Clan MacKenzie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Clan MacKenzie are a Scottish clan, whose traditional lands include Kintail and Ross-shire.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Origins of the Clan 1.2 Wars of Scottish Independence 1.3 15th Century & Clan Conflicts 1.4 16th Century & Clan Conflicts 1.5 17th Century & Civil War 1.6 18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings 2 Clan Chief 3 Clan Profile 4 Clan Castles 5 Septs of Clan MacKenzie 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Origins of the Clan

The MacKenzies were of Celtic stock and were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestors. They are believed to be related to Clan Matheson and Clan Anrias, all three descending from the 12th century Gilleoin of the Aird. In the 13th century the clan was recorded at the stronghold of Eilean Donan on Loch Duich which was the seat of Clan MacRae, with whom MacKenzie was once allied. The clan seat of MacKenzie was at Castle Leod. There were also strongholds at Kilcoy Castle and Brahan Castle.

There is a tradition, not borne out, however, by any tangible evidence or confirmation that this very ancient family deduced its descent from a member of the House of Geraldine, in Ireland (whence sprang the noble families of Leinster, Desmond, &c.), who, with a considerable number of his followers, is stated to have settled in Scotland about the year 1261 and to have so powerfully aided King Alexander III in repelling the invasion of Haco, King of Norway. He was reportedly rewarded by a grant of the lands of Kintail, in the County of Ross, which were erected into a free Barony by charter, dated 9th January 1266. Therefore, Colin Fitzgerald was the first feudal Baron of Kintail.

His grandson, who in the Gaelic was called Coinneach MacCoinneach (Kenneth son of Kenneth), 3rd Baron of Kintail, became corrupted in English into MacKenzie (pronounced: MacKenny) and hence arose all the families of MacKenzie in Scotland. The name "MacKenzie", therefore, coming from the Gaelic: "MacCoinneach" meaning: "Son of the Fair One".

[edit] Wars of Scottish Independence

In the 14th century during the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan MacKenzie was among the clans who fought against the English. The Clan MacKenzie fought on the side of the Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Inverurie (1308) against the forces of the Clan Comyn who were rivals to the throne. Chief Ian MacKenzie is said to have led a force of five hundred MacKenzies at the Battle of Bannockburn 1314 where the English were defeated. [1]

Later in the 14th century the MacKenzies became involved in battles against their powerful neighbour the Earl of Ross and his allies. This resulted in the capture and subsequent execution of chief Kenneth MacKenzie in 1346. Soon after this it appears that the chief of the clan Mackenzie was living in an island castle in Loch Kinellan near Strathpeffer in Easter Ross and it was from this base that the clan was to advance westward once again to Kintail.[2]

[edit] 15th Century & Clan Conflicts

• Bealach nam Broig 1452, A force of Munros and Dingwalls met north-west of BenWyvis. Their enemy was a force of MacKenzies who had with them an important hostage, who was in fact the Earl of Ross's son. The Munros and their allies rescued the Ross hostage and almost completely exterminated their enemies. However, the Munros victory came at a loss as around 140 Dingwalls and their leader William of Dingwall were killed. Also 11 Munros of Foulis were killed including their Chief thus the Chieftenship was left to a baby still lying in his cradle.[3][4]

• Battle of Blar-na-Pairc, 1477, The Lord of the Isles had resigned the Earldom of Ross into the King's hands. After this the province was continually molested with incursions by the Islanders into the MacKenzie's territory. A MacDonald cousin called Gillespick invaded the MacKenzie country with great hostility. The MacKenzies assembled their army and met the invading Islanders by the River of Conon, about two miles from Brayle, where there ensued a sharp and cruel skirmish. The Clan MacKenzie fought so hardly and pressed the enemy so, that in the end Gillespick MacDonald was overthrown and chased, most of his men were slain or drowned in the river of Conon.[5]

• At the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488 the Clan MacKenzie fought on the side of King James III of Scotland against an army of Scottish nobles who favored the King's then-15-year-old son, Prince James.

• Raid on Ross-shire 1491, Ewen Cameron XIII Chief of Clan Cameron and a large body of Camerons, joined by Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh, Clan Ranald of Garmoran and Lochaber and the Chattan Confederation - who they must have made peace with on a raid into the county of Ross-shire. During the raid they clashed with the Clan MacKenzie of Kintail. They then advanced from Lochaber to Badennoch where they were even joined by the Clan MacKintosh. They then proceeded to Inverness where they stormed Inverness Castle and MacKintosh placed a garrison in it. The Lords of Lochalsh appear at this time to have had strong claims upon the Camerons to follow them in the field. They were superiors under the Lord of the Isles of the lands of Lochiel in Lochaber, in addition to the claims of a close marriage alliance (Ewen married a daughter of Celestine of Lochalsh). This would serve to explain the quite unusual mutual participation under a common banner between the Camerons and Mackintoshes in this raid.

• Drumchatt 1497, In 1495 King James assembled an army at Glasgow. Then on May 18th many of the Highland Chiefs made their submissions to him, including the MacKenzies and Munros. Soon after this Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and his clan rebelled against the King. He invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated in battle by the Munros and MacKenzies at a place called Drumchatt where he was driven out of Ross-shire. He escaped southward amongst the Isles but was caught on the island of Oransay, by MacIain of Ardnamurchan, and put to death.[6]

[edit] 16th Century & Clan Conflicts

• Drumchatt 1501, There is no historical record of this second battle at Drumchatt apart from that of what the MacKenzies claim hundreds of years later. In Alexander MacKenzie's book 'The History of the MacKenzies', first published in 1890, he claims that in 1501 a large group of Munros, Dingwells & MacCullochs attacked the MacKenzies, laying waste to their lands and taking much spoil. However, on their return they were attacked by the MacKenzies at a place called Drumchatt where many were killed. However, there is no evidence for this and his books are unsourced and his account is believed likely to be fiction. Munro sources record a series of smaller skirmishes and feuds between the two clans at this time, rather than an actual battle. There is a very lengthy document now in the Scottish Records Office detailing all of the offences claimed by both sides in the troubles between them at this time when there was damage to property and the murder of individuals. In the next generation Chief Hector Munro of Foulis married a daughter of the Chief Mackenzie of Kintail bringing peace between the two clans.

• During the Anglo-Scottish Wars chief John MacKenzie led the clan at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513 and the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 where he was captured by the English. This was the last major battle between the Royal Scottish and Royal English armies. The MacKenzies paid a ransom for his release. [7]

• This growing importance of the Clan MacKenzie was vividly demonstrated in 1544 when the Earl of Huntly, the Lieutenant of the North, commanded John MacKenzie of Killin to raise his clan against Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald of Moidart. The Mackenzie chief refused and Huntly's supporters, the Clan Grant, Clan Ross and Clan MacKintosh declined to attack the Mackenzies. From that time the Mackenzies were recognised as a separate and superior force in the north-west.

• At the Battle of Langside 1568, Clan MacKenzie fought on the side of Mary Queen of Scotts against the forces of her half brother James Stewart, Earl of Moray.

• Fortrose 1569, With the Munros the MacKenzies were often at feud, and Andrew Munro of Milntown defended and held, for three years, the Castle Chanonry of Ross, which he had received from the Regent Moray who died in 1569, against the Clan MacKenzie, at the expense of many lives on both sides. The feud was settled when the castle was handed over to the Mackenzies peacefully under the act of pacification (a treaty of peace to cease hostilities), as the MacKenzies had more legal right to own the castle. Again in Alexander MacKenzie's book 'The History of the MacKenzies' published in 1890 he claims that an attempted sortie by the Munros for fish at a nearby loch was foiled and as a result the MacKenzies took control of the castle. Although it is recorded by contemporary evidence to have been handed over peacefully under King James VI, as recorded in Alan MacKenzie's history.[8] [9][10]

• Logiebride 1597[11]At a time of peace between the Clan MacKenzie and Clan Munro a fight broke out at a fair in Logiebride which almost put the whole of Ross-shire into combustion. The fight began between John Macgillichallum (brother to the Laird of Raasay) and Alexander Bane (brother to Duncan Bane of Tulloch). The Munros took the side of Alexander Bane and the MacKenzies took the side of John Macgillichallum. John Macgllicham was killed along with John Mac-Murdo Mac-William and three others from the Clan MacKenzie. Alexander Bane escaped but three on his side were also killed; John Munro of Culcraggie, his brother Hutcheon Munro and John Munro Robertson. The Clans MacKenzie and Munro then began assisting each side in preparing to invade each other. However, nothing ever came of it and peace was resumed. Again in Alexander MacKenzie's book 'The History of the MacKenzies' published in 1890 he claims that 50 Munros were killed when this took place. Although Munro sources record only two casualties in a family tree dated 1734 and Alan MacKenzie's history provides a similar account. [12][13]

[edit] 17th Century & Civil War

• Variance 1602, A feud between Lord Kintail MacKenzie and the MacDonald's Laird of Glengarry led to the MacDonalds being attacked by the MacKenzies. A few MacDonalds were killed at Variance. The MacKenzies wanted the MacDonald Laird of Glengarry to appear before the Justice court at Edinburgh for previous crimes against them. Meanwhile two more MacDonalds were killed. Glengarry MacDonald did not appear in court on the arranged date but went about his own hand to revenge the slaughter of his clansmen. As he did not appear in court the MacKenzies wasted the MacDonald country of Morar. The two sides met and a battle took place with great slaughter on both sides. The MacKenzies, assisted by their allies the Clan Matheson also took Strome Castle from the MacDonalds of Glengarry. After this they came to an agreement to obtain peace where Glengarry MacDonald was glad to requite and renounce to the Lord MacKenzie of Kintail, and give him the inheritance of the lands of Strome.[14].

• In 1623, the clan chief became Earl of Seaforth, a title in the peerage of Scotland taking his title from a sea loch on the island of Lewis. In 1645, Lord Seaforth led a large force of Scottish Covenanters. They fought against James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose who was the commander of the Royalist forces in Scotland at the Battle of Auldearn in 1645.

• In 1646 during the Civil War the Clan MacKenzie Chief who was still in possession of the Castle Chanonry of Ross was now known as the Earl of Seaforth. However in 1646 James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose laid siege to the castle and took it from the MacKenzies after a siege of four days.[15] However the MacKenzies retook the castle again in 1649.

• In 1649 a large force stormed Inverness Castle. Among the commanders were Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine, Colonel John Munro of Lemlair, Colonel Hugh Fraser and Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty. They were all opposed to the authority of the current parliament. They assaulted the town and took the castle. They then expelled the garrison and raised the fortifications. However on the approach of the parlimentry forces led by General David Leslie all of the clans retreated back into Ross-shire. However the MacKenzies left a garrison of men in Inverness Castle and Leslie withdrew to deal with a rising in the south. During the year several skirmishes took place between these parties. The MacKenzies retook the Castle Chanonry of Ross from the current Parliamentary forces. However, the Parliamentary forces, led by a Colonel Kerr soon after took the MacKenzie's Redcastle and hanged the garrison. [16] [17]

• The Battle of Mulroy 1668, Clan Cameron and Clan MacKintosh were at peace and Cameron Chief Sir Ewen was responsible for keeping the peace between his men and their former enemies. However, when the Chief Sir Ewen Cameron was away in London a feud broker out between Clan MacDonald and their enemies Clan MacKintosh and Clan MacKenzie. As the Cameron Chief was away he was not able to hold back his clan and the combined forces of Cameron and MacDonald defeated the MacKintoshes and MacKenzies.

• In 1672 Ardvreck Castle was attacked and captured by the Mackenzies, who took control of the Assynt lands. In 1726 they constructed a more modern manor house nearby, Calda House, which takes its name from the Calda burn beside which it stands. The house burned down under mysterious circumstances one night in 1737 and both Calda House and Ardvreck Castle stand as ruins today.[18]

• During the Williamite War in Ireland the Clan MacKenzie led by their Chief Kenneth the Earl of Seaforth are believed to have supported King James at the siege of Derry and the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

[edit] 18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings

1715 to 1719 Jacobite Rising

During the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 the Earl of Seaforth, Chief of MacKenzies was a staunch Jacobite. He led a force of 3000 men headed by the Clan MacKenzie which also included men from the Clan MacDonald, Clan MacKinnon, Clan MacRae and the Clan Chisholm. He was opposed by Colonel Sir Robert Munro of Foulis who had formed a camp at the Bridge of Alness with 600 men. Munro was soon joined by the Earl of Sutherland and the Chief of Clan MacKay who both brought with them only a portion of their clans. As a result of underestimating the strength of the enemy the government force totalled just 1800 and expected support from the Clan Grant did not arrive. The Earl of Seaforth's forces advanced on the Sutherland's camp who made a quick retreat to avoid contact with their more powerful foe. It is said that the Earl of Seaforth himself said that they made a wise move. Soon afterwards a council of war was held between the two sides and the Sutherlanders and MacKays peacefully moved back north to their own territory, while much of the Ross's and Munro's lands were ravaged.[19]

Inverness 1715, During the early Jacobite Uprising the MacKenzie Jacobite garrison at Inverness were trapped by the Clan Fraser. The Clan MacDonald of Keppoch did attempt to relieve the MacKenzies, but their path was blocked by the Frasers, and Keppoch was forced to retreat. Inverness was surrendered to Simon Fraser of Lovat upon the very day when the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought and another Jacobite force was defeated at the Battle of Preston. Soon after this 31 year old Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis marched into the town of Inverness with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. Government troops arrived in Inverness towards the end of February, and for some months the process of disarming the rebels went on, helped by a Munro detachment under George Munro of Culcairn.

The clan rivalries which had erupted in rebellion were finding an outlet in local politics. The MacKenzie's position as Earl of Seaforth came to an end in 1716, and it seems to have been arranged that while the Clan Ross held the county seat the Munros would represent the Tain Burghs. To secure the burghs, control of three out of the five was necessary. Ross ascendancy was secure in Tain, and from 1716 to 1745 the Munros controlled Dingwall.

The Clan MacKenzie under their chief supported the Jacobites during the uprisings. Many men from the clan fought at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719 where they were defeated by Government forces headed by the Munros and where the MacKenzie chief was wounded.

In 1720 a force of men from the Clan Ross, led by chief William Ross 6th of the Pitcalnie line and his brother Robert went on a rent collecting expedition into the lands of the MacKenzies. They were confronted by a force of 300 men from the Clan MacKenzie and Clan MacRae, led by a Colonel Donald Murchison. The Rosses were outnumbered and after a short battle some discussion took place between the two sides and the Rosses withdrew realising that further resistance was useless. The next day chief William Ross died of his wounds. His nephew William, son of Robert Ross was also wounded but survived.[20]

As the Earl of Seaforth was no longer chief George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie became chief of the Clan MacKenzie.

1745 to 1746 Jacobite Rising

Chief George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie led the Clan MacKenzie at the Battle of Falkirk (1746) where they were victorious in helping to defeat British Government forces. The MacKenzies then went on to ravage the lands of the Clan Munro who supported the government and burn down Foulis Castle. The MacKenzies then went on to ravage the lands of the Clan Sutherland and the Earl of Sutherland who also supported the government and captured Dunrobin Castle, although the Earl of Sutherland himself escaped through a back door. [21]

However soon afterwards as the Earl of Cromartie and his forces were travelling south to meet Charles Edward Stuart they were attacked by the Clan Sutherland near Bonar Bridge which is in Clan Munro country. The Earl of Sutherland himself had already escaped south to join the Duke of Cumberland's army after his lands had been wasted. However, many of his clan still remained in the hills, commanded by a man from Golspie who attacked the MacKenzies. Most of the Jacobite officers were captured, many of the men were killed and the rest were driven onto the shore where several were drowned trying to swim the Bonar Firth. Thus the Clan MacKenzie were prevented from joining the Jacobite army at the Battle of Culloden.[22]

Soon afterwards Chief George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie and his son were surprised and captured at Dunrobin Castle. The Earl of Cromartie's titles were then forfeited. [23]

However a number of MacKenzies later took the side of the British government in one of the Independent Companies under Captain Colin MacKenzie. It is recorded that the MacKenzie Company was at Shiramore in Badenoch in June 1746 and it included many of them from Kintail as well as more than sixty men from the Clan MacRae. [24]

War against the French

Born in 1754 Francis Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth, the last Lord Seaforth raised a regiment for the British Army in 1778, the 72nd, and the clan produced another the 78th in 1793. Both had distinguished records fighting against Napoleon and were later amalgamated into the Queen's Own Highlanders.

[edit] Clan Chief

The Chief of Clan MacKenzie is John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie who, along with the MacKenzies of Gairloch, still owns estates in the clan country.

[edit] Clan Profile

• MacCoinnich, Gaelic "son of Coinneach" which has been transliterated in English as "Kenneth". "Clan MacKenzie" is a modern Anglicised form. The original form, still used in modern Scottish Gaelic, is "Clann Choinnich."
• Arms: Azure, a deer's head cabossed Or
• Crest: A mount in flames Proper
• A stag's head cabossed Or
• Motto: Luceo non uro, Latin "I shine, not burn"
• Motto: Cuidich 'n righ Gaelic "protect the king"
• Slogan: Tulach Ard, Clan MacKenzie's Sluagh-gairm or "war shout" is the name of a mountain in Kintail which simply means "high hill."
• Plant badge: Staghorn clubmoss.

[edit] Clan Castles

Castles and seats that have belonged to the Clan MacKenzie include:

• Castle Leod is the current seat of the Chief of the Clan MacKenzie.
• Kilcoy Castle open to visitors.
• Brahan Castle no longer stands, was demolished in 1951.
• Brahan House formerly the stables, situated behind the site of Brahan Castle.
• Flowerdale House also known in Gaelic as An Tigh Dige (The Moat House).
• Redcastle is now a ruin.
• Fairburn Tower is now a ruin.

[edit] Septs of Clan MacKenzie

There are several variations in the spelling of the name Mackenzie, i.e. MacKenzie, McKenzie, Macenzie, McEnzie, Makenzie, MaKenzie, M'Kenzie, Kenny, Kenney, MacKenny, MacKenney, McKenny, McKenney, Mackinzie, McKinzie, MacKinney, McKinney, McKinsey &c, they are accepted as Septs or variations of the Mackenzie Clan name. Often in centuries past it was the local Monk or Minister who could read and write and who also decided on the spelling of people's names when entering Baptism, Marriage or Burial records. So when writing an unfamiliar name it had to be written as it sounded and misspellings would often occur especially when the informant had a strong accent. Septs of the Clan MacKenzie include:

[edit] See also

• MacKenzie Disambiguation
• The Eagle Stone
• Earl of Seaforth
• Earl of Cromartie

[edit] External links

• The Clan Mackenzie Society Of France
• A History of the MacKenzies by Alan MacKenzie
• http://www.clan-mackenzie.org.uk/
• http://www.clanmackenzie.com/