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Clan Munro

DREAD GOD


Historically based in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands, the Munro clan originate from an Irishman - namely Donald Munro, who came to Scotland in the 11th century. The first chief on record was Robert de Munro. who died in 1369.

The Munros fought with King Robert the Bruce in the Scottish Wars of Independence, but were staunchly anti-Jacobite during the 18th century uprisings. They feuded with a number of their neighbouring clans, but primarily the MacKenzies.

An independent Highland Company of Munros was one of six to make up the original Am Freiceadan Dubh, or "Black Watch". It became the 43rd Highland regiment in 1740.

The Munro clan motto is "Dread God" and the clan crest is an eagle.

Scottish History

of Clan Munro


The men of Ferindonald

The Munros are thought to be of Celtic origin, and there is a tradition that the name means “man from Roe”, Roe being a river in Derry, Ireland.

This “man from Roe” was supposed to have been Donald, son of O’Cathain, who came from Ireland to fight for Malcolm II (1004-34) against the Danes.

The heartland of the clan is a narrow strip of country running eight miles along the northern shore of the Cromarty Firth from Dingwall to Alness.

This was backed by a mountain range which offered protection from attack from the north. To the south was the Cromarty Firth, also easily defended. The western approaches, through Dingwall, were defended by Dingwall Castle, which is now a sparse ruin.

So the early Munros who settled there would have been farmers and fishermen. The soil was fertile, and the shallow Firth was protected from the storms of the open sea.

Their main stronghold was Foulis Castle, which eventually became home to the clan chief.

This territory was called Ferindonald (Fearan Domhnuill, “Donald’s land”), and was said to be named after this Donald from Ireland. However, the “man from Roe” tradition is now discounted.

Over the years, the name “Munro” has evolved into four main spellings: Munro, Monro, ÓMunroe and Monroe. In Gaelic, the Munros form Clann an Rothaich.

It is claimed that they held their territory as vassals of the earls of Ross, and that their payment was to present a snowball to the earl every midsummer’s day.

Finding snow in summer would not have been difficult. Not far away is Ben Wyvis, and its northern corries usually retain snow all year round.

Queen Elizabeth II is a descendent of these earls of Ross, and could still claim the snowball if she wished.

There were also small pockets of Munros in Tain and further north in Sutherland. Some Munros established themselves south of the Cromarty Firth, on the Black Isle, though this was Mackenzie country. The Munro chiefs were at one time buried there within Fortrose Cathedral.

The first written record we have of a Munro in Ferindonald is of Hugh Munro de Foulis, who died in 1126. He was granted a charter of land by William, Earl of Sutherland.

We find a Robert Munro mentioned in 1309, when Robert I granted him lands in Strathspey. And in 1338 George Munro witnessed a charter of lands in Badenoch.

Even then, it seems, the Munros were spreading from their heartland.

In 1364 another Robert Munro was granted a charter for more land near Foulis. He is regarded as the first chief of clan Munro.

He married Jane Ross, niece of Queen Euphemia, Robert II’s wife. He was “baron baillie” to the earl of Ross, and was killed while defending the earl in this capacity.

There is no record of the Munros fighting in the Wars of Independence with Sir William Wallace. However, William, earl of Ross, was involved, and they may have fought under his name and banner.

This William was captured at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296, and several years in England converted him to Edward I’s cause. He took no part in the Battle of Bannockburn, even though he paid homage (unwillingly) to Robert the Bruce in 1308.

His younger brother Sir Walter de Ros did fight at Bannockburn, and was killed there.

There is a tradition that a Robert Munro de Foulis fought under William’s banner, and that he and his son George were killed as well.

The next earl of Ross was Robert the Bruce’s brother-in-law. He fought alongside his King, and was killed at Halidon Hill near Berwick in 1333. Also killed were many of his Munro supporters.

Fighting men and ministers

In the early 15th century, James I was held captive by the English. He returned in 1424, and set about consolidating his position.

He harried many Highland houses, such as Strathearn, Mar and the Isles. This was not only to strengthen his position, but to clean up an area rife with feuding. One of the feuds was between the Munros and a branch of the Macdonalds.

Near Strathpeffer, to the west of Dingwall, is the Eagle Stone. This is carved with Pictish symbols, and tradition says it also commemorates a Munro victory over the Macdonalds in 1411.

The Brahan Seer prophesied that if the stone fell over three times, ships could be tethered to it without leaving the sea. It has already fallen over twice, and the stone is now securely held in place.

While harrying some clans, James excused the misdeeds of others. At Inverness in 1428, for instance, he signed a document which freed 28 individuals from punishment for past wrongdoings.

The first five persons are Munros, and no doubt one of the “crimes” was the feud with the Macdonalds. James obviously needed them as allies.

They gained more lands, and began to spread. However, they still continued to bicker with other clans. In 1452 they fought with Mackenzie rebels at Garbat, near Ben Wyvis. The rebels had captured a kinsman of the earl of Ross, and the Munros were trying to release him.

Fighters on both sides tied their shoes to their breasts to deflect arrows, and the location of the skirmish became known as Bealach nam Bròg is now a pipe tune closely associated with the clan.

In 1454, John Munro, tutor of Foulis, forayed south into Perthshire with a band of men to capture cattle. On his way home through Mackintosh country, he disagreed with them as to how many cattle he should give them to allow safe passage.

No agreement was reached, so John Munro and his men headed north with the Mackintoshes in pursuit. At Clachnaharry near Inverness they caught up, and battle commenced. Most Munros made it home, but John Munro himself was maimed for life.

There is no actual record of the Munros fighting at Flodden, but there is a tradition that the Argyllshire Munros are descended from a wounded clan member who survived that battle. We do know, however, that Robert Munro of Foulis was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.

Robert’s son was Robert Mòr (“Great Robert”) Munro of Foulis. His first wife’s father was a friend of Mary of Guise, Mary, Queen of Scots’ mother, and because of this Robert himself supported Mary.

His second wife was a much more interesting character. Her name was Katherine, and she was regarded as a witch.

She also introduced Hector, one of her stepsons, to witchcraft, and after Robert’s death both stood trial but were acquitted.

In 1617, Robert Dubh Munro of Foulis, 18th clan chief and nicknamed the “Black Baron”, became an officer in a regiment that fought for the King of Denmark against the Catholics.

This force was entirely made up of Highland Protestants, with Robert Dubh’s company comprising 700 men, all Munros.

Eventually the regiment fought in Sweden, and many Munros switched from this regiment to the Swedish army proper, where they rose to high rank.

Robert Dubh died in 1633, and his brother Hector succeeded him. In 1634, while in London, he was received by Charles I, who made him a Baronet of Nova Scotia.

Most of the Munros were Presbyterians, though a fair number embraced Episcopalianism. Some, however, never forsook the Roman Catholic religion of their ancestors.

Robert Munro, a priest of the Roman Catholic church, died while a prisoner in Invergarry Castle in 1704 after a lifetime of clandestine missionary work in Scotland.

There are, in France, a number of Munro families who claim descent from one Ulysses Monroe, who was a cavalier during the English Civil War.

And after the Battle of Worcester in 1651, several Munros fighting on the Royalist side were deported to North America. Many American Munros claim descent from these deportees.

In fact, the first person to fire a shot in the American War of Independence was William Munroe, at Lexington in 1775. It is also recorded that sixteen Munros took part in the Lexington battle.

The Rev. Alexander Monro, Principal of Edinburgh University, left Scotland in 1691 rather than belong to a church which didn’t recognise bishops. His grandson John was with the Jacobite court in Rome in 1746.

Sir Robert Munro, who became clan chief in 1729, joined the Black Watch regiment of the Hanovarian Army in 1740, and eventually became the colonel of an English regiment, the 37th Foot.

His son Harry joined the Earl of Loudoun’s regiment, and both fought against Bonnie Prince Charlie. Two hundred Munro volunteers joined them.

Harry was captured at Prestonpans in 1745, and Robert and his brother Duncan were killed at Falkirk in 1746.

When the Jacobite Uprising had been suppressed, Sir Harry did his best to see that Jacobite prisoners were treated humanely.

He and his clan had suffered under the Jacobites, but he made no claim for compensation. However, some money did come his way, and the mighty Earl of Sutherland proclaimed that the “little tribe of Munros” had been given too much.

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Family History Mini Book


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