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Clan MacDonald

BY SEA AND BY LAND


Clan MacDonald (or simply clan Donald) are a Highland clan - and historically the largest and most powerful, holding large areas of land in the Highlands. There are several MacDonald clan branches, most notably the MacDonalds of Sleat and MacDonalds of Clanranald.

For many years the MacDonalds held the title of Lord of the Isles, claiming territory along the west cost of Scotland, until James IV of Scotland removed the title and territory from the clan after fearing that they would overpower the monarchy and assert their own independence.

The MacDonald clan motto is "Per mare per terras" (By sea and by land) and the clan crest is a hand holding a cross crosslet.

Scottish History

of Clan MacDonald


Men of war

The MacDonalds have their ancestors in the renowned Lords of the Isles who viewed themselves as laws unto themselves outwith the rule of the sovereign on the mainland.

They held the Western Isles in an iron grip and their territories extended as far south as the Isle of Man. They also became earls of Ross and were the great rivals of the Campbells of Argyll.

One of their heroes was the mighty and ferocious warrior, Somerled, who fought the Norsemen (carrying off and marrying Eric the Red’s daughter) before being slain by the Scottish king Malcolm IV in 1164.

One of his grandsons, Donald, gave his name to the whole clan (“Mac” meaning in Scots ‘the son of’) and their loyalties were divided during the Wars of Independence with most of them supporting Robert the Bruce and prospering accordingly.

Visitors to Scotland incline to picture the Highlander of old as a man solely of the heather-clad mountains but the MacDonalds, as with other clans based to the west, were also seamen. In the late 16th century rhythmic oars under a square sail were still roving the Hebridean seas as they had done since the days of the Vikings and many were the stories told of the rovers’ prowess.

For instance, the Mackenzies received reports of a MacDonald fleet of over 30 galleys having set out to harry the coast of their lands; and a woman gathering shellfish near Applecross told of a “great galley” which had recently disappeared round an arm of the land nearby. The Mackenzie boat was sent in pursuit while fighting men sped overland, catching the MacDonald galley by surprise and in the ensuing fight killing their enemy’s leader.

Angus, the leader of the MacDonalds, vowed revenge and planned a naval engagement for the coming Spring. Mackenzie also prepared for battle and from his headquarters at Eilean Donan Castle sent out a call to other friendly clans for support. Lady Mackenzie gave her followers two brass cannon, lead and gunpowder.

The battle early in the following year was fought bitterly for days and even at times in the moonlight. Angus was among the casualties and did not recover. Lady Mackenzie arranged a funeral appropriate for such an honoured foe. After such a bloodletting and the result inconclusive with both sides having fought themselves to a standstill it merely led to further raids and vendettas in the years ahead until the MacDonalds by sheer numbers got the upper hand.

In the 1300s Robert the Bruce had granted lands of Lochaber to Angus Og of the Isles in recognition of the part played by the MacDonalds at the battle of Bannockburn but later their claim to these lands were disputed by rival clans and they had to fight tooth and nail to hold onto them.

But the MacDonalds also had territorial ambitions of their own and on one memorable occasion sailed galleys up Loch Ness to storm Urquhart Castle.

The MacDonalds were also involved in constant running battles and ambushes with Royalist forces keen to impose the shackles of centralised government on them.

On one occasion King James 1st had Alasdair MacDonald kidnapped and imprisoned in a dungeon in Tantallon Castle on steep cliffs overlooking the Firth of Forth, east of North Berwick, about as far away from the chieftain’s followers that it was possible to get while still staying in Scotland.

But Alasdair’s men continued their fight against the King’s men and a cousin of his led a successful attack against a Royalist regiment garrisoned at Inverlochy Castle. As a section of the MacDonalds advanced on the castle, another group sailed south then cut back overland into a position in the braes above Inverlochy where two hundred bowmen poured arrows into the enemy.

After the Royalist defeat, Alasdair was grudgingly released with the condition that he punish his men who had taken part in the raid on Inverlochy, something he singularly failed to do, claiming they had fled to Ireland (as some indeed had). As a result his lands were confiscated by the Government and Alasdair kept up a vigorous but vain lifelong campaign to win them back.

Headhunting

Eventually, the clan had their lands returned to them and little is heard of the chiefs until the 10th, also called Alasdair, appeared on the scene at the beginning of the 17th century.

This Alasdair was a man of some culture, well educated and who in his college days in the south was a fellow student with a Macfarlane of Luss on Loch Lomondside.

Later they would visit each other as part of the social scene – yet the broadsword was never left long enough in its scabbard to rust.

A fugitive Highlander appeared at a house owned by a MacDonald laird, asking for food and shelter for his men of the clan Gregor hiding nearby from Argyle’s warriors. He was refused and the laird sent a message to Keppoch Castle, Alasdair’s stronghold, informing his chief who surprised the Gregors in their hiding place and killed them. He sent their heads to Edinburgh and was rewarded with a grant of £100.

Alasdair and Macfarlane in their student days had ventured abroad and, of all social graces, had been shown conjuring tricks and later performed displays for their clansfolk.

Some of the audience feared they were witnessing the works of the Devil, while others were full of admiration and called their chief ‘Alasdair nan Cleas’ (Alexander of the Tricks).

On a sojourn down south, Alasdair was entertained by an English baron who boasted of his silver plate adorning the dining table and of the superbly fashioned candlesticks illuminating the scene, remarking that his guest in his Highland fastness could not match the display.

In time the baron came north and visited Keppoch and when he was shown into the ancient banqueting hall was surprised at the dramatic spectacle of twelve Highlanders ranged in full warrior dress round the room, each holding aloft torches of flaming pine.

“These,” his lord observed, “are MY priceless candlesticks which all the wealth in England cannot buy!”

In the winter of 1644 King Charles I was on the throne and much troubled by the Covenanters. The Royal army in Scotland with the Marquis of Montrose as Captain General and Alasdair (‘young Colkitto’), the son of MacDonald of Colonsay as Lieutenant General, opposed Campbell of Argyle’s forces.

Montrose and his men headed for Inverness to win support and on reaching Fort Augustus on their way up the Great Glen had word that Argyle’s men were laying waste to the Lochaber lands in revenge for Montrose’s plundering of Campbell territory.

After a forced 30 mile march over the snowy mountain vastness, Montrose led his 2000 men on a vast outflanking movement, taking his enemies totally by surprise. With the MacDonalds in the front line advancing to the wild music from their great Highland bagpipes, the Royal Army swept Argyle’s men from the field.

News of Campbell’s force had been given by one of the extraordinary characters in this story who had then led Montrose through the mountains – Iain Lom of the Donald clan, a famed Gaelic bard. It was said that before the battle began he was offered a sword to take part in the attack but refused, saying that his part was to record what would be a famous victory and this resulted in a notable Gaelic epic poem.

Around 1500 of Argyle’s Campbells had been killed and their chieftan let it be known that he would give a handsome reward to anyone who would bring him the head of the man who he considered the initial cause of the defeat – Iain Lom.

Some time later a stranger called at Argyle’s home at Inverlochy and said that he had come for the reward.

“Where,” asked the chief, “is the head?”

“Here!” was the answer and the stranger pointed at his own head for it was Iain Lom himself.

Argyle was so amused at the nerve of the man that vindictiveness gave way to admiration for such a character and Iain became an honoured guest at Inverlochy for several days – without further mention of heads.

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Family History Mini Book


We hope you enjoyed reading this excerpt from this mini book on the Scottish history of the MacDonald family.

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130 Clan MacDonald

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The Crests

of Clan MacDonald

Clan MacDonald
Clan MacDonald (Clan Ranald)
Clan MacDonald (Clan Donald)
Clan MacDonald (of Sleat or Slate)
Clan MacDonald (Dumfries)
Clan MacDonald (Aberdeen)
Clan MacDonald (Edinburgh)
Clan MacDonald
Clan MacDonald
Clan MacDonald
Clan MacDonald
Clan MacDonald (Kinnairdie)
Donaldson family
Donaldson family

69 Clan MacDonald

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Divisions

of MacDonald

Alexander
Allanson
Ballach
Balloch
Beath
Bowie
Bullock
Connell
Cook
Coull
Cririe
Daniel
Donnell
Galbraith
Gilbride
Gorrie
Gorry
Gowans
Hawthorn
Henderson
Howe
Hutchison
Jeffrey
Johnstone
Kelly
Livingstone
MacAlister
MacBrayne
MacConnell
MacCuish
MacCutcheon
MacDaniel
MacDonald of Aird
MacDonald of Ardnamurchan
MacDonald of Belfinlay
MacDonald of Boisdale
MacDonald of Borrodale
MacDonald of Clanranald
MacDonald of Glenaladale
MacDonald of Glencoe
MacDonald of Glengarry
MacDonald of Keppoch
MacDonald of Kingsburgh
MacDonald of Lochmaddy
MacDonald of P.E.
MacDonald of Sleat
MacDonald of Staffa
MacDonald of the Isles
MacDougal
MacGeachan
MacGill
MacGilp
MacIsaac
MacKean
MacKendrick
MacKiarran
MacMartin
MacMurrich
MacRorie
MacSorley
MacVurrich
Mark
Martin
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197 Clan MacDonald

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