Clan Mackenzie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clan Mackenzie
Mac Coinnich

Crest: A mount in flames Proper[1]
Motto Luceo non uro (I shine not burn)[1]
Slogan Tulach Àrd (The high hill or The high knoll or "The high hillock)
Profile
Region Highland
District Ross-shire
Plant badge variegated holly or
deer's grass
Chief
John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie
5th Earl of Cromartie
Seat Castle Leod
Historic seat Eileen Donan Castle
Redcastle

Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.

History

Origins

Traditional origins

The surname Mackenzie in Scottish Gaelic is Maccoinneach which means son of the fair bright one and it has been suggested that it alludes to the pagan god Cernunnos.[2] Cernunnos is often depicted as a stag's head with antlers and this is a possible explanation for the gold stag's head on the Mackenzie chief's shield.[2] The Mackenzies are believed to have the same ancestry as the Clan Matheson and Clan Anrias.[2] All three are said to be descended from Gilleoin of the Aird, a Celtic dynast who lived in the early 12th century,[2] and the chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie are said to have been settled at their great stronghold on Eilean Donan by 1297.[2]

In the 14th century during the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan Mackenzie is said to have been among the clans who fought on the side of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Inverurie (1308) against the forces of the Clan Comyn who were rivals to the throne. Chief Iain Mac Coinnich is said to have led a force of five hundred Mackenzies at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 where the English were defeated.[3]

Later in the 14th century the Mackenzies are said to have become 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 his successor as 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.[4]

Recorded origins

The earliest likeness of a Mackenzie - the effigy of Kenneth Mackenzie, 7th of Kintail (d. 1491/ 1492) located at Beauly Priory.

An early genealogy of the Mackenzies appears in MS 1467, but the earliest contemporary record of a living Mackenzie is of Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail (Alexandro McKennye de Kintaill) who appeared in two supplications for papal dispensation in 1465 and 1466[5] and was listed as a witness to a charter by John of Islay, Earl of Ross, and Lord of the Isles on November 4, 1471.[6] The earliest known likeness of a Mackenzie is that of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie (d. February 7, 1491/1492), whose effigy can be seen at Beauly Priory.[7] He is the first Mackenzie to be buried at Beauly Priory. There is no reliable evidence to support the traditional assertion that previous members of his family were buried at Iona.[8]

15th century and clan conflicts

In 1452 a force of tribes loyal to Mackenzie of Kintail took hostage a relative of the Earl of Ross. This resulted in the Battle of Bealach nam Broig which was fought to the north-west of Ben Wyvis. The Clan Munro and their septs the Dingwalls rescued the Ross hostage but won a hollow victory, with a great loss of their own men.[9]

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

The Raid on Ross took place in 1491 when the Clan Mackenzie clashed with a number of clans including the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh, Clan MacDonald of Clanranald the Clan Cameron and the Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh.[10]

The Battle of Drumchatt took place in 1497. Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and his clan rebelled against the King. Macdonald invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated in battle by the Munros and Mackenzies at Drumchatt, after which he was driven out of Ross-shire.[11]

16th century and clan conflicts

During the Anglo-Scottish Wars John Mackenzie, 9th of Kintail 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 on both occasions and the Mackenzies paid a ransom for his release on both occasions. The 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 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.[12]

On 13 December 1545 at Dingwall, the Earl of Sutherland entered into a bond of manrent with John Mackenzie of Kintail for mutual defence against all enemies, reserving only their allegiance to the youthful Mary, Queen of Scots.[13] At the Battle of Langside in 1568 the Mackenzies fought on the side of Mary, Queen of Scots, against the forces of her half-brother James Stewart, Earl of Moray. Their chief, Kenneth Mackenzie, 10th of Kintail died soon afterwards.

In 1570 a feud broke out with the Munros over the Castle Chanonry of Ross. Andrew Munro of Milntown defended it for 3 years 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 by an "Act of Pacification".[14] In 1597 the Battle of Logiebride took place between the Mackenzies and MacLeods of Rassay against the Munros and the Bain family of Tulloch Castle.[15][16]

17th century and Civil War

Commemorative stone to the Mackenzies of Seaforth on the Isle of Lewis
A romanticised Victorian-era illustration of a Clan Mackenzie clansmen by R. R. McIan from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands published in 1845.

By the beginning of the 17th century the territory of the Mackenzies extended from the Black Isle in the east to the Outer Hebrides in the west.[2] They took over the Isle of Lewis from its former Clan MacLeod of Lewis rulers and also Loch Alsh from the MacDonells.[2] The Battle of Morar in 1602 was fought between the Clan Mackenzie and Clan MacDonell of Glengarry.[17]

In 1623, the clan chief Colin Mackenzie was made 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, fighting as a Covenanter, led a force against the royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, at the Battle of Auldearn where the Covenanters were defeated.[18] Montrose followed up his success by destroying many houses that belonged to people who had opposed the royalist cause, including that of Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine.[18] Later in 1649 Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine adopted the royalist cause and led his own uprising in the Siege of Inverness (1649).[18][19]

In 1672 the Mackenzies were granted a commission of "fire and sword" against the MacLeods of Assynt who were a branch of the Clan MacLeod of Lewis and were seated at Ardvreck Castle, which was attacked and captured by the Mackenzies, who took control of the lands of Assynt.[20]

In 1688 Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie was killed leading a government backed Independent Highland Company in support of the Clan Mackintosh against the Clan Cameron and the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch at the Battle of Mulroy.[21] During the Williamite War in Ireland the Clan Mackenzie (led by their chief Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth) are believed to have supported King James at the Siege of Derry and the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.[2]

18th century and Jacobite Risings

During the Jacobite rising of 1715 chief William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth led the Clan Mackenzie in support of the Jacobite rebels. However during the Jacobite rising of 1745 the Clan Mackenzie was divided: The chief, Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose, did not support the Jacobites and raised several Independent Highland Companies from the Clan Mackenzie to support the British government. However during the 1745 rising a large part of the Clan Mackenzie followed the chief's cousin, George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie who was a Jacobite.

1715 to 1719 Jacobite Rising

In what is known as the Skirmish of Alness in 1715 the Earl of Seaforth, chief of Mackenzie led a force of 3000 men that forced the retreat of a smaller force loyal to the British Government, which was commanded by the Earl of Sutherland and included the clans Sutherland, Munro, Ross and Mackay. Much of the Ross's and Munro's lands were ravaged,[22] but they retaliated by raiding the Mackenzie lands in what is known as the Siege of Brahan.[23][24]

The Siege of Inverness (1715) came to an end when the town, which was being held by the Mackenzies was surrendered to Simon Fraser of Lovat. Soon after this Colonel Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet 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.[25]

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.

Many men from the Clan Mackenzie fought at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719 where they were defeated by Government forces and where the Mackenzie chief was wounded. He afterwards escaped to France. In 1721 the Clan Mackenzie defeated the Clan Ross at the Battle of Glen Affric.[26]

1745 to 1746 Jacobite Rising

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.[2] The Mackenzies then went on to lay waste to the lands of the Munros who supported the government and burn down Foulis Castle. They also went on to lay waste to 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.[27] However soon after as the Earl of Cromartie and his forces were travelling south to meet Charles Edward Stuart they were attacked by the Clan Sutherland and Clan Mackay near Bonar Bridge, in what became known as the Battle of Littleferry and the Clan Mackenzie were prevented from joining the Jacobite army at the Battle of Culloden.[28] Soon after 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.

Other Mackenzies 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.[29]

War, France, and India

A number of famous regiments have been raised from the Mackenzie clan, including the Highland Light Infantry (raised in 1777), the Seaforth Highlanders (raised in 1778), and the second battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders, known as the Ross-shire Buffs (raised in 1793). All those regiments wore the MacKenzie tartan. Born in 1754, Chief 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.

The 78th Regiment, as it was first called, was raised in 1778 from men on the Seaforth and other Mackenzie estates. The Earl of Seaforth, having raised his men, sailed with them to India in 1781, but died there a few months later. During the Wars in India, Colin Mackenzie (1754–1821) was Surveyor General of India, and an art collector and orientalist. He produced many of the first accurate maps of India, and his research and collections contributed significantly to the field of Asian studies. In 1799, he was part of the British force at the Battle of Seringapatam. He also fought in the Napoleonic Wars.

Modern history

Clan Mackenzie tent at the 2005 Bellingham Highland Games

Throughout the 19th century Clan Mackenzie was without a chief that was recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.[30] In 1979, Roderick Grant Francis Blunt-Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Cromartie legally changed his surname to Mackenzie and was appointed chief of Clan Mackenzie by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.[31] Although not descended from a Mackenzie in the male line (his father was born a Blunt and later changed to Blunt-Mackenzie after marrying Sibell Lilian Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Countess of Cromartie) he inherited his titles and Mackenzie descent through his mother (even she only claims a Mackenzie descent as a great-great-great-great-granddaughter of George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie).[32][33] On his death in 1990 his son John Ruaridh Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie succeeded as chief of Clan Mackenzie.[34] The Earl of Cromartie still owns lands in clan country however, the largest remaining Mackenzie landowner by some margin is Mackenzie of Gairloch, with an estate which extends to over 50,000 acres (like the clan chief, Mackenzie of Gairloch has inherited his clan name and lands through the female line).[7][35] The current chief is a member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.[30][36]

The current chief of Clan Mackenzie lives at Castle Leod, which is thought to date from the 16th century. The chief has leased the unoccupied old tower to the Clan Mackenzie Charitable Trust (CMCT) for 99 years.[37] In 1991 it was announced that the castle was planned to be restored. The restoration was to include a clan genealogical centre that would be open to the public.[38] During the 1990s there was extensive work done on the tower. In 2002 the Highland Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) was contacted, and public funding was sought to cover the costs of restoration. Because of concerns of physical and legal separation between the clan chief and the tower, the chief decided that the conditions of public funding were too onerous.[37]

The Mackenzie dress tartan is a modern tartan.
The Mackenzie tartan, otherwise known as the regimental tartan of the Seaforth Highlanders.

Chief

Main article: Chiefs of Clan Mackenzie

Clan chief: John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie (1861), Viscount Tarbat of Tarbat, Baron Castlehaven, Baron MacLeod of Castle Leod, Chief of Clan Mackenzie.[39] Chiefs of Clan Mackenzie are title as Caberféidh (translation from Scottish Gaelic: "Deer's antlers"). This Gaelic title is derived from the crest of a stag's head in the old Mackenzie Coat of Arms.[7]

Tartan

Tartans associated with the name Mackenzie include :

  • Mackenzie.[1]
    The tartan is the regimental tartan of the Seaforth Highlanders, which was raised in 1778 by the Earl of Seaforth. The tartan is recorded in the Collection of the Highland Society of London in 1816.[40][41] The tartan is worn by members of the Royal Military College of Canada Pipes and Drums band.
  • Mackenzie dress.[1]
  • Mackenzie hunting.[1]
  • Mackenzie Millennium, also known as Mackenzie 78th Highlanders.[1]
    This tartan, according to the Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK website, was recently "discovered" and recreated for the "Millennium Gathering". The society currently sells this tartan.[40]

Origin of the name

The surname Mackenzie is of Scottish origin and derived from Gaelic. The name is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Coinnich, which is a patronymic form of the personal name Coinneach meaning "comely" or "handsome".[42][43] Today personal name Coinneach is generally Anglicised as Kenneth however Kenneth was originally used as an Anglicisation of different Gaelic personal name – Cionaodh.[43]

The Anglicised Mackenzie had originally been pronounced "Mackaingye" – with a modern English Y sound represented with the letter yogh ȝ.[7] In the 18th century it became popular to write and pronounce the name with what is the equivalent of a modern English Z sound, because of the similarity of the letter yogh and letter Z.[7] There are Lowland Scots words and Scottish names that have been affected in a similar way (example: the surname Menzies).[44]

See also

Notes and footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK". Retrieved 2008-03-14. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Page 226 - 227.
  3. ↑ General History of the Highlands of Scotland - Disturbances in Moray and Caithness to 1266 electricscotland.com. Retrieved 17, February 2013.
  4. ↑ Alan Mackenzie's History of the Mackenzies, chapter 3 electricscotland.com. Retrieved 17, February 2013.
  5. ↑ MacCoinnich, A. (2003) "Kingis rabellis" to Cuidich 'n' Righ; the emergence of Clann Choinnich, c. 1475-1508. In: Boardman, S. and Ross, A. (eds) The Exercise of Power in Medieval Scotland, 1200-1500. Four Courts Press, Dublin, pp.175-200
  6. ↑ McKenzie, Alan. History of the Mackenzies, p. 11. (link to chapter 2). A transcription of the charter that lists "Alexandro McKennye de Kintaill" can be found in Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff. Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff. (volume 3). The Spalding Club, 1857. pp. 526-527.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Moncreiffe of that Ilk, pp.150–154.
  8. ↑ Brydall, Robert. "The Monumental Effigies of Scotland from the Thirteenth to the Fifteenth Century". Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Volume 29 (1894–95). pp. 329–410.
  9. ↑ Gordon, Sir Robert. "History of the Earldom of Sutherland". Written in about 1625. Re-published in 1813. Page 36.
  10. ↑ Raid on Ross clan-cameron.org. Retrieved 12 October, 2013.
  11. ↑ Gregory, Donald. "History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland from A.D. 1493 to A.D. 1625". Published in 1836. Page 92.
  12. ↑ Mackenzie, Alan. "History of the Mackenzies". Chapter 4 electricscotland.com
  13. ↑ Mackenzie, Alexander. "History of the Mackenzies, with genealogies of the principal families of the name".
  14. ↑ Gordon, Sir Robert. (1580–1657) "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland". Originally written between 1615 and 1630. Republished in 1813. Page 155.
  15. ↑ Gordon, Sir Robert. (1580–1657) "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland". Originally written between 1615 and 1630. Republished in 1813. Page 236.
  16. ↑ Mackenzie, Alan. (2006). History of the Mackenzies. Chapter 6. Pages 69 - 70.
  17. ↑ ’Conflicts of the Clans’ published in 1764 by the Foulis press, written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Mackenzie, Alan. (2006). History of the Macknzies Chapter 9. Pages 101 - 102.
  19. ↑ Roberts, John L. "Clan, King and Covenant. The History of the Highland Clans from the Civil War to the Glencoe Massacre". ISBN 0-7486-1393-5. Page 149.
  20. ↑ Ardvreck Castle - The MacNicols and Macleods of Assynt caithness.org. Retrieved 5 November, 2013.
  21. ↑ Simpson, Peter. "The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 - 1760". (1996). ISBN 0-85976-432-X. Page 72.
  22. ↑ Sage, Rev. Donald. A.M. Minister of Resolis. Memorabilia Domestica Or Parish Life in the North of Scotland. Edited by his son. Chapter 1.
  23. ↑ Mackay, Angus. (St Andrews University) Book of Mackay (1906). Edinburgh. Page 180
  24. ↑ Mackenzie, Alexander. "History of the Munros of Fowlis". page 99 Published 1898. Quoting a contemporary manuscript written by Major Fraser of Castleleathers.
  25. ↑ Mackenzie, Alexander. History of the Frasers of Lovat, with genealogies of the principal families of the name: to which is added those of Dunballoch and Phopachy. Pages 337 - 341.
  26. ↑ Mackenzie, Alan. "History of the Mackenzies". chapter 10 electricscotland.com Retrieved 12 October, 2013.
  27. ↑ Mackay, Angus, M.A. (St Andrews University). "The Book of Mackay". Page 191.
  28. ↑ Mackay, Angus, M.A. (St Andrews University). "The Book of Mackay". Page 191.
  29. ↑ Clan Macrae History - The Independent Companies clan-macrae.org.uk. Retrieved 12 October, 2013.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs website. (link to website) Retrieved on 2008-03-17
  31. ↑ Lundy, Darryl. "Roderick Grant Francis Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Cromartie". Retrieved 2008-03-16. 
  32. ↑ Lundy, Darryl. "Lt.-Col. Edward Walter Blunt-Mackenzie". Retrieved 2008-03-16. 
  33. ↑ "Clan Mackenzie Box Chart". Retrieved 2008-03-19. 
  34. ↑ McKenzie, Alan. History of the Mackenzies, pp. 176–177. (link to chapter 11)
  35. ↑ Gairloch (Flowerdale & Shieldaig) & Conon. Who Owns Scotland. Retrieved on 2008-03-16 (The estate encompasses 53,625 acres (217.01 km2). The landownership in Scotland still in the hands of very few landowners. Note that of 97% of the total land in Scotland is rural, of this 87.7% ownership of private interests. Of the land in private ownership one quarter of it is held by only 66 landowners; one third of it is owned by 120; one half is owned 343; two thirds is owned by 1,252 landowners).
  36. ↑ "The 5th Earl of Cromartie (Mackenzie)". Retrieved 2008-03-17. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Castle Leod. Highland Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT). Retrieved on 2008-03-17
  38. ↑ "A History of the Clan MacKenzie". Retrieved 2008-03-17. 
  39. ↑ CROMARTIE, CHIEF OF MACKENZIE Retrieved 2008-03-14 (Tarbat in County Cromartie; Castlehaven in County Cromartie).
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Tartans of the Clan Mackenzie". Retrieved 2008-03-14. 
  41. ↑ "MacKenzie Clan Tartan WR267". Retrieved 2008-03-14. 
  42. ↑ McKenzie Name Meaning and History Retrieved 2008-03-14 (the website cites: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4).
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Kenneth Name Meaning and History Retrieved on 2008-03-16 (the website cites: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4).
  44. ↑ Menzies Name Meaning and History Retrieved on 2008-03-16 (the website cites: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4).

References

  • Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain. The Highland Clans. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1967.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clan MacKenzie.
Clans with chiefs
Armigerous clans
Culture and society
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.