Clan Campbell of Argyll
The Campbell Clan, the most powerful in Scotland, rose upon the ruins of the Mac Donalds
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From The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans: With Notes, 1900.
War Cry:—"Cruachan" (A mountain near Loch Awe).
Clan Pipe Music:—March "Baile lonaraora" ("The Campbells are Coming"). Lament— "Cumha Mharcuis" ("The Marquis' Lament").
Badge:—Roid (Wild Myrtle); or Garbhag an t-sleibhe (Fir Club Moss).
The Campbell Clan, the most powerful in Scotland, rose upon the ruins of the Mac Donalds, and their whole policy for ages, says a writer, was to supplant and ruin that race. The county of Argyll was for ages, and is still to a very considerable extent, inhabited by this great clan, whose duty it was to rally round the MacCailean Mhor, as their chief was designated; and many branches of the tribe were war-like and titled barons, who were bound to assist him in his feuds, without inquiring into his motives
Sir Colin Mȯr Campbell, dominus de Lochawe, was knighted in 1230 by Alexander III., "and from him," says Douglas, "the head of the family of Argyll is called MacCailean Mhor, in the Highlands to this day. By the time of Robert I.," he adds, "the clan had become so numerous, that, unless locally designated, it was not easy to distinguish them, and many of the name basely swore fealty to Edward of England."
In Robertson's Index of Mining Charters, by Robert I., there are two to Duncan and Dougal Campbell, of "sundry lands in Argyll ;" one to the latter of the Isle of Torsa, in Nether Lorn.
"The first crown charter of the Argyll, or MacCailean Mhor branch of the name," says James Roberteon, "for lands in Argyleshire, was one by King Robert Bruce to his nephew, Sir Colin, whose name is therein written Cambel-- it is for the lands of Ardsonnachan, and dated at Arbroath 10th February 1816;" and the clan gradually increased in power, till, by conquest and marriage, it became the most influential in the kingdom.
Daring the minority of David II., Sir Colin Campbell of Lochawe stormed the Castle of Dunoon from the English, and was made governor thereof. His grandson, also Sir Colin, reduced the Western Highlands to the Royal Authority, and, according to Martin's Genealogical Collections, was the immediate progenitor of the families of Ardkinglass, Ardentinie, Dunoon, Carrick, Skipness, Blytheswood, etc.
The first of the family ennobled was Sir Duncan who assumed the designation of Argyll, and was raised to the Peerage in 1445, by James II., as Lord Campbell. His grandson, Colin, second Lord Campbell, was ambassador to England, 1471-74, and was created Earl of Argyll in 1480.
Archibald, second Earl of Argyll, led the vanguard at Flodden, and lost his life with his royal master; Archibald, fourth Earl, opposed strenuously the proposed marriage of Queen Mary to Edward VI., "as derogatory to the honour of his country," and distinguished himself by his valour at Pinkie in 1547.
Archibald, seventh Earl, fought at Glenlevat in 1594: suppressed the MacGregors in 1603, and the MacDonalds, in the Western Isles in 1614.
His son, Sir Colin Mȯr Campbell, commanded the Scots Foot Guards from 1641 till 1050, when the regiment was cut to pieces at the battle of Worcester, and like his father, he lost his head in 1685, a victim of misrule rather than misjudgment. His son Archibald, tenth Earl, after the Revolution, was Colonel of the Horse Scots Guards, and in 1701 was created Duke of Argyll, Marquis of Kintyre and Lome, Earl of Campbell and Cowal, Viscount Lochow and Glenyla, Lord Inverary, Mull, Morvn and Tirie, by a patent, dated at Kensington, 23rd June.
His son, John, second Duke, became a field-marshal, and was one of the best soldiers of his time, and deserved the character given of him by Pope, as
"Argyll! the state's whole thunder born to wield,
And shake alike the senate and the field."
He signalised himself at the battle of Ramilies and Oudenard, and the sieges of Lisle, Ghent, and Bruges. He commanded in Spain in 1710, and five years after, he fought, for the last time in the drawn battle of Sheriffmuir. He had the Dukedom of Greenwich, which died with him in 1743, when the Scottish titles went to his brother Archibald, third Duke, who served under Marlborough, at the head of the 36th Foot, was Governor of Dumbarton, and High Treasurer of Scotland. He died in 1761, and was laid in Kilmun, the burial-place of his family. Being without issue, the title devolved on his cousin, General John Campbell of Mamore (second son of Archibald, ninth Earl), whose line is now represented by the present family. The fighting force of the Campbells was estimated at 5000 claymores in 1745.
John, fourth Duke, was the eldest son of the above-named John Campbell of Maraore. He died in 1770, and was succeeded by his son John, fifth Duke, who died in 1790. He left two sons, George, sixth Duke (d. 1839), and John, seventh Duke, who died in 1847, leaving George, eighth Duke (died 1900) whose eldest son John, married Princess Louise in 1871, and is the ninth and present Duke.
The 42nd, or "Black Watch" tartan, page 23, on the authority of Lord Archibald Campbell, is identical with the Campbell clan tartan.
The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans: With Notes. W. & A. K. Johnston, 1900.
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