What most people know of the Clan MacLeod they've learned from the movies and television series about the fictional Duncan McLeod. . .the Highlander. Not that it's entirely bad having people believe you are an immortal who's good with swords, but the truth of the clan is a lot more interesting.
McLeods have "held fast" in western Scotland for more than 750 years, since the days of Olaf the Black, one of the last Norse Kings of Man and the Isles.
The Viking invasions of Scotland heralded a new type of warfare. By equipping their boats with keels, a significant number of warriors could be accommodated on sea journeys that presented little problem to the highly developed Norse navigational and rigging skills. So began the Norse invasions of the northern British Isles. Their terror is first recorded in 793 with the destruction of the Lindisfarne monastery. Attacks on Iona began in 794, whilst Orkney and Shetland became Norse colonies, followed by the entire Hebrides and areas of the mainland.
The Viking Olaf the Black, the Norse King of the Isle of Man, first raided then settled in the very northwestern part of Scotland around the Isle of Skye. Olaf was one of many Norsemen to stay and marry local women. The son of Olaf, Leod, beget the sons Torquil (the Siol Torquil branch of Clan McCleod) and Tormod (the Siol Tormod branch of Clan McLeod).
Olaf's youngest son Leod inherited the regions of Lewis and Harris along with parts of Skye on his father's death in 1237. Through marriage to the Norse seneschal of Skye, the family acquired Dunvegan Castle, which remains the ancestral family home to this day. The Clan consists of two main branches: the McLeods of Lewis descend from Leod's son Torquil, and the McLeods of Harris and Skye descend from another son, Tormod. In the 14th century, King David II granted Torquil McLeod a charter of the barony of Assynt in Sutherland, establishing the Clan as a knighted, land-owning family. Lewis had been held by this branch as vassals of the MacDonalds and they acquired other lands in Raasay, Waternish and Gairloch. The Siol Torquil at one time rivaled the Siol Tormod in importance and disputed the chieftainship of the clan.
However, during the 16th century internal dissention and a successions of feuds with other clans led to the weakening and eventual dispossession of the McLeods of Lewis. The direct line became extinct and their lands subsequently passed via the Mackenzies to the Mathesons and so they were eventually chief-less and landless. The chieftainship passed to the McLeods of Raasay who were the senior branch of the Siol Torquil and were descended from Malcolm, second son of Malcolm, 9th chief of Lewis. The Raasay estates were sold by the 11th Laird in 1846 who emigrated to Australia where the present chief still lives. Another branch, the McLeods of Assynt in Sutherland, are considered to be the "black sheep" of the family for the betraying of the Marquess of Montrose in 1650 when he had fled to Assynt after the battle of Carbisdale.
The reign of the Scottish King James VI brought relative prosperity and peace to Scotland beginning in 1582. With the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, James VI ascended to the throne of England, ruling over a divided British Isles. In spite of the relative peace, a battle was growing between Catholicism and protestant Presbyterianism. One of the efforts made to spread the cause of Presbyterianism during the period of 1608 to 1650 was to encourage -- via land grants -- Scottish Presbyterians to emigrate to northern Ireland. When James VI died in 1625, he was succeeded by the politically incompetent Charles I. In the reign of Charles, the Bishops Wars in Scotland in 1639 led directly to the long and bloody civil wars and the Jacobite uprisings of the next century.
McLeods took part in many of these civil wars with England. Though mostly independent in nature, the McLeods had been at Bannockburn in 1314 when Robert the Bruce won independence from England. Now in the 17th Century, the Clan went to England in support of the Royal cause at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, fighting on the Royalist side with Charles II. Sadly, Cromwell's victory in this battle decimated the Clan -- as many as 700 MacLeod patriots died in that battle. With such heavy losses, the other clans agreed that Clan McLeod should not be asked to join in further battles until it had rebuilt its strength. The McLeods were reported by General Wade in 1715 to be 1,000 strong; and in 1745 MacLeod, it was said, could put 900 men in the field. The Clan did not do so in support of Prince Charlie that year, though many of the clansmen fought on the Jacobite side.
Many Scots emigrated to Ireland, and then to the Colonies, in the 1700s and 1800s. In these later days, the MacLeod chiefs became noted for their benevolence, their endeavors for the improving of their estates, and their interest in the welfare of their clansmen. Among them none has been held in more affectionate regard than the present owner of Castle Dunvegan, John MacLeod of MacLeod, 29th Chief of the Clan. No Chief in the Highlands more faithfully cherishes the best traditions of the past, or more faithfully fulfils the obligations of the present, and none is more beloved by his people, or more worthy of their affection and esteem.
The most treasured relic of the Clan MacLeod is the "am Bratach Sith" or the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan. It is said to have been woven by fairies to be used by the chief of the McLeods in dire times. Belief in its power is strong and its magic has been called upon to turn defeat in victory on at least two occasions. Tradition holds that MacLeod pilots in the Battle of Britain carried pictures of the Flag -- and suffered no losses. And the Clan is said to have offered to carry the Flag to the cliffs of Dover should Hitler attempt an invasion. Many people don't believe in the power of magic and Fairies, but Adolph Hitler did. And never did invade England or Scotland.
Dunvegan Castle has been renovated and is still the home of the Chief. An active Clan society exists with branches around the globe.
We McClures are a sept (or family) of the McLeods of Harris. Here's our history.
- For more information about the Clan, see the excellent information at Electric Scotland.
- The truth about William Wallace, (BraveHeart) Scotland's great patriot.
- Yes, there's a real "Rob Roy" as well!
- Check out Highlander Web Magazine, a resource of Scotland