Clan MacLean
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Clan MacLean is a highland Scottish clan.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Gillean of the Battleaxe
The name MacLean is usually translated from the Gaelic as: MacGille Eoin or "son of the servant of St John". The founder of the clan was an Irish warlord named Gillean na Tuaighe ("Little Giles of the Battleaxe") Fitzgerald, who lived in the reign of Alexander III of Scotland (1249-1286). He was originally a chieftain of the Fitzgeralds, but soon broke his sept off to form his own clan.
His adopted son Malise took the name Gillemor ("Giles the Great") in 1263 and wrote his name as "Gillemor Mcilean ("Giles the Great, son of Little Giles"), Count of Perth" on the third Ragman Rolls of 1296. This is the first instance of the name being used and gives credence to the theory that it is a patronymic for the clan's founder. Gillean Fitzgerald led his followers against the Norsemen at the Battle of Largs in 1263 during the Scottish-Norwegian War where the Scottish were victorious.
Gillian's great-great-grandson settled in Mull and in 1390, Donald, Lord of the Isles gave land to his two brothers-in-law, thus starting the two main branches of the clan: MacLean of Duart and MacLaine of Lochbuie (both on the island of Mull where the name is still frequently found). In 1380 the Clan MacLean along with Clan MacKinnon and Clan MacLeod were defeated in battle by Donald MacDonald, vindicating his right as Lord of the Isles.
[edit] 15th Century & Clan Conflicts
- The MacLeans had become powerful associates of Macdonald, Lord of the Isles. As a result tensions had increased between the MacLeans and MacKinnons. The climax came on a day in the year 1400, when the Lord of the Isles, who had been hunting in Mull, set out to return to Ardtornish Castle, his stronghold on the opposite shore of the Sound of Mull. As Mackinnon was stepping into his galley to follow, Lachlan and Hector Maclean fell upon him and slew him. They then disarmed his men, and hastening after the Lord of the Isles, seized his galley and forced him to grant them an indemnity for the deed. A long feud continued between the MacLeans and MacKinnons.
- A desperate battle between the Clan MacLean and Clan MacKinnon at Doire Shaig was began in MacKinnon's favour. However a MacKinnon who had married a MacLean deserted the MacLean's side with all his followers. This deserting branch of MacKinnons fled to a cavern, but the MacLeans found it and smoked out the fugitives. Some of the MacKinnons managed to get in a boat and row to the Isle of Staffa where they hid the deserter MacKinnon in a great cave which is still known today as MacKinnons' Cave. He later escaped to Skye. As a result of this battle the MacKinnons lost all of their lands.
- Many incidents have been related regarding the ensuing feud with the MacKinnons. On one occasion the young Chief of the MacKinnons was forced to seek refuge in Ireland. There the Earl of Antrim gave him forty men to support him. The party landed at Camus na fola, the Bloody Bay a couple of miles north-west of Tobermory in Mull, and in order to discover the whereabouts of his enemies Mackinnon paid a visit to an old woman of his clan who lived in a certain lonely glen. He told her he had forty men to carry out an attack. She replied, "Do as I tell you, and you will have possession of your lands by sunrise." Following her counsel he took to the woods with his party, where each man cut and stripped a caber. Surrounding Ledaig House, where Duart and Lochbuie lay asleep, they planted their cabers in the ground, the Chief placing his before the door with his naked sword hung on it. In the morning the astonished MacLeans, realising that the MacKinnons could easily have taken their lives in the night if they had wished, sent for the Chief of the MacKinnons and restored his lands.
- In 1411 The Clan MacLean fought as Highlanders at the Battle of Harlaw near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire on 24 July 1411 against an Army of Scottish Lowlanders. Their enemy was the forces of the Duke of Albany and Earl of Mar. The MacLeans were led by "Red Hector of the Battles" from Duart.
- Clan Cameron defended their lands against the Clan MacLean in the Battle of Corpach in 1439. Clan Cameron won the battle. Prior to this the Cameron lands had been bestowed upon John Garve MacLean of Coll by Alexander, Lord of the Isles. It is recorded that a young MacLean Chieftain, Ewen/John Abrach (the son of John Garve Maclean, so called from his residence in Lochaber) was killed in this battle. It is not likely that he is one and the same as "Hector Bui M'Lean." Rather, they were possibly the leaders of their respective tribes of the MacLeans. With the defeat of the MacLeans at Corpach, the Camerons retained their lands, despite Maclean attempts to "dislodge" them throughout the coming years.
- The Chief of Clan MacLean known as "Hector of the Battles" engaged in single combat with the chief of Clan Irvine, known as "Sir Alexander de Irwine." After a legendary struggle both died of the wounds inflicted upon each other.
- In 1480 Clan MacLean fought at the "Battle of Bloody Bay" on the side of MacDonald, Lord of the Isles.
[edit] 16th Century & Anglo-Scottish Wars
- During the Anglo-Scottish Wars, the Clan MacLean fought against the English at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513. The clan extended its influence to other Hebridean islands such as Tiree and Islay and onto the mainland. Lachlan of Duart was killed in this battle.
- The Galloglach ("foreign youth") were ferocious mercenaries of Norse-Gaelic descent who served in Ireland. The Mackay Gallowglasses fought with the MacLeans and MacLeods for King Shane O'Neill in 1560.
- In 1586 The Battle of the Western Isles was fought between Clan MacDonald and Clan MacLean. Donald Gorme MacDonald of Sleat was travelling from the Isle of Skye to visit his cousin, Angus MacDonald of Kintyre. He landed with his company on an island called Jura or Duray, which partly belonged to MacLean and partly to MacDonald, and by chance he landed on that part of the island which belonged to MacLean. Two outlaws, Macdonald Herrach and Hutcheon Madgillespick, who had fallen out with Donald Gorme MacDonald, arrived on the scene with a company of men. Knowing that MacDonald was there, they stole a number of cattle from MacLean's land, hoping MacLean would blame MacDonald for the theft. MacDonald's men were camped at a place called Inver-knock-bhric, when they were attacked in the night by Sir Lauchlan MacLean and his entire clan. The MacLean killed more than 60 of the MacDonalds, but Donald Gorme MacDonald himself escaped in a ship which was anchored in the harbour. His cousin Angus Macdonald of Kintyre, hearing of the feud between his brother-in-law MacLean and his cousin, Donald Gorme Macdonald, travelled to Skye to visit Donald Gorme MacDonald, and to attempt to work out a reconciliation between the two men. After a great deal of political arguing the two sides eventually made peace by order of the King.
- In 1588 the Clan MacLean captured Mingarry Castle seat of the chief of the Clan MacDonald of Ardnamurchan, from where they fought off a Spanish galleon called the Florida.
- In 1594 the Clan MacLean fought at the Battle of Glenlivet in support of the Earl of Huntly and Clan Gordon against the Earl of Argyll and Clan Campbell.
[edit] Chief Lachlan Mor MacLean
- As mentioned previously, the MacLeans fought in battle alongside their allies the Clan MacDonald against their enemy the powerful Clan Campbell. However The MacLeans also had a dislike for the MacDonald clan, one of the most powerful families in the Western Isles. In the sixteenth century, Lachlan Mor, chief of Duart, continually harried the MacDonalds of Islay. Sir Lauchlan MacLean laid claim to the whole Isle of Isla. However this land traditionally belonged to the Clan MacDonald, which was in 1598 under the leadership of Sir James MacDonald, Sir Lauchlan MacLean's nephew. MacLean assembled his whole force and invaded the Isle of Isla. James peacefully offerd his uncle half of the Island for the MacLeans to own for Lauchlan's lifetime only. However Lauchlan MacLean refused all offers of peace unless his nephew gave him the entire island; this led to the Battle of the Isle of Isla. MacDonald's men were far inferior in terms of numbers but had been trained well and had fought in wars in Ireland. The MacDonalds retreated so as to fight with the sun on their backs; eventually, they were victorious. Sir Lauchlan MacLean along with about 280 of his men were killed and the rest were chased to their boats. James MacDonald was seriously wounded after being shot with an arrow; he was found after the battle amongst the dead MacDonalds which numberd about 30. This brought an end to the feud between the MacDonalds and the MacLeans. However, afterwards, the King, not liking the MacDonalds, gave much of the land to Clan Campbell; this would later lead to a feud with them.
- After Lachlan MacLeans death in 1598, his sons took revenge on his suspected murderers, the MacDonalds, by carrying out a massacre of the people of Islay which lasted for three days. The quarrel between the Macleans and the Macdonalds of Islay and Kintyre was, at the outset, merely a dispute as to the right of occupancy of the crown lands called the Rhinns of Islay, but it soon involved these tribes in a long and bloody feud, and eventually led to the near destruction of them both. The MacLeans, who were in possession, claimed to hold the lands in dispute as tenants of the crown, but the privy council decided that Macdonald of Islay was really the crown tenant.
[edit] 17th Century & Civil War
- Battle of Inverlochy (1645), during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms - This battle was between the Scottish Argyll government forces of Clan Campbell, led by Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, against the Royalist forces of the Marquess of Montrose, mainly made up of men from Clan MacDonald, Clan MacLean and other MacDonalds and men from Ireland raised by Alasdair MacColla. Through cunning tactics the Royalist force of 1500 MacDonalds & MacLeans defeated the Argyll Campbell force of 3000.
- Siege of Duart Castle - In 1647 Duart Castle was attacked and laid siege to by the Argyll government troops of Clan Campbell, but they were defeated and driven off by the Royalist troops of Clan MacLean.
- Clan MacLean fought at the battle Battle of Inverkeithing as Royalists in 1651. It was fought between an English Parliamentarian army under John Lambert and a Scottish force acting on behalf of Charles II, led by Sir John Brown of Fordell
- Archibald Campbell the 9th Earl, son of the Marquess of Argyll, invaded the Clan MacLean lands on the Isle of Mull and garrisons Duart Castle in 1678.
- Clan MacLean fight at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. The battle was fought chiefly between highland Scottish clans supporting James II and VII and government troops (mostly lowland Scots, often incorrectly labeled "English") supporting William of Orange on July 27, 1689, during the Glorious Revolution.
[edit] 18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings
During the Jacobite Uprisings of 1745 to 1746 the Clan MacLean supported the House of Stuart and the Jacobite cause with many members of the clan fighting at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Charles MacLean of Drimin was killed leading the MacLeans at Culloden.
[edit] Later decline
Many of the clansmen were killed at Battle of Culloden. The massacre of the MacDonald clansmen in the late 17th century marked the point when the fortunes of the MacLean clan began to wane, and by 1691 century the Campbells had gained possession of Duart Castle and most of the MacLean estates. However, Duart Castle was reclaimed by the family in 1911 and has been restored as the family seat. Many MacLeans dispersed to other countries such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
[edit] Duart Castle
Duart Castle, the traditional home of the MacLeans, fell into ruins but was restored early in the 20th century by Sir Fitzroy Donald MacLean and has been the seat of the clan chief since its reopening in 1912.
[edit] Current Clan Chief and Cadet Chieftains (c.2006)
[edit] Clan Chief
- Sir Lachlan Maclean of Duart and Morvern Bt, CVO, Deputy Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute, 28th Clan Chief and 12th Baronet of Morvaren.
[edit] Chieftains
- Lorne Maclaine of Lochbuie
- Robin Maclean of Ardgour
- The Very Rev Canon Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch
- Sir Charles Edward Maclean of Dunconnel Bt, 2nd Baronet of Strachur and Glensluain, Baron Strachur, and 16th Hereditary Keeper and Captain of Dunconnel in the Isles of The Sea
- Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross
- Richard Compton Maclean of Torloisk
- Malcolm Maclean of Kingairloch
[edit] Former Clan Chiefs
| Name | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lord Charles Hector Fitzroy Maclean of Duart and Morvern, 27th Clan Chief | b. 1936 - d. 1990 | 11th Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Fitzroy Donald Maclean of Duart and Morvern, 26th Clan Chief | b. 1883 - d. 1936 | 10th Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Charles Fitzroy Maclean, 25th Clan Chief | b. 1847 - d. 1883 | 9th Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Fitzroy Jeffries Grafton Maclean, 24th Clan Chief | b. 1818 - d. 1847 | 8th Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Hector Maclean, 23rd Clan Chief | b. 1783 - d. 1818 | 7th Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Allan Maclean of Pennycross, 22nd Clan Chief | b. 1750 - d. 1783 | 6th Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Hector Maclean, 21st Clan Chief | b. 1716 - d. 1750 | 5th Baronet Morvern |
| Sir John Maclean, 20th Clan Chief | b. 1674 - d. 1716 | 4th Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Allan Maclean, 19th Clan Chief | b. 1651 - d. 1674 | 3rd Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Hector Maclean, 18th Clan Chief | b. 1649 - d. 1651 | 2nd Baronet Morvern |
| Sir Lachlan Maclean of Morvaren, 17th Clan Chief | b. 1626 - d. 1649 | 1st Baronet Morvern (creation of 1631) |
| Hector Mor Maclean of Dowart, 16th Clan Chief | b.? - d. 1626 | (Hector the Great) |
| Hector Og Maclean, 15th Clan Chief | b.? - d. 1623 | (Young Hector) |
| Lachlan Mor Maclean, 14th Clan Chief | b. 1558 - d. 1598 | Killed at the Battle of the Isle of Isla |
| Eachuinn Og Maclean, 13th Clan Chief | (Hector the Younger) | |
| Eachuinn Mor Maclean, 12th Clan Chief | (Hector the Elder) | |
| Lachlan Cattanach Maclean, 11th Clan Chief | b. ? - d. 1513 | ("Lachlan the Hairy")
Killed at the Battle of Flodden Field |
| Lachlan Maclean, 10th Clan Chief | ||
| Eachuinn Odar Maclean, 9th Clan Chief | (Hector the Swarthy) | |
| Lachlan Og Maclean, 8th Chief | (Lochlan the Younger) | |
| Lachlan Bronneach Maclean, 7th Clan Chief | (Lachlan the Fat-bellied) | |
| Eachuinn Ruadh nan cath Maclean, 6th Clan Chief | b. ? - d.1440's | (Red Hector of the Battles)
Killed in a duel with Alexander Irvine. |
| Lachlan Lubanach Maclean of Duart, 5th Clan Chief | (Lachlan the Cunning) | |
| Iain Dubh Macgilliemore Maclean of Morvern, 4th Clan Chief | (Black John, the son of Giles the Great) | |
| Malcolm Maclean, 3rd Clan Chief | ||
| Malise Fitzgerald, AKA: Gillemor Macilean , 2nd Clan Chief and Earl of Perth | (Giles the Great, the son of Gillean) | |
| Gillean na Tuaighe Fitzgerald, 1st Clan Chief | (Little Giles of the Battleaxe) |
[edit] Clan Profile
- Motto: Virtue mine honour ("Virtue is my Honour"). Another translation, based on the word virtū (Italian > "Strength") is "My Strength is my Honour".
- Battle Cry: Fear eil’ air son Eachainn ("Another for Hector"). This refers to a traditional story of seven brothers who fell at the Battle of Inverkeithing (1651), giving their lives to save their mortally wounded Chief, Sir Hector MacLean of Duart).
- Battle Cry: Bas no Beatha ("Death or Life!!"). This alludes to part of a line from a prayer by St. Columba.
[edit] Famous Macleans
- The exploits of soldier and diplomat Fitzroy Hew MacLean, who parachuted into Yugoslavia to assist the resistance in WW2, are said to have been the origins of Ian Fleming's James Bond (Agent 007).
- Sorley Maclean, (b.1911 - d.1996), was a distinguished Gaelic-language poet.
- Novelist Alistair MacLean was known for books such as HMS Ulysses and The Guns of Navarone.
- Euphamia "Effie" Maclean was the mother of famed Scottish actor Sean Connery.
- Harry Aubrey de Maclean (Kaïd), KCMG (1848 - 1920) was a Scottish soldier, and instructor to the Moroccan Army.
[edit] Branches
- MacLean of Duart
- MacLaine of Lochbuie
- MacLean of Coll
- MacLean of Ardgour
[edit] Alternative Spellings & Septs
MacLean, McLean, Maclean, Mclean, M'Lean, MacClean, Macclean, McClean, Mcclean, M'Clean, Maklean, M'Klean, Macklean, Makclean, McKlean, MacLaine, McLaine, Maclaine, Mclaine, M'Laine, MacClaine, Macclaine, McClaine, Mcclaine, M'Claine, Maklaine, M'Klaine, Macklaine, Makclaine, McKlaine, MacLane, McLane, Maclane, Mclane, M'Lane, MacClane, Macclane, McClane, Mcclane, M'Clane, Maklane, M'Klane, MacKlane, Macklane, Makclane, McKlane, Makllane, MacLain, McLain, Maclain, Mclain, M'Lain, MacClain, Macclain, McClain, Mcclain, M'Clain, Maklain, M'Klain, Macklain, Makclain, McKlain, MacLeane, McLeane, Mcleane, Macleane, M'Leane, MacCleane, Maccleane, McCleane, Maccleane, M'Cleane, Makleane, M'Kleane, Mackleane, Makcleane, McKleane, M'Gleane, McLeany, MacLan, McLan, Maclan, Mclan, M'Lan, MacClan, Macclan, McClan, Mcclan, M'Clan, Maklan, M'Klan, Macklan, Macklan, Makclan, McKlan, MacLene, McLene, Mclene, Maclene, M'Lene, MacClene, Macclene, McClene, M'Clene, Maklene, M'Klene, Macklene, Makclene, McKlene, MacLen, McLen, Mclen, Maclen, M'Len, MacClen, Macclen, McClen, Mcclen, M'Clen, Maklen, M'Klen, Macklen, Makclen, McKlen, MacLaen, McLaen, Mclaen, Maclaen, M'Laen, MacClaen, Macclaen, McClaen, Mcclaen, M'Claen, Maklaen, M'Klaen, Macklaen, Makclaen, McKlaen, MacLayne, McLayne, Maclayne, Mclayne, M'Layne, MacClayne, Macclayne, McClayne, Mcclayne, M'Clayne, Maklayne, Macklayne, M'Klayne, Makclayne, McKlayne, Malayne, MacLayn, McLayn, Maclayn, Mclayn, M'Layn, MacClayn, Macclayn, McClayn, Mcclayn, M'Clayn, Maklayn, Macklayn, M'Klayn, Makclayn, McKlayn, MacLyn, McLyn, Mclyn, Maclyn, M'Lyn, MacClyn, Macclyn, McClyn, Mcclyn, M'Clyn, Maklyn, M'Klyn, Macklyn, Makclyn, McKlyn, MacLyne, McLyne, Maclyne, Mclyne, M'Lyne, MacClyne, Macclyne, McClyne, Mcclyne, M'Clyne, Maklyne, Macklyne, M'Klyne, Makclyne, McKlyne, Makelyne, MacLynne, McLynne, Maclynne, Mclynne, M'Lynne, MacClynne, Macclynne, McClynne, Mcclynne, M'Clynne, Maklynne, Macklynne, M'Klynne, Makclynne, McKlynne, MacKlyn, Makelynne, MacClune, McClune, M'Clune, Macklune, MacClun, McClun, M'Clun, Macclone, McClwne, M'Clwne, M'Clwn, MacLeone, McLeone, Mcleone, Macleone, M'Leone, MacCleone, Maccleone, McCleone, Mccleone, M'Cleone, Makleone, M'Kleone, Mackleone, Makcleone, McKleone, MacLeon, McLeon, Mcleon, Macleon, M'Leon, MacCleon, Maccleon, McCleon, Mccleon, M'Cleon, Makleon, M'Kleon, Mackleon, Makcleon, McKleon, MacLin, McLin, Maclin, Mclin, M'Lin, MacClin, Macclin, McClin, Mcclin, M'Clin, Maklin, M'Klin, MacKlin, Macklin, Makclin, McKlin, MacLeen, McLeen, Macleen, Mcleen, M'Leen, MacCleen, Maccleen, McCleen, Mccleen, M'Cleen, MakLeen, Makleen, M'Kleen, MacKleen, Mackleen, Makeleen, Makcleen, McKleen, MacLion, McLion, Maclion, Mclion, M'Lion, MacClion, Macclion, McClion, Mcclion, M'Clion, Maklion, M'Klion, Macklion, Makclion, McKlion, MacLine, McLine, Macline, Mcline, M'Line, MacCline, Maccline, McCline, Mccline, M'Cline, Makline, M'Kline, Mcklaine, Mackcline, Makcline, McKline, MacLein, McLein, Maclein, Mclein, M'Lein, MacClein, Macclein, McClein, Mcclein, M'Clein, Maklein, M'Klein, MacKlein, Macklein, Makclein, McKlein, MacLeain, McLeain, Macleain, Mcleain, M'Leain, MacCleain, Maccleain, McCleain, Mccleain, M'Cleain, Makleain, M'Kleain, Mackleain, Makcleain, McKleain, MacLeand, McLeand, Macleand, Mcleand, M'Leand, MacCleand, Maccleand, McCleand, Mccleand, M'Cleand, Makleand, M'Kleand, Mackleand, Makcleand, McKleand, MacAloon, McAloon, M'Aloon, MacClone, McClone, M'Clone, MacGlone, McGlone, M'Glone, MacLoon, McLoon, M'Loon, Macklier, Mackliers, Maglier, Magliers, Makeliers, Makelirss, Makelir, Makeleer, Mackelein, Mack Klun, MacKleyn, Malyane, M'Killeane, MackCleiden, Makelyne, MacOlaine, McOlaine, M'Olaine, M'Ollaine, MacOleane, McOleane, M'Oleane, V'Oleane, MacOlloine, McOlloine, M'Olloine, Macerlean, MacIleain, Mackelein, MakIlane, M'Illclayne, McIlaine, McIllaine, Mcillaine, Mcillayn, McIllon, Mcillion, Makilane, Machilyn, Lane, Lain, Laine, Layne, Layn, Lean, Gillean, Gilean, Gileain, Gilleoin, Gilleon, Gillian, Gillon, Gillen, Gillzean, Gilzean, Gilsean, Gilzeane, Gillane, Gillan, Gilland, Gilhon, Gellion Mac Gille-Eoin, Mac Gille eoin, MacGilleathain, Mac Ghill'Eathain, MacGillean, M'Gillean, Makgillean, MacGillelane, M'Gillelane, Macgillelane, MacGillayne, McGillayne, M'Gillayne, MacGillane, McGillane, M'Gillane, Makgillane, MacGillyane, McGillyane, M'Gillyane, Makgillyane, MacGilloyne, McGilloyne, M'Gilloyne, Makgilloyne, MacGillon, McGillon, M'Gillon, Makgillon, MacGilhon, McGilhon, M'Gilhon, Makgilhon, MacGilleon, McGilleon, M'Gilleon, Makgilleon, MacGilleoin, McGilleoin, M'Gilleoin, Makgilleoin, MacGilleone, McGilleone, M'Gilleone, Makgilleone, MacGilleoun, McGilleoun, M'Gilleoun, Makgilleoun, MacGuilleon, McGuilleon, M'Guilleon, Makguilleon, MacGilleoune, McGilleoune, M'Gilleoune, Makgilleoune, Megilleoune, MacGillichean, McGillichean, M'Gillichean, Makgillichean
