Clan Macpherson
Clan MacPherson | |||
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Clann Mac a' Phearsain | |||
Motto | "Touch not the cat but a glove." — current "Touch not the cat bot a glove." — archaic | ||
Profile | |||
Region | Seat | Newton Castle | |
Historic seat | Cluny Castle | ||
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Clan Macpherson (
History
Origins
The
Macpherson clan traditions is that in 1309 Robert the Bruce offered the lands of Badenoch to the chief of Clan Macpherson if they destroyed the Bruce's enemies, the Clan Comyn, and the Macphersons carried out the king's wishes.[2] The Clan Macpherson is sometimes known as the Clan of the Three Brothers owing to the fact that chief Ewan Ban Macpherson had three sons: Kenneth Macpherson of Clunie, Iain Macpherson of Pitman and Gillies Macpherson of Invereshie.[2]
14th-century clan conflicts
In 1370 the Battle of Invernahavon took place between the Chattan Confederation and the Clan Cameron. There was a dispute between the Macphersons and another clan of the confederation, the Clan Davidson over who should take the right wing in the battle.[2] The Clan Mackintosh, whose chiefs were also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation favoured the Davidsons and as a result the Macphersons left the field of battle.[2] The Clan Cameron took advantage of this situation and gained the upper hand, however the Macphersons were eventually coerced back into the battle and the Camerons were defeated.[2] The feud between the Clan Cameron and Chattan Confederation continued for many years after and in 1396 the Battle of the North Inch took place, which was watched by Robert III of Scotland and his whole court.[2]
The Black Chanter
According to Clan Macpherson lore, at the end of the battle, a piper appeared in the sky, played a few notes and then let the pipes fall to the ground, where, being made of crystal they broke; all except the chanter, which, being of wood only cracked. The Clan Chattan piper then seized the chanter and began playing. [5] This Black Chanter is kept at the Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore.
16th century and Glenlivet
Prior to the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594 which was fought between Protestant forces under the Earl of Argyll and Catholic forces under the Earl of Huntly, Argyll had laid siege to Ruthven Castle which was well defended by the Clan Macpherson who were vassals of Huntly's and so Argyll had to give up the siege.[6]
17th century and civil war
In 1618 Andrew Macpherson, eighth chief of Clan Macpherson acquired the abbey-castle grange in
18th century Jacobite uprisings
Clan Macpherson having supported the
Castles
- Cluny Castle, about five miles south-west of Newtonmore in Strathspey was a stronghold of the clan.[9] The original castle dated from the fourteenth century but was razed by the Duke of Cumberland after the Jacobite rising of 1745 which the Macphersons had supported.[9] The present Cluny Castle is in fact a nineteenth century mansion that was built on the site of the original stronghold.[9]
- Ballindalloch Castle was built by the Clan Grant and owned by the Ballindallochs before coming to the Macphersons, now the Macpherson-Grants.[9]
- Newton Castle, Blairgowrie, Perthshire is the current seat of the Macpherson chiefs.[9]
- Invereshie House, near Kingussie, Strathspey was held by the Macphersons from the fourteenth century.[9] William Macpherson of Invereshie captured Blair Castle from the Marquess of Montrose in 1644.[9]
- Pitmain House, near Kingussie, Strathspey was held by the Macphersons from the fourteenth century.[9] The present building forms part of the Highland Folk Museum.[9]
See also
- Macpherson, list of people with the surname
- Scottish clan
- Kidnapped (novel)
References
- ^ ISBN 9780007551798.
- ^ ISBN 0-00-470547-5.
- ^ "MacPherson Tartan".
- docx). Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
- ^ "The Black Chanter of Clan Chattan". 23 September 2019.
- ^ Lawson, John Parker (1839). "The Battle of Glenlivet". Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland And of the Border Raids, Forays, and Conflicts. Vol. III. Edinburgh: A. Fullarton. p. 405. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- W. & A.K. Johnston. p. 26. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ISBN 9780753822623.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.