Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver

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Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver (died 1517), was the tenth chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

Early life

Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver, was the eldest son of Angus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver, and his wife who was a daughter of Mackenzie of Kintail, chief of Clan Mackenzie.[1]

Feud with the Rosses

Map showing the Mackay chief's territory of Strathnaver in relation to Caithness, Sutherland and Ross to the south

Iye Roy Mackay's father, Angus Roy Mackay, had been killed in 1486 at the

Lord High Chancellor of Scotland.[1] On 4 October 1496, each of them were bound by extending their hand to Argyll in the king’s name to keep the peace towards each other and that their "folks sal be harmless and skaithles", under the penalty of 500 merks if they failed.[1] Notwithstanding the apparent reconciliation, David Ross of Balnagown and his brother Hucheon Ross, brought an action to the Lords of Council against the Mackays for spoils taken from their lands eight years earlier.[1]

Apprehension of Sutherland of Dirlot

Sutherland of Dirlot who was Iye Roy Mackay’s nephew and who was pursued for some debts by Sir James Dunbar of Cumnock, murdered his relative, Alexander Dunbar, who in turn was the step-father of John, Earl of Sutherland.

put to the horn".[1] Iye Roy Mackay was already bound to the king's service for maintenance and order and received a commission to apprehend Sutherland of Dirlot, and did so.[1] Mackay was rewarded by a charter under the Great Seal of Scotland dated 4 November 1499, for the lands of Dirlot, Farr, Armadale, Strathy, Rennvie, Davach, Lochnaver, Davach Eriboll, all in Strathnaver, and also Kinald, Golspie, and Kilcolumkill in Sutherland, and also Dirlot, Cattack, Bronach, two pennylands of Stroma, all in Caithness.[1] Historian Angus Mackay says that Sutherland of Dirlot being a nephew of Iye Roy Mackay, his apprehension does seem heartless, but justifies it by the fact that Sutherland of Dirlot had by some means been able to get hold of lands in Strathnaver that had previously belonged to the Mackay family.[1]

Rebellion of Donald Dubh

Towards the end of the 15th century and at the beginning of the 16th century, the king of Scotland who was irritated at the misconduct of the

Earl of Huntly, Mackay and others battered Stornoway Castle with artillery, after which MacLeod was taken prisoner.[1] The king rewarded "Y Mackay" with extensive lands for helping to crush the Hebrideans in a charter dated 15 March 1504.[1] However, it is Clan Cameron tradition that they defeated a joint force of Mackays and Munros at the Battle of Achnashellach in 1505, the Cameron chief having supported the rebellion of Donald Dubh.[4][5]

Battle of Flodden

According to the Blackcastle MS (which was written by Alexander Mackay of Blackcastle who had access to the Mackay chief’s family charters and papers) when James IV of Scotland resolved to invade England, Iye Roy Mackay of Strahtnaver accompanied by his brother John Rivach Mackay, at the head of a contingent from Strathnaver, fought at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.[6] Iye Roy Mackay escaped with his life, but his brother John was killed along with a number of clansmen.[6]

Relations with the Earl of Sutherland

Shortly before his death, Iye Roy Mackay joined a band of friendship with Adam Gordon, Earl of Sutherland dated 31 July 1517.[1] Historian Angus Mackay disputes the account given by Sir Robert Gordon, who himself was a son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, and who Mackay says makes it appear that Mackay was acting as a vassal to his superior.[1] Likewise, historian Sir William Fraser states that Sir Robert Gordon describes it as if it was granted by an inferior to a superior which is not the case, and that the agreement, except for the acknowledged fact that Earl Adam was Mackay’s overlord in certain lands, is in fact a transaction between equals.[7]

Family

Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver, married a "celebrated beauty" who was a daughter of Norman, son of Patrick O’Beolan of

St. Maolrubha.[1] This marriage did not conform with canon law, but Iye Roy Mackay secured from James IV of Scotland a precept of legitimation for his two surviving sons, John and Donald.[1] Iye Roy Mackay and his wife had the following children:[1]

  1. John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver, who succeeded his father in 1517.
  2. Donald Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver, who succeeded his brother John in 1529.
  3. Angus Mackay, who was killed fighting the Rosses, near Tain, before 1511.
  4. A daughter, who married Hugh MacLeod of Assynt and had two children: Neil and Helen. Helen MacLeod married her first cousin, Iye Du Mackay, 12th of Strathnaver, to whom she had Donald Balloch Mackay the progenitor of the Mackay of Scoury family, and another son, John Beg Mackay.
  5. A daughter, who married the Honl. Alexander Sutherland of Killipheder, son of John, Earl of Sutherland.

Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver died towards the end of 1517.[1]

References

  1. ^ 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 Mackay, Angus (1906). The Book of Mackay. 25 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh: Norman MacLeod. pp. 69-78.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ Mackay, Angus. (1906). The Book of Mackay. p. 70. Quoting: Gordon, Sir Robert, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Quoting the Fern Abbey MS (manuscript).
  3. ^ Mackay, Angus. (1906). The Book of Mackay. pp. 70 - 71. Quoting: Gordon, Sir Robert, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
  4. ^ Stewart, John of Ardvorlich (1974). The Camerons, A History of Clan Cameron. Stirling: Published by the Clan Cameron Association. Printed by Jamieson & Munro Ltd.
  5. ^ "Battle of Achnashellach". clan-cameron.org. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  6. ^ a b Mackay, Angus. (1906). The Book of Mackay. p. 76. Quoting: Mackay, Alexander, Blackcastle Manuscript.
  7. ^ Mackay, Angus. (1906). The Book of Mackay. p. 77. Quoting: Fraser, Sir William, The Sutherland Book.

Notes

  1. ^ Morgan Neilson Mackay and his brother Neil Neilson Mackay had attempted to take over the lands of Strathnaver from their cousin, Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver, but they were defeated and killed at the Battle of Drumnacoub in 1433 by Angus's forces.

See also

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