Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall | |||
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Clann MhicDhùghaill | |||
Pipe music "Caisteal Dhunolla" | "Cumha Chaiptein MacDhughaill", "Failte Iain Cheir", "Jeanne Rea's Wedding", "Latha Dhunabharti", "Maid of Lorn", "MacDougall's Gathering", "MacDougall Gillies", "MacDougall's Lament", "MacDougall of Lunga", "MacDougall of Lunga-Paterson", "McDougall's Jig Oban Reel" | ||
Chief | |||
Morag Morley MacDougall of MacDougall and Dunollie | |||
Historic seat | Dunollie Castle,[3] Dunstaffnage Castle[3] | ||
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Clan MacDougall is a Highland
The MacDougalls supported the
History
Origins
The Clan MacDougall takes its name from Dougall, the son of Somerled. After Somerled's death at the Battle of Renfrew in 1164, Dougall held most of Argyll as well as the islands of Mull, Lismore, Jura, Tiree, Coll and others.[5]
The
Scottish-Norwegian War
Ewan's possessions on the islands were held from the king of Norway, whilst his possessions on the mainland were held from the king of Scotland.
Wars of Scottish Independence
The MacDougalls' influence in Argyll brought them into conflict with the Clan Campbell.[5] In 1294 John MacDougall of Argyll led the Clan MacDougall against the Clan Campbell at the Battle of Red Ford, where Sir Colin Campbell was killed but there were considerable losses on both sides.[5]
The fourth chief of Clan MacDougall married a sister of John Comyn II of Badenoch (the "Black Comyn"), whose son, John Comyn III (the "Red Comyn") was stabbed to death by Robert the Bruce in the church of Greyfriars in Dumfries in 1306, and this brought the MacDougalls into conflict with the Bruces.[5] The MacDougalls who had supported William Wallace in the cause of Scottish independence now found themselves in a blood feud with the Clan Bruce, whose cause was also of Scottish Independence.[5] Shortly after Robert the Bruce's coronation at Scone he was forced by the English to retreat into Argyll, in an attempt to reach his Clan Campbell allies.[5] However, the Clan MacDougall surprised the Bruce and defeated him in what was known as the Battle of Dalrigh.[5] The king escaped but left behind what was described as a magnificent example of Celtic jewellery, known as the Brooch of Lorne and it became one of the Clan MacDougall's great treasures.[5] Three years later Robert the Bruce led three thousand battle hardened veterans into Argyll against the MacDougalls.[5] John MacDougall of Lorne set an ambush for them but in the ensuing Battle of the Pass of Brander the MacDougalls were defeated and forced to flee.[5] The MacDougalls' lands were then forfeited by the king and he gave them to the Campbells for their loyalty.[5]
Although the power of the MacDougalls was never regained, their fortunes were restored somewhat under John MacDougall's grandson,
15th century
In 1468 the Clan MacDougall fought against the Clan Stewart of Appin at the Battle of Stalc.[8][9]
17th century and Civil War
During the civil war of the 17th century the MacDougalls were generally
18th century and Jacobite risings
During the Jacobite rising of 1715 the Clan MacDougall supported the Jacobite cause and fought at the Battle of Sheriffmuir after which the chief was forced into exile but later returned to Scotland to live as a fugitive.[5] He was pardoned in 1727.[5]
His son and next chief, Alexander MacDougall did not take part in the Jacobite rising of 1745.[5] However, his brother and some of the clansmen did indeed fight as Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.[5] The fighting force of the clan at this time is given as 200 men.[10]
Chief
The current chief of the clan is Morag Morley MacDougall of MacDougall and Dunollie. She is a daughter of the sister of the previous clan chief, Coline Helen Elizabeth MacDougall of MacDougall and Dunollie. The latter was in turn a daughter of the previous chief, Alexander James MacDougall of Dunollie.[11] The chief of Clan MacDougall represents the senior line of Somerled's descendants.[12]
The chief's coat of arms is blazoned: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, azure, a lion rampant argent; 2nd and 3rd, or, a galley sails furled sable, surmounted of a beacon gules.[13] This coat of arms specifically dates to 1931, and is very similar to one inscribed upon an 18th-century tombstone in the chiefs' Kilbride burial ground.[13][14]
Castles
Castles built or owned by the Clan MacDougall have included amongst many others:
- Covenanter army under General David Leslie, in which in the castle was sacked and burnt.[3] During the Jacobite rising of 1715 the castle was attacked again when the MacDougalls supported the Stewarts and as a result the lands were forfeited.[3] However, the lands were restored in 1745 and in 1746 the MacDougalls built nearby Dunollie House, although there was an earlier house there dating from about 1600, and the old castle was abandoned.[3] The castle is now in a dangerous condition but is still owned by the MacDougalls.[3]
- Dunstaffnage Castle, three and a half miles north-east of Oban, Argyll is a large courtyard castle with a high curtain wall, and later gatehouse range.[3] The kings of Dál Riata also had a strong hold there.[3] The Stone of Scone (or Stone of Destiny) is also said to have been kept at the castle.[3] The present castle was built by the MacDougalls and was besieged by Robert the Bruce after the MacDougalls were defeated at the Battle of the Pass of Brander in 1309.[3] The Bruce then made it a royal castle with the Campbells as the keepers.[3] There is also a chapel nearby that dates from the thirteenth century.[3] The castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland.[3]
- Gylen Castle, on the south coast of Kerrera is a small tower house that was and still is a property of the MacDougalls.[3] An earlier castle on the site was where Alexander II of Scotland may have died during an expedition to recover the Western Isles in the mid-thirteenth century.[3] The current castle was completed by Duncan MacDougall in 1582.[3] It was however torched (along with Dunollie Castle) by the Covenanters under General David Leslie in 1647.[3]
- Cairnburgh Castle, on the Treshnish Isles, off the Isle of Mull, is a ruinous castle once held by the MacDougalls that passed to the Crown with the MacDougalls as keepers in 1309.[3]
- Dunchonnel Castle, on the Garvellach Isles is a ruinous castle that was once held by the MacDougalls.[3]
- Coeffin Castle, on the Isle of Lismore is a ruinous castle once held by the MacDougalls.[3]
- Duart Castle, on Mull. The castle was probably built by the MacDougalls in the 13th century, and came into the possession of the MacLeans in the fourteenth century.[15]
- Mingary Castle in Lochaber. The castle may have been built by the MacDougalls in the 13th century.[16][17] As such it would appear to exemplify the northern extension of clan's power from the 12th century.[17]
Lords
- Dugald, son of Somerled
- Dugald Screech and Donnchadh of Argyll (died 1237×1248) (and perhaps Óspakr-Hákon), sons of Dugald
- Eóghan MacDubhgall, son of Donnchadh (died 1268×1275)
- Mormaer of Strathearn
- Angus Óg of Islay, defeated and driven into exile
Tartans
- MacDougall (Modern)
- MacDougall (Ancient)
- MacDougall (Dress)
See also
- Ardchattan Priory
- Lord of Lorne
- Clan Macdowall
- Donnchadh of Argyll
Citations
- ^ "www.macdougall.org/symbols.html". Archived from the original on 6 March 2010.
- ^ "www.macdougall.org/symbols.html". Archived from the original on 6 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Coventry (2008) pp. 365–366.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Clan Mac Dougall - Clan Macdougall". Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007. Retrieved on 20 July 2007
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Way of Plean (1994) pp. 216–217.
- ^ McDonald (1997) pp. 88–91.
- ^ a b Sellar (2004).
- ^ "Battles and Historic Events". stewartsociety.org. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ "Killed on Wedding Day". graveyardsofscotland.com. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans". W. & A. K. Johnston Limited. Edinburgh and London. 1886. Page 47.
- ^ Chiefs (n.d.).
- ^ Campbell of Airds (2014) p. 204.
- ^ a b Campbell of Airds (2014) pp. 204–205.
- ^ Campbell of Airds (1996).
- ^ Roberts (1999) pp. 102–103.
- ^ Roberts (1999) p. 103.
- ^ a b Addyman; Oram (2012).
- ^ Scotland's Forged Tartans, p.43-44
References
- Addyman, T; Oram, R (2012). "Mingary Castle Ardnamurchan, Highland: Analytical and Historical Assessment for Ardnamurchan Estate". Mingarry Castle Preservation and Restoration Trust. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- The Heraldry Society of Scotland. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ISSN 1569-1462.
- "Chiefs", Clan MacDougall Society of North America, n.d., retrieved 2 August 2017
- Coventry, M (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
- McDonald, RA (1997). The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard, c. 1100–c. 1336. Scottish Historical Monographs (series vol. 4). East Linton: Tuckwell Press. ISBN 978-1-898410-85-0.
- Roberts, JL (1999). Lost Kingdoms: Celtic Scotland and the Middle Ages. Edinburgh: ISBN 0-7486-0910-5.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/54284. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- Way of Plean, G; Squire, R (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. HarperCollins Publishers.