part of the country in revenge for the death of their chieftain. However Robert Sutherland (John, Earl of Sutherland's brother), assembled an army and attacked them upon the sands of Strathfleet. After a sharp and cruel skirmish, MacDonald's men were defeated.

Drumchatt 1497: In 1495 King James assembled an army at Glasgow. Then on May 18th many of the Highland Chiefs made their submissions to him, including the Clan MacKenzie and the Clan Munro Chiefs. Soon after this Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and his clan rebelled against the King. He invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated in battle and driven away by the Munros and MacKenzies at a place called Drumchatt. He escaped southward amongst the Isles but was caught on the island of Oransay by MacIan of Ardnamurchan and put to death.

16th Century:

Lord of the Isles ends: The position of Lord of the Isles which the MacDonald chief had held since the 13th century stayed with the MacDonalds until the middle of the 16th century.

Clan Conflicts: In 1544 the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald fought against the Clan Fraser of Lovat and the Clan Fraser at the Battle of the Shirts on the shores of Loch Lochy. Legend has it that only five Frasers and eight MacDonalds survived. During the Anglo-Scottish Wars the son of Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh led MacDonalds against the English at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513.

Battle of the Spoiling Dyke 1578: The MacDonalds of Uist barred the doors of Trumpan Church, or Kilconan Church as it was once known, east of the shores of Ardmore Bay. They then set fire to the church full of worshipers. No one escaped alive except one girl who, although mortally wounded, managed to give the alarm. On hearing the news, the Chief of Clan MacLeod and his men set off for Ardmore bay where a battle ensued. The MacDonalds were killed almost to a man. The corpses of the MacDonalds were dragged and then buried in a turf dyke, and the incident remembered as the "Battle of the Spoiling Dyke". The atrocity by the MacDonalds was to exact vengeance on the MacLeods for their atrocity of the massacre of MacDonalds in cave on the island of Eigg a couple of years earlier. This again was a tit-for-tat revenge between the two feuding clans.

The Battle of the Western Isles 1586 was fought between Clan Donald and the Clan MacLean. Donald Gorme of the Clan MacDonald of Sleat was travelling from the Isle of Skye to visit his cousin, Angus MacDonald of Kintyre. He landed with his company on an island called Jura or Duray, which partly belonged to MacLean and partly to Angus MacDonald, and by chance he landed in a part of the island belonging to MacLean. Two outlaws, MacDonald Herrach and Hutcheon Madgillespick, who had fallen out with Donald Gorme MacDonald, arrived also with a company of men. Understanding that Donald Gorme was there, they secretly took away, by night, a number of cattle out of that part of the island which appertaineth to MacLean. So they retire again to the sea, thereby thinking to raise a tumult against Donald Gorme by making the Clan MacLean believe that this was done by Donald Gorme MacDonald's men, who, lying at a place called Inver-knock-bhric, were suddenly invaded unawares under silence of the night neither suspecting or expecting any such matter by Sir Lauchlan MacLean and the entire Clan MacLean. The MacLeans killed more than 60 of the Clan MacDonalds that night. Donald Gorme MacDonald escaped in a ship that lay in the harbour. Angus MacDonald of Kintyre, hearing of accident and falling out between his brother-in-law, MacLean (whose sister he had married) and his cousin, Donald Gorme MacDonald, travelled Skye to visit Donald Gorme MacDonald and to see by what means he could work a reconciliation between him and MacLean for the slaughter of Donald Gorme MacDonald's men at Inverknock-bhric. After a lot of political arguing, the two sides were made to make peace by the King.

The Battle of the Isle of Isla 1598: Sir Lauchlan MacLean laid claim to the whole Isle of Isla. However it had always been the ancient inheritance of the Clan Donald, at this time under Sir James MacDonald. Sir Lauchlan MacLean, actually James MacDonald's uncle, assembled his whole force and invaded the Isle of Isla. James being reasonable peacfully offered his uncle half of the Island for the MacLeans to own for Lauchlan's lifetime only. However Lauchlan MacLean refused all offers of peace unless his nephew gave him the entire Island. A cruel battle took place. James MacDonald's men were far inferior in number but had been trained well. The MacDonalds retreated so as to fight with the sun on their backs. The MacDonalds were eventually victorious and the MacLeans were defeated. Sir Lauchlan MacLean and about 280 of his men were killed, the rest chased to their boats. James MacDonald was seriously wounded after being shot through the body with an arrow; he was found after the battle amongst 30 dead MacDonalds. This brought an end to the feud between the MacDonalds and Clan MacLean. However afterwards the King, not liking the MacDonalds, gave much of the land to Clan Campbell, later leading to a further feud.

17th Century & The Civil War:

The Battle of Siol Tormoit in 1601: Donald Gorm of the Clan MacDonald of Sleat had married the sister of Sir Rory MacLeod of the Harris. For some reason Donald Gorm MacDonald did not like his wife. Sir Rory MacLeod sent a message to Donald Gorm MacDonald, asking him to return his sister. Donald Gorm not only refused to obey this request, but also divorced her, marrying instead the sister of Kenneth MacKenzie, Laird of Kintail. Sir Rory MacLeod took this disgrace (as he thought it) so highly that he assembled his men and invaded part of Donald Gorm MacDonald's lands in the Isle of Skye, which lands Sir Rory MacLeod claimed to be his. Donald Gorm MacDonald then assembled his forces and invaded MacLeod's lands of Harris, which he wasted and spoiled, carrying away their store and bestial and killing some of the inhabitants. Rory MacLeod and his men traveled to the Siol Tormoit, Isle of Uist (then Donald Gorm MacDonald's), sent his cousin, Donald Glas MacLeod, with some 40 men to spoil the island, and took much goods preserved in a church. John Macian-MacJames (a kinsman of Donald Gorm MacDonald), accompanied by 20 others, encountered Donald Glas MacLeod. After a sharp skirmish, they killed Donald Glas MacLeod and most of his company, rescuing the goods. Sir Rory, seeing the bad success of his men, retired home. Both sides continued to steal and slaughter. In end, Donald Gorm MacDonald assembled his whole force in the year of 1601 and invaded Sir Rory MacLeod's lands, drawing them into a fight. Sir Rory MacLeod was then in Argyle looking for advice from the Earl of Argyll against the Clan MacDonald. Alexander MacLeod (Sir Rory's brother) resolved to fight Donald Gorm MacDonald, even though his brother was absent. The battle lasted most of the day, both contending for victory with great obstinacy. The Clan MacDonald, in the end, defeated their enemies, taking Alexander MacLeod. The two side later made peace, and Alexander MacLeod was released.

Variance 1602: A feud between Lord Kintail MacKenzie and the MacDonald's Laird of the Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry led to the MacDonalds being attacked by the MacKenzies. A few MacDonalds were killed at Variance. The MacKenzies wanted the MacDonald Laird of Glengarry to appear before the Justice court at Edinburgh for previous crimes against them. Meanwhile two more MacDonalds were killed. Glengarry MacDonald did not appear in court on the arranged date but went about his own hand to revenge the slaughter of his clansmen. As he did not appear in court the MacKenzies wasted the MacDonald country of Morar. The two sides met and a battle took place with great slaughter on both sides. After this they came to an agreement to obtain peace where Glengarry MacDonald was glad to requite and renounce to the Lord MacKenzie of Kintail, and give him the inheritance of the lands of Strome.

The Scottish Civil War of 1644-47 was in large part a clan war between the MacDonalds and Clan Campbell. the MacDonalds sided with the Royalists in the English Civil War and the Irish Confederate Catholics in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The Campbells sided with the Scottish Covenanters. A MacDonald clansman, Alasdair MacColla raised an Irish force in 1644 and landed in Scotland, with the aim of linking up with the Scottish Royalists and taking back the lands that Clan Donald had lost to the Campbells. After a year of campaigning around Scotland, in which MacColla's men ravaged the Campbell lands, the two sides met at the Battle of Inverlochy (1645). This battle was between the Scottish Argyll government forces of Clan Campbell led by Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll and the Royalist forces of the Marquess of Montrose mainly made up of Clan MacDonald, Clan MacLean and other MacDonalds and MacColla's men from Ireland. Through cunning tactics the Royalist force of 1500 MacDonalds & MacLeans defeated the Argyll Campbell force of 3000. In 1645 during the Civil War the Clan MacInnes Kinlochaline Castle was attacked and burned by MacDonalds serving under James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose. Clan MacDonald 'Dress' TartanThe Battle of Mulroy 1668, Clan Cameron and Clan MacKintosh were at peace and Cameron Chief Sir Ewen was responsible for keeping the peace between his men and their former enemies. However when the Chief Sir Ewen Cameron was away in London a feud broker out between Clan Donald and their enemies Clan MacKintosh and Clan MacKenzie. As the Cameron Chief was away he was not able to hold back his clan and the combined forces of Cameron and MacDonald defeated the MacKintoshes and MacKenzies. In 1692, 38 unarmed MacDonalds from the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were murdered in the Massacre of Glencoe when an initiative to suppress Jacobitism was entangled in the long running feud between Clan MacDonald and Clan Campbell. The slaughter of the host MacDonalds at the hands of their Campbell guests was a major affront to Scottish Law and Highland tradition.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings:

Clan MacDonald 'Dress Muted' TartanBattle of Sheriffmuir 1715. During the initial early Jacobite Uprisings the British Government forces, including some units drawn from Clan Campbell fought against the Jacobite rebels, made up, amongst others, of the men of Clan Donald who were under MacDonald of Keppoch. However there were in fact some Campbells who took the Jacobites's side, led by the son of Campbell of Glenlyon whose father had commanded the government troops at the Massacre of Glencoe 22 years earlier. The two young men buried the hatchet and swore to be brothers in arms, fighting side by side in the Battle of Sheriffmuir. The British forces defeated the Jacobites. The Clan Donald fought on the side of the Jacobites during the 1745-1746 uprisings with three regiments from Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald, Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry, and the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch fighting at the Battle of Prestonpans, Battle of Falkirk (1746) and the Battle of Culloden. The Clan MacDonald of Glencoe also fought at the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745. The Clan MacDonald of Sleat branch did not take part in the Jacobite Uprisings therefore the Sleat possessions remained intact.

Septs of Clan MacDonald:

Beath, Beaton, Bethune, Bowie, Colson, Connall, Connell, Darroch, Donald, Donaldson, Donillson, Donnelson, Drain, Galbraith, Gilbride, Gorrie, Gowan, Gowrie, Hawthorn, Hewison, Houstoun, Howison, Hughson, Hutcheonson, Hutchinson, Hutchison, Isles, Kellie, Kelly, Kinnell, Mac a' Challies, MacBeth, MacBeath, MacBheath, MacBride, MacCaishe, MacCall, MacCash, MacCeallaich, MacCodrum, MacColl, MacConnell, MacCook, MacCooish, MacCrain, MacCuag, MacCuish, MacCuitein, MacCutcheon, MacDaniell, Macdrain, MacEachern, MacElfrish, MacElheran, MacGorrie, MacGorry, MacGoun, MacGowan, MacGown, MacHugh, MacHutchen, MacHutcheon, MacIan, Macilreach, Macilriach, Macilleriach, Macilrevie, Macilvride, Macilwraith, MacKean, MacKellachie, MacKellaig, MacKelloch, MacKiggan, MacKinnell, MacLairish, MacLardie, MacLardy, MacLarty, MacLaverty, MacLeverty, MacMurchie, MacMurdo, MacMurdoch, MacO'Shannaig, MacQuistan, MacQuisten, MacRaith, MacRorie, MacRory, MacRuer, MacRurie(MacRury- Contester of the Lord of the Isles), MacShannachan, MacSorley, MacSporran, MacSwan, MacWhannell, Martin, May, Murchie, Murchison, Murdoch, Murdoson, O'Drain, O'May, O'Shannachan, O'Shaig, O'Shannaig, Patton, Purcell, Revie, Reoch, Riach, Rorison, Shannon, Sorley, Sporran, Train, Whannel.

Clan MacDougall :

Clan History:

Clan MacDougall is a Scottish clan traditionally associated with the lands of Argyll and Lorn in Scotland. Like the Clan Donald or MacDonald and all of its MacDonald branches, the MacDougalls are also descended from the King Somerled. The clan takes its name from Dougall, a son of Somerled, who, after his father's death in 1164, held most of Argyll and also the islands of Mull, Lismore, Jura, Tiree, Coll and many others. Likewise the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald branch take their name from another of King Somerled's sons called Ranald and the head Clan Donald take their name from Somerled's grandson and Ranald's son who was called Donald. The Celtic Christian name Dougall, or Dugald, is derived from the Gaelic 'dubh-gall', meaning 'black stranger'. Dougall's royal descent was acknowledged by the king of Norway, and he styled himself 'King of the South Isles and Lord of Lorne'. His son, Duncan, and his grandson, Ewan, built castles to defend their dominions, including Dunstaffnage, Dunollie and Duntrune on the mainland, and Aros, Cairnburgh, Dunchonnel and Coeffin on the islands. Dunollie, a craig rising up over seventy feet, was most likely fortified as early as the sixth century and was to become the chief seat. Duncan also built Ardchattan Priory, where the MacDougall chiefs were buried until 1737.

Scottish Norweigen War:

After King Haakon of Norway had been defeated by the Scottish army at the Battle of Largs in 1263 the Clan MacDougall attacked his fleet. The Norsman were defeated by the MacDougalls in the sea battle.

Wars of Scottish Independence:

They were supporters of William Wallace and King John I of Scotland and were driven out by supporters of King Robert I of Scotland during the civil wars in Scotland which formed part of the Wars of Scottish Independence. Two years later and Bruce led an army of three thousand men against the MacDougalls. John MacDougall of Lorne set an ambush for them but after a savage engagment the MacDougalls were broken and forced to flee. The MacDougalls lost most of their lands in Argyll which were then passed to the Clan Campbell for their loyalty to the King. Clan MacDougall fought for Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Dalry in 1306 against the Earl of Atholl.

Clan Conflicts:

Battle of Red Ford, Lorn 1296; Battle between Clan Campbell & Clan MacDougall. This battle took place due to the feud over coastal lands between the two clans. In the late 13th century the rising force on Scotland's Western Seaboard was the MacDougalls. Controlling the Western mainland was MacDougall's Dunollie Castle and Dunstaffnage Castle, near Oban in Argyllshire while their huge fleet of galleys commanded the seas. Many lives were lost on both sides at the Battle of Red Ford which takes its name from the Ford which ran red with blood where the battle took place. Also on the day one of Campbell's castles on loch Awe was seized by the MacDougalls. The Campbell Chief Cailean Mor Campbell was killed at the battle. His body was carried to the church of St. Peter the Deacon at Kilchrenan on Loch Awe side and buried there. Although the exact burial place is unknown, in 1816 the Duke of Argyll inserted in the gable of the present church, a 14th century gravestone in memory of his ancestor. Alistair MacDougall married the sister of John Comyn of the Comyn, Scotland’s most powerful man. John’s son, the "Red Comyn", was next in line as King of Scotland after the Balliols. However this was the time when Bruce made his bid for the Crown. Bruce slew the Red Comyn at the altar rails in Dumfries and the MacDougalls entered into the feud which ended in the utter destruction of the Clan Comyn and the loss of the MacDougalls' islands to Bruce. In 1463 Sir John Stewart was murderd outside of a church just as he was about to mary his MacLaren wife. He was murderd by Alan MacCoul, an allie of the Clan MacDougall. However his murder was avenged in 1468 when the Clan Stuart and Clan MacLaren together defeated the Clan MacDougall at the Battle of Stalc which took place opposite Castle Stalker.

Civil War:

In the 17th century during the Civil War the Clan MacDougall were generally Royalist and in 1645 chief Alexander MacDougall led five hundred of his men into battle. After the defeat of James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose a Covenanting army under David Leslie was sent to Argyll to deal with the royalist sympathisers. When the Stuart monarchy was restored so were the MacDougall lands.

Jacobite Uprisings:

In the 18th century during the Jacobite Uprisings the Clan MacDougall supported the Jacobite cause and fought at the Battle of Sheriffmuir which the Jacobites lost. The MacDougall chief was forced into exile but later returned to Scotland to live as a fugitive. He was pardoned in 1727. His son and next chief, Alexander MacDougall did not take part in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1745 to 1746. Although his brother and some of the clansmen did indeed fight as Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

Septs:

Carmichael (Mac)Conacher (Mac)Cowan MacCulloch (Mac)Dowall (Mac)Dowell MacDulothe MacGugan MacHowell MacKichan MacLintock MacLucas MacLugash MacLullich MacNamell MacCoul(l) MacOwl