Clan Brodie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clan Brodie is a Scottish clan which dates at least as far back as Robert the Bruce.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Origins of the Clan 1.2 15th Century & 16th Century Clan Conflicts 1.3 17th Century & Civil War 2 Cadet Families 3 Deacon William Brodie 4 Clan Chief 5 Clan Castle 6 Clan Profile 7 Present day 8 Clan Septs 9 External Links 10 References

[edit] History

[edit] Origins of the Clan

The clan name is thought to either originate from the Gaelic word 'brothaig', which means ditch, or from the Norman name of De Brothie. A charter of confirmation for the Brodie lands came from Robert the Bruce and declared that Michael Brodie of Brodie held the rights of thanage over Brodie by right of succession from his paternal ancestors, including his father Malcolm of Brodie.

[edit] 15th Century & 16th Century Clan Conflicts

The Clan Brodie are believed to have assisted the Clan MacKenzie when they defeated the Clan MacDonald of Gillespick at the Battle of Blar na Pairc in 1466. The Clan Brodie are also believed to have assisted the Clan Munro and Clan MacKenzie when they defeated of the rebel Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh in 1497.

In 1550 Chief Alexander Brodie and 100 others were denounced as rebels for attacking the Clan Cumming of Altyre.

[edit] 17th Century & Civil War

During the Civil Wars of the 17th century Alexander Brodie of Brodie was responsible for the destruction of Elgin Cathedral in 1640, and ten years later was one of the Commissioners sent to persuade Charles II to sign the National Covenant and resume the Scottish Crown.

In 1645 Brodie Castle was burnt down by Lewis Gordon 3rd Earl of Huntly and chief of Clan Gordon. This was part of the Covenanting conflict during the Civil War, as a result there are few surviving documents and little is known about the Clan Brodie.

Alexander Brodie's diplomatic career also included a summons by Cromwell to London in 1651 to consider a Scottish union with England. He resisted attempts to appoint him to judicial office, though Cromwell's death in 1658 forced the issue for him, and he relented. The consequence was royal disfavour following the Restoration, Charles II finding it hard to forgive men who had tried to force their Calvinist beliefs upon him as the price of their allegiance.

A rare pontifical discovered in Brodie Castle in 1970 and now housed in the British Museum, indicates the family's existence from at least 1000 A.D.

[edit] Cadet Families

Cadet families include the Brodies of Lethen in Nairn, Idvies in Angus, and Eastbourne in Sussex. Sir Benjamin Brodie, Surgeon to the Royal Family, was made a Baronet in 1834.

[edit] Deacon William Brodie

Deacon William Brodie of Edinburgh, noted as a member of the clan was a less savoury character who at the end of the 18th century pursued a double-life as a worthy councilor by day and a burglar by night. The lifestyle of this gentleman, later hanged for his nocturnal activities, inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

[edit] Clan Chief

• Alexander Tristan Duff Brodie of Brodie

[edit] Clan Castle

• The seat of the Clan Brodie was at Brodie Castle

[edit] Clan Profile

• Motto: Unite
• Crest: A right hand holding a bunch of arrows all Proper.

[edit] Present day

There are still Brodies present to this day in Canada, Scotland, and various other European countries.

[edit] Clan Septs

Brodie Brody Brodey Bryde Brydie

[edit] External Links

• http://www.scotclans.com/clans/Brodie/history.html

[edit] References

• Clan Brodie Accessed 2 September 2005
• ScotClans - Clan Brodie Accessed 2 September 2005
• Septs of Clan Brodie Accessed 2 September 2005
• Tartan - Clan Brodie Accessed 2 September 2005
• Brodie of Brodie Chief of Brodie, Burke's Peerage & Gentry Accessed 2 September 2005
• Myclan.com: Clan Brodie: Clan History Accessed 2 September 2005
• Scottish CLans - Clan Brodie Accessed 2 September 2005