Unleash Your Inner Tartan: Clan MacLean

MacLean Soldier

Although not the founder of the Clan, Malcolm MacLean, (known as Gilli Colium mac maoiliosa in Scottish Gaelic), third Chief of Clan MacLean, was extremely instrumental in creating many of the connections that made Clan MacLean so powerful. He married Rignach, a relation of Robert The Bruce, linking the MacLean family to the Bruce family. The couple had three sons together named Donald, Neil and John (Iain Dubh in Gaelic). Both Donald and Neil produced sons, Donald had four and Neil had three, however it was John (Iain Dubh) that succeeded his father as Clan Chief, even though he was the youngest son. The rule of succession where the oldest son automatically successes did not exist at this point in history. Instead, the successor was chosen based on who was most capable of carrying out the duties and ensuring success of the Clan.

Iain Dubh also had three sons himself, they were named Hector, Lachlan and John and all three went on to create very important parts of the MacLean family and Clan. While John is thought of as the ancestor of the MacLeans of Lorn, Ardgour and Morvern, Lachlan and Hector were in fact the ancestors for the Duart and Lochbuie branches of the MacLean family. They were also the first MacLeans to step foot on the Isle of Mull. However, the most famous story about Hector and Lachlan is that they took MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, as their prisoner and demanded that he hand over lands on Mull to the MacLean family, although there is a lot of debate surrounding this story about whether it is actually true.

Fast forward a few years to 1367, Robert The Bruce has died by this point and his son, David, is now King of Scotland. John MacDonald has been given a Royal Charter and is now known as John Lord of the Isles. It is in this year that Lachlan MacGilli, son of Iain Dubh, is sent a mandate to marry John Lord of the Isle's daughter, Mary. Through this marriage he was appointed chamberlain of the household, an extremely important and powerful role and he was granted Duart Castle. Due to all this new found power, it was Lachlan who was appointed the next Chief of Clan MacLean.

The Clan MacLean throughout its adventurous history participated in many battles and had their fair share of disagreements with other clans. Stories of bloodshed and marriages are usual for Highlanders, so are outstanding figures. The 6th Chief of the clan was one of these remarkable leaders. He was known as Red Hector of the Battles or in Gaelic Eachann Ruadh nan Cath. Red Hector commanded as Lieutenant General at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. Here, he engaged in one-on-one combat with the chief of Clan Irving, Sir Alexander Irving of Drum. After the legendary battle both died due to the wounds they inflicted on one another. Red Hector nevertheless remained an iconic figure of the MacLean's, and one of the most popular names amongst the family is, in fact, Hector.

Clan Feuds

As we know Clans did not always get along. More often than not we can see a series of break-ups and make-ups, rivals forming alliances against a common enemy, and pacts being broken. Clan MacLean had most of their disputes with the MacDonald's and Campbell's.

It was during the 16th century when Clan Campbell started to rise to power. To avoid potential feuds between the two several marriages were arranged. However the alliance was hanging on a thread, until something inevitably went wrong. It was the union between Chief Lachlan MacLean and Lady Elizabeth Campbell, the daughter of the Earl of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell that broke the time of unsteady peace. To say the match was an unsuccessful one would be an understatement. Events snowballed into Chief MacLean marooning his wife on a rock in the sea, leaving her to drown. Luckily for Lady Elizabeth a few nearby fishermen heard her screams and rescued her. After she was reunited with the Campbells revenge was unavoidable. Chief MacLean expected to see nothing of his wife, and certainly not to see her only a few hours later. He escaped to Edinburgh but was eventually killed by his brother-in-law and this sealed bad blood between them for good. The conflict later became the subject of poems by Joanna Bailie, Thomas Campbell, and Sir Walter Scott.

There were many battles between the two clans. In 1529 the MacLean's ravaged land that belonged to the Campbells with fire and sword, killing many of the inhabitants. In return the Campbells almost completely destroyed land that belonged to the MacLeans. On the flip side, despite all their disagreements there were a few things the MacLean's and Campbells agreed upon. One was their Protestant faith and the other their common dislike of the MacDonalds. The distaste between MacLeans and MacDonalds started because of the right of occupancy of the crown lands called the Rinns of Islay, but eventually turned into bloodshed and feuds. In 1598 a battle took place between them called The Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart, in which the chief of Clan MacLean was killed. His sons swore revenge and carried out a massacre which lasted three days. This started a series of back-and-forth raids committed by the hostile clans, almost destroying both the clans and even catching the attention of the King and the council. The rival chiefs were summoned to Edinburgh where they were committed as prisoners of the castle and later brought to trial. They were even charged with treason, saying they hired Spanish and English soldiers to fight their private quarrels. The Chiefs submitted themselves to the King’s mercy, and luckily for them the King was merciful indeed, and on payment of a small fine they were allowed to return home.

This was not the first time the McLean's had business with royals. For example chief Hector Odhar Maclean of Duart, who led the clan at the battle of Flodden in 1513, died in an attempt to save the life of James IV (1473-1513) by throwing his body between the King and the bowmen.

Even though Highlanders did not always have the best relationship with the monarchs there were a number of cases in which the clans worked for the English when it suited them. One of these stories involves the MacLeans, when Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) was looking for mercenaries to fight for her in Ireland the clan was a tactical candidate. Short of money, the MacLeans struggled to keep up with wealthier rivals such as the Campbells. Therefore, thanks to the significant financial rewards offered the chief, Lachlan Mor provided men for the English campaign. But after all this was more of a question of money, not loyalty, therefore when a Spanish Galleon asked for help and offered in return help the MacLeans against rival clans, the Chief agreed. However the deal did not happen in the end due to a brawl between the English and the Spanish.

The Clan MacLean did not lack loyalty altogether demonstrated by the following examples. Sir Lachlan Maclean of Morvern was a member of a baronet of Nova Scotia created by Charles I. During the civil wars, as a commander he courageously led his men and fought for the royal cause. Fighting for Charles II, in the Battle of Inverkeithing in 1651, Sir Lachlan’s son, Sir Hector MacLean led 800 men against the troops of Oliver Cromwell. In the heat of the battle Sir Hector was protected from the enemy by seven of his men, who sacrificed their lives for him. As they fell each exclaimed: ‘Fear eile air son Eachainn!’ meaning ‘Another for Hector!’ This phrase lives on as a proverb, used when someone encounters any sudden danger that requires instant assistance.

As well as tartan, each clan has their own crest (badge or symbol) to show allegiance to the clan and its chief. The crest badge of MacLean resents a tower with embattlements, accompanied by the clan motto, ‘VIRTUE MINE HONOUR’. Long before the use of crest badges, each clan was symbolised by a plant, these were worn in bonnets in addition to being used as a banner attached to a pole or spear. The plant of the MacLean's is the crowberry, which is a very like heather, a creeping plant with black berries which likes growing in moorland. So now you can picture the Maclean's going into battle with crowberry tucked in their bonnet to help identify their allegiance, amidst the war cries or rallying call: Bàs no Beatha (from Scottish Gaelic: "Death or life") and Fear eile airson Eachann (from Scottish Gaelic: "Another for Hector").

All branches of Clan MacLean went on to assert power in many different areas of Scotland for the next few centuries, until the Jacobite Risings and the Highland Clearances that followed. They were mainly situated on the West Coast of Scotland, with a large proportion of the Clan holding land on the Isle of Mull. Mull is the largest of the North Argyll islands covering an area of 351 square miles, and has a native population of about 3,000. If are visiting Scotland today the island has a thriving community with many events and a vibrant arts scene which includes traditional as well as modern elements. On the Isle of Mull lies the main castle of the MacLeans, Duart Castle. In Gaelic ‘Dubh Ard’ means ‘Black Point’, referring to the volcanic rock on which the castle stands. It was built in the 13th century and was given to Lachlan Maclean after he married Mary MacDonald, daughter of the Lord of the Isles, along with other lands in Mull. Duart Castle was seized and sacked by the rival Campbell Clan in 1688 and was garrisoned by government troops until 1751, if you want to learn more about this amazing castle you can check out our blog post. The current chief’s great-grandfather, Sir Fitzroy Maclean, bought the ruins in 1911 and restored the castle. The repairs cost around £1.5 million pounds. It is one of the last surviving castles still privately owned. The castle offers exhibitions and events from April to October, and receives about 25,000 visitors a year. We have a whole other blog dedicated to the castles of Clan MacLean if you want to know more!

This blog was written by Fanni Elo, a Film & Media student of Stirling University. Keep reading to learn more about Fanni, her love of Scotland and the project she and her fellow students completed.