Clan Lamont
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clan Lamont is a Highland Scottish clan
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Origins of the Clan
The Lamonts descend from the Scotts who crossed the sea from Ireland. Their original name in Ireland meant "law-giver". They founded the Kingdom of Dalriada. Their territory was in Cowal once stretching to Bute and Arran. The Chief was called Fearchar. He had two sons called Duncan and Malcolm, they granted lands to the Monks of Paisly.
The name Lamont came from the name of Malcom's son called Ladman. Malcolm and his brother Duncan established their seats as Chiefs at the Castle Toward and the Castle Ascog.
[edit] 14th & 15th Centuries
Clan Lamonts influence increased down through the years with alliances with some of the most powerful clans in Scotland. The Lamonts married into the family of the powerful Clan Macdonald, Lord of the Isles.
The Lamont's territory expended into the Isle of Bute although the clan remained firmy entrenched in Cowal. The Lamonts also settled in Fife, Galloway, and Ayrshire.
The Lamonts were also favoured by the Royal House of Stewart.
[edit] Civil War
In the 17th century during the Civil War the Clan Lamont supported the Royalist cause for King Charles I.
The powerful Clan Campbell, neighbours of the Clan Lamont had steadily enroached the Lamont's lands. After the Campbells were defeated by James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645 the Lamonts took the opportunity to lay waste to the Campbell's territory.
However the following year in 1646 the Clan Campbell army invaded the Lamonts taking their Castles Toward and Ascog. Sir James Lamont surrendered after accepting fair terms for his people. However the Campbells then slaughterd over two hundred of Lamont's men, women and children. Elsewhere one tree was said to have carried thirty five bodies from its branches and another thirty six men were buried alive. The two Lamont castles were decimated and Sir James Lamont was thrown into a dungeon for five years. This became known as the Dunoon Massacre.
[edit] Jacobite Uprisings
The Clan Lamont did not take part in the Jacobite Uprisings, remaining neutral.
[edit] The Clan Today
The clan lands were sold in 1893. The present clan chief lives in Australia.
