Clan Donald

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Map of Dál Riata at its height, c. 580–600. Later territory of King Somerled ancestor of the MacDonalds. Pictish regions are marked in yellow.
Map of Dál Riata at its height, c. 580–600. Later territory of King Somerled ancestor of the MacDonalds. Pictish regions are marked in yellow.

Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. The MacDonald clan has many separate branches:

These are the Clan Donald branches with extant chiefs, including the main Clan Donald followed by their Gaelic patronymics:

These are the other branches of the Clan Donald without extant chiefs:

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Origins of the Clan

Clan Donald traces its descent from Domhnall mac Raghnaill (d. circa 1250),[1] whose father Reginald or Ranald was styled "King of the Isles" and "Lord of Argyll and Kintrye".[2] Ranald's father, Somerled was styled "King of the Hebrides", and was killed campaigning against Malcolm IV of Scotland at the Battle of Renfrew in 1164. Clan Donald shares a descent from Somerled with Clan MacDougall, who trace their lineage from his elder son,Blake Donald.[3]

Gaelic tradition gave Somerled a Celtic descent in the male line,[2][4] as the medieval Seanachies traced his lineage through a long line of ancestors back to Colla Uais and Conn of the Hundred Battles.[5] Thus Clan Donald claimed to be both Clann Cholla and Siol Chuinn (Children of Colla and Seed of Conn).[6] Possibly the oldest piece of poetry attributed to the MacDonalds is a brosnachadh (an incitement to battle) which was said to have been written in 1411, on the day of the Battle of Harlaw.[6] The first lines of the poem begin "A Chlanna Cuinn cuimhnichibh / Cruas an am na h-iorghaile," (Ye children of Conn remember hardihood in the time of battle).[6] A later poem made to John of Islay (1434 – 1503), last of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, proclaims "Cennus Ghaoidheal do Chlainn Cholla, coir a fhogra," (The Headship of the Gael to the family of Colla, it is right to proclaim it), giving MacDonald's genealogy back to Colla Uais.[6]

However a recent DNA study has shown that Somerled may have been of Norse descent in his male line.[7] By testing the Y-DNA of males bearing the surnames MacDonald, MacDougall, MacAlister, and their variants it was found that a substantial proportion of men tested shared the same Y-DNA and a direct paternal ancestor.[8] This distinct Y-chromosome found in Scotland has been regarded as showing Norse descent in the British Isles.[7]

[edit] 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 Scottish forces. Norway's King Haakon was defeated and his fleet was wrecked by the skilled manoeuvres of King Alexander III of Scotland and the Clan MacDougall. Three years later, the Norwegians submitted their last islands to the Scottish crown. Aonghas Mór, the son of Domhnall, then made peace with King Alexander III of Scotland.

[edit] Wars of Scottish Independence

MacDonald, Lord of the Isles
MacDonald, Lord of the Isles

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 of Islay 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.

[edit] Lord of the Isles begins

The clan takes its name 'Donald' from the 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.

[edit] 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, Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles 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 24 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 by 1415 the Earldom of Ross was lost as Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany had seized Dingwall Castle and Easter Ross. Domhnall prepared for war and proclaimed himself "Lord of Ross". Although Albany appointed his own son John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan as the new Earl of Ross. However, later the MacDonald chiefs would again become the Earls of Ross, firstly Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross and then his son John of Islay, Earl of Ross who surrendered the earldom in 1476 to James Stewart, Duke of Ross.

Clan Conflicts

  • In 1411 prior to the Battle of Harlaw The Clan Donald defeated the Clan MacKay at the Battle of Dingwall. The Mackay then submitted to MacDonald and they joined forces and fought at Harlaw.
  • The Battle of Split Allegiances 1429, was between forces led by Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, 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 of Scotland. It is believed is that Donald Dubh, XI 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 Cameron, 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 and sued for peace, with Alexander submitting to the King and being imprisoned afterwards.
  • While chief Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross was imprisoned by King James I, the Clan MacDonald were led by Donald Balloch, the nephew of Alexander at the Battle of Inverlochy (1431), where the MacDonalds were victorious in defeating the Earl of Mar's army.
  • Battle of Blar-na-Pairc 1477, The Lord of the Isles had resigned the Earldom of Ross into the Kings hands. After this the MacDonald Islanders continually molested with incursions 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.
  • Battle of Bloody Bay 1480. The battle was fought between John of Islay, Earl of Ross, who was also Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald (Eoin MacDomhnaill) against his son Angus Og Macdonald (Aonghas Óg ). John MacDonald of Islay, chief of Clan Donald was supported by men from the Clan MacLean, Clan MacLeod, and Clan MacNeil. He was opposed by his son, Angus Og Macdonald, who was supported Allan Macruari, chief of the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald. [9] and Domhnall Mac Aonghais (Donald Mac Angus) chief of the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch [10][11]
  • The Battle of Skibo and Strathfleet 1480, John of Islay, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, accompanied by about five or six hundred of his clan, came into Sutherland and camped by Skibo Castle, whereupon Neil Murray of Clan 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 from Clan Sutherland and attacked them upon the sands of Strathfleet. After a sharp and cruel skirmish, MacDonald's men were defeated.

[edit] 16th century

MacDonald of the Isles (MakDonnald of ye Ylis) tartan, as published in the Vestiarium Scoticum in 1842.
MacDonald of the Isles (MakDonnald of ye Ylis) tartan, as published in the Vestiarium Scoticum in 1842.

[edit] Lord of the Isles ends

The position of Lord of the Isles which the MacDonald chief had held since the 13th century had been revoked in 1495. However the MacDonalds remained a powerful clan and retained much of their lands until much violence broke out in the middle of the 16th century.

Clan Conflicts

  • 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, Donald Gorme chief 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 the Isle of Jura, which partly belonged to Clan MacLean and partly to Angus MacDonald of Kintyre. 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 of Sleat was there, they secretly took away, by night, a number of cattle that belonged to the MacLeans. They then retired again to the sea, having raised a tumult against Donald Gorme by making the MacLeans 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 Islay 1598. Sir Lauchlan MacLean laid claim to the whole Isle of Islay. 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 Islay. James being reasonable peacefully 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.

[edit] 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 Wars of the Three Kingdoms 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 Irish O'Kanes, O'Neills, Ulster Irish Clan MacDonald, Clan MacLean and other MacDonalds. Through cunning tactics the Royalist force of 1500 MacDonalds, Irish and MacLeans defeated the Argyll Campbell force of 3000.
  • Massacre of Glencoe, 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.

[edit] 18th century & Jacobite Uprisings

  • During the Jacobite risings of 1715 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 and the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald whose chief was killed. 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 MacDonald of Sleat branch did not take part in the Jacobite Uprisings therefore the Sleat possessions remained intact.

[edit] MacDonald's Castles

Castles that have been in possession of the MacDonalds over the centuries have included:

[edit] Clan Chief

The current chief of Clan Donald is the Right Honourable Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, 8th Lord Macdonald, Chief of the Name and Arms of Macdonald, High Chief of Clan Donald and 34th hereditary Chief of Clan Donald. He descends directly from the ancient Kings and Lords of the Isles. [8]

[edit] Clan profile

  • Gaelic Name: MacDhomhnuill.
  • Motto: Per mare per terras (By sea and by land).
  • Plant Badge: Heather.
  • Lands: The Western Isles.
  • Origin of Name: Gaelic, Domhnull (World ruler).

[edit] Septs of Clan Donald

  • Septs of Clan Donald include the following. Other branches of Clan Macdonald have different septs.

Alexander, Beath, Beaton, Bethune, Bowie, Colson, Connall, Connell,Cram,Crum, Danalds, 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, MacBryde, [12] 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, McReyolds, McRuer, 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, Wilkie, Wilkinson, Wilkins.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Donald, Lord of the Isles Retrieved on 2007-10-09
  2. ^ a b Moncreiffe, pp. 127–131.
  3. ^ Dougal Retrieved on 2007-10-04
  4. ^ MacDonald, Donald J. Clan Donald.
  5. ^ Gregory, p. 10.
  6. ^ a b c d The Macdonald Bardic Poetry Part 1 by Professor W. J. Watson Retrieved on 2007-10-09
  7. ^ a b Johnston, Ian. "DNA shows Celtic hero Somerled's Viking roots". The Scotsman, 2005-04-26. Retrieved on 2007-10-09
  8. ^ Sykes, p.214.
  9. ^ The Clan Ranald
  10. ^ Notes
  11. ^ MacRuarie – McCreary
  12. ^ Clan Donald - List of Family Names, Branches and Septs

[edit] References

Works cited

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Donald"
Personal tools