Clan Maclean

Clan Maclean (

History

Origins of the Clan

There are several different origins for the surname MacLean, however, the clan surname is an

Gillean of the Battleaxe

The founder of the clan was a Scottish warlord descended from the royal Cenél Loairn named Gillean of the Battle Axe .^[4][5] There are stories of Gillean being descended from the Fitzgerald dynasty. He was a Judex (judge) and Councillor to King David of Scots.^[6] Gillean fought at the Battle of Largs in 1263 during the Scottish-Norwegian War where the Scottish were victorious.^[4]

Gillean's son Malise mac Gilleain (from the Gaelic Maoliosa "Servant of Jesus") was thought by some to have taken the name Gillemor in 1263 and is also said to have led his followers at the Battle of Largs in 1263.^[6] He wrote his name as "Gillemor Mcilyn ("son of Gillean"), County of Perth" on the third Ragman Rolls of 1296,^[6] swearing fealty to Edward I of England.^[4]

Gillean's great-great-grandson was Iain Dhu Maclean who settled on the Isle of Mull.^[4] One of his sons was Lachainn Lubanach (Lachlan) who was the progenitor of the Macleans of Duart and the other son was Eachainn Reafanach (Hector) who was the progenitor of the Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie.^[4] The Macleans of Duart married into the family of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles (chief of Clan Donald).^[4] By the end of the 15th century the Macleans owned the isles Mull, Tiree, Islay, Jura, Knapdale as well as Morvern in Argyll and Lochaber in mainland Scotland.^[4]

Wars of Scottish Independence

The Clan MacLean are said to have fought in support of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.^[7]

The Early MacLeans at Duart

By the 14th century, the Clan MacLean had become a dominant force in the Western Isles. In about 1364 Lachlan Lùbanach MacLean (1325-1405) of Duart, 5th Chief, solidified the MacLean alliance with the Macdonalds through marriage. His bride, Mary Macdonald, was not only the daughter of John Macdonald, first Lord of the Isles, but also the granddaughter of Robert II, King of Scots. The families were close enough related that the approval of the church was sought. The papal dispensation issued by Pope Urban V on 3 May of 1367 approving the already consummated marriage is the first mention of a MacLean in any official records.. The papal dispensation blessed the marriage retroactively as insurance that it could not be annulled for political purposes. Mary's marriage dowry included Duart Castle and much of Mull. Lachlan Lùbanach also was granted the hereditary position of Lieutenant-General of the Isles. He was recognized as the superior MacLean on Mull by the Lord of the Isles. Hector (1328-1407), his younger brother, was in the late 1300s given Lochbuie by the Lord of the Isles.^[8]

Fifteenth century and clan conflicts

During the 14th and 15th century many battles were fought between the Clan Maclean and Clan Mackinnon.^[9]

Battle of Harlaw

In 1411, Clan MacLean fought with Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, to claim the earldom of Ross, which was his by right of his wife, Mariota Leslie, countess of Ross. Robert Stewart, the ambitious the Duke of Albany, had denied Donald's claim because he wanted Ross for himself. (The young King of Scots, James I, was being held prisoner of the English king, Henry IV, and Albany did nothing to seek his release.) The Battle of Harlaw took place near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire on 24 July 1411 against a mounted army of knights led by Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. The MacLeans were led by Hector Roy Maclean, "Red Hector of the Battles", the 6th Chief, and nephew of Donald Macdonald. Hector commanded the right flank of Donald Macdonald's army. Hector engaged in single combat with the chief of Clan Irvine, Sir Alexander Irvine.^[4] After a legendary struggle both died of the wounds inflicted upon each other.^[4][6]

Origins of the Macleans of the North

Tearlach [Charles] Maclean, eldest son of Hector Maclean, 1st of Lochbuie, brother of Lachlan Maclean, 1st of Duart. Tearlach was part of the vanguard but following this battle, he sought protection within the Clan Chattan Federation. His son Hector subsequently married a daughter of the Chief of the Mackintoshes. Despite the active support of Clan Chattan, these Macleans lost ownership of Urquhart Castle by 1509, and settled nearby at Dochgarroch, though they still managed to lease much of Urquhart. In 1609 Alexander Maclean of Dochgarroch signed the Clan Chattan Bond.^[10]

Battle of Corpach

The Battle of Corpach took place in 1439. It was fought between the Clan Maclean and the Clan Cameron.^[11]

Battle of Bloody Bay

In 1484 the Clan MacLean fought at the Battle of Bloody Bay on the side of the Lord of the Isles, chief of Clan Donald.^[6]

In 1493 the Lordship of the Isles was abolished and Duart and Lochbuie MacLeans held their lands by charter directly from the king, thus Lochbuie became a clan independent of Duart.^[8]

Sixteenth century and the Anglo-Scottish Wars

In 1513 during the

On 3 September 1631

In 1647 the MacLean's Duart Castle was attacked and laid siege to by the Argyll government troops of Clan Campbell, but they were defeated and driven off by the royalist troops of Clan Maclean. The Battle of Inverkeithing took place in 1651 where Sir Hector Maclean, 18th chief was killed.^[4][6]

Archibald Campbell the 9th Earl, son of the Marquess of Argyll, invaded the Clan Maclean lands on the

Allan Maclean of Torloisk fought at the Battle of Culloden. He later commanded the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) in the Battle of Quebec.

Allan McLane served in the American Revolution.

Castles

Castles that have been held by the Clan Maclean have included amongst others:

• Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull is the historic seat of the chiefs of the Clan Maclean.^[2] The castle is perched on a rock guarding the Sound of Mull.^[2] Dating from the thirteenth century it consists of a strong curtain wall as well as a substantial tower or keep that was added in about 1390.^[2] There are also later ranges that were built within the courtyard.^[2] Duart Castle was abandoned after the Jacobite rising of 1745 and it then became derelict and roofless.^[2] However, in 1911 it was acquired by Sir Fitzroy Maclean, 10th Baronet, chief of Clan Maclean who restored it.^[2] The castle is still owned by the Macleans of Duart although they now live in Perthshire.^[2] The castle is open to the public in the summer.^[2] The exterior of Duart Castle was used in the film "Entrapment" with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery, whose mother, Euphemia McBain "Effie" – née McLean – was a Maclean.^[16]
• Ardgour House, built in 1765, lies on the shores of Loch Linnhe on land wreasted from the McMasters in the 1430's. The first Maclean of Ardgour, ‘Strong Donald the Hunter’, was the son of the 7th Chief of Clan Maclean from Duart on Mull.^[17] Ewan Maclean, 2nd of Ardgour was killed at the Battle of Bloody Bay in about 1482.^[2] They followed James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, but Allen, the seventh lord was pardoned.^[2] The Ardgour Macleans did not take part in the Jacobite risings and now live at Salachan at Ardgour.^[2] Sold by the Macleans in 1996, Ardgour House is currently let as self-catering accommodation^[18]
• Aros Castle on the Isle of Mull, Argyll was originally built by the Clan MacDougall, was then held by the Clan Donald, Lord of the Isles before passing to the Macleans after 1493.^[2]
• Aros Castle, Glengarrisdale, on the island of Jura, was held by the Macleans who came into possession of the north part of Jura.^[2] The southern part of Jura was originally held by the MacDonalds but by 1620 had passed to the Clan Campbell who complained that they were being harassed by the Macleans.^[2] This resulted in a battle in 1647 when the Campbells surprised the Macleans at Glen Garrisdale and killed many of them.^[2] There is a tradition that the severed head and two limb bones of one of the Macleans adorned a cairn near MacLean's Skull Cave.^[2] The castle was still in use when in 1690 the Campbell constable took action against the Macleans who had not taken the Oath of Allegiance to William of Orange.^[2]
• Earl of Argyll.^[2] New Breachacha Castle was built nearby in 1750 and the old castle then became ruinous.^[2] Dr Johnston and Boswell visited the castle in 1773.^[2] In 1886 the old castle had passed to the Stewarts of Glenbuchie but it was bought by a descendant of the Macleans in 1965.^[2]
• Covenanter General, David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark, and in the 1650s many of the books and records that had been rescued from Iona were destroyed in a siege by Oliver Cromwell's forces.^[2] The castle held out against attacks by the Campbells in 1679 but was surrendered in 1692.^[2] The castle was garrisoned during both the Jacobite rising of 1715 and 1745.^[2]
• Caisteal nan Con, (castle of dogs) near Lochaline, was held by the MacLeans of Duart and is said to have been used as a hunting lodge by those occupying Aros Castle.^[2]
• Caisteal nan Con, Isle of Torsa, originally held by the Campbells, then the MacDougalls and then the Macleans.^[2] It was probably also a hunting lodge.^[2]
• Castle Loch Heylipol, Tiree, was originally held by the MacDonalds and then by the Macleans, who were besieged in it by the Campbells in 1678–79.^[2]
• Castle Spioradain, near Inverness, site of a castle formerly on an island that was held by the Macleans of Dochgarroch in around 1420.^[2] The name means castle of spirits and the story goes that during a feud between the Macleans and the Clan Cameron, several Camerons were executed and their bodies were hung from the walls.^[2] The ghosts of the dead are said to have terrorised the castle and the area.^[2] The site was destroyed when the Caledonian Canal was built and human bones were found.^[2]
• Dochgarroch, near Inverness, site of a castle held from the sixteenth century by the Macleans who were known as the Clan Tearlach and who were allied to the
  Chattan Confederation.^[2] This clan of Macleans fought as Jacobites at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689 and the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715.^[2] This line now live near Glen Urquhart and also near Edinburgh.^[2]
• Drimnin Castle, near Lochline, Highland, site of a castle held by the Macleans of Coll in the sixteenth century, but was demolished in the 1830s.[2] Maclean of Drimin led the clan during the Jacobite rising of 1745 and he was killed at the Battle of Culloden.^[2]
• Dun Chonnuill Castle, on one of the Garvellachs, Argyll, is a ruinous castle that was originally held by the MacDougalls, then the MacDonalds and then by the Macleans who now live at Strachur House in Argyll and are hereditary keepers and captains of Dunconnel.^[2]
• Eilean Amalaig Castle, Isle of Mull, is where the Macleans of Duart marshaled their birlinns or galleys.^[2]
• Glensanda Castle, near Lochaline is a ruinous castle that was originally held by the MacMasters but passed to the Macleans in the fifteenth century.^[2]
• Gorm Castle or Loch Gorm Castle on the Isle of Islay was originally held by the MacDonalds and then briefly by the Macleans.^[2] The castle and island later passed to the Campbells and was still in use in 1745, but is now very ruinous.^[2]
• Kinlochaline Castle, near Lochaline, was originally held by the Clan MacInnes but passed to the Macleans after the MacInnes chief was murdered along with his sons by the Clan Mackinnon.^[2]
• Dun Chonnuill Castle.^[2] They were made Baronets in 1957.^[2]
• Tarbert Castle, Tarbert, Argyll and Bute, although a royal castle the lands were held by the Clan MacAlister and then by the Macleans.^[2]
• Torloisk House, on the Isle of Mull, Argyll was held by the Macleans of Torloisk.^[2]

Clan Chiefs

Chief

• Baronet of Morvern.^[19]

Septs are family names associated with a particular clan. Other family names associated with the clan include Auchaneson, Beath, Beaton, Black, Clanachan, Dowart, Dowie, Duart, Duie, Garvie, Gillan, Gillon, Gilzean, Hoey, Huie, Lane, Lean, Leitch, MacBeath, MacBeth, MacBheath, MacCormick, MacEachan, Macfadin, MacFadyen, Macfadzean, Macfergan, Macgeachan, MacGilvra, Macildowie, Macilduy, Macilvera, MacKlin, MacLergain, Maclergan, MacPhaiden, MacRankin, MacVeagh, MacVey, Paden, Patten, Rankin, and Rankine.^[20]

Clan profile

Symbols

Members of Clan Maclean show their allegiance to their clan and their chief by wearing a

There are two slogans attributed to Clan Maclean. Slogans, are sometimes said to be war cries, other times they are said to be rallying points for the clan. Slogans used by clans generally appear as a second motto within the chiefs arms. Slogans of Clan Maclean include: Bàs no Beatha (from Scottish Gaelic: "Death or life") and Fear eile airson Eachann (from Scottish Gaelic: "Another for Hector").^[23][24]

Maclean Arms

MacLean of Duart

Macklean Baron (Sweden)

MacLean of Denboig

MacLean of Coll

See also

• Maclean baronets
• Notable Macleans
• Ardgour
• Duart Castle
• Irish nobility

Notes and references