The Clan of MacDonald
“Of all the clans, that of the Mac Donalds is by every rule of antiquity, power, and numbers fully entitled to be spoken of before any other," says Robertson.
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From The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans: With Notes, 1900.
War Cry: "Kraoch Eilean" ("The Heathery Isle").
Badge: Fraoch (Common Heath).
“Of all the clans, that of the Mac Donalds is by every rule of antiquity, power, and numbers fully entitled to be spoken of before any other," says Robertson. "Their founder was named in Gaelic Somhairle, and by the Norsemen Somerled, both words having the same meaning, namely Samuel. This hero, for such he undoubtedly was did more to free his countrymen from the rule of the Danes and Norwegians than any other, and in consequence attained to a power greater than has fallen to the lot of a subject of present Scotland.... His origin, as stated by Gregory, seems to be clearly Pictish. His father's name was Gillebrede, a very common Pictish name." It signifies the followers of St. Bride or Bridget.
Ronald MacDonald Glas of Keppoch fought at Blairleine in 1544, and was afterwards captured by Huntly, and warded as a traitor in the Castle of Ruthven, and was beheaded, together with Ewen, son of Allan, Captain of the Clan Cameron. The Braelochaber MacDonalds were always called of Keppoch.
His chief, Ronald Oig of Keppoch, when the tide of battle had turned against the great Marquis had often to seek shelter in a cavern in Rannoch.
It was MacDonald of Keppoch who, proudly disdaining to hold by a sheepskin the lands of Glenroy, in 1087 asserted by the sword his right against Macintosh, who had obtained a crown charter of the disputed territory, vanquished and took him prisoner in a desperate conflict, and compelled him to renounce his acquired claim. In requital for his temerity, Keppoch lands were laid waste with fire and sword by a body of Scottish Regulars from the Lowlands.
Keppoch's strength in 1715 was only 220 men. It was more than double this in 1745.
The three MacDonald Regiments of Glengarry, Keppoch, and Clanranald were on the left wing of the Prince's first line at Culloden, but refused to advance in the headlong charge, on the plea that the right wing had ever been their post since Bannockburn. When the rest of the line advanced, fruitlessly did the Duke of Perth wave his bonnet to them, and cry, "Claymore! Claymore!" hoping to stimulate them by his example. Keppoch, the venerable and fearless, advanced to the charge alone, or with a few kinsmen, while his clan, an event unknown in Highland history, remained stationary. "My God!" cried the old man, in the bitterness of his heart; "My God! have the children of my tribe forsaken me? "
Unmoved they saw him fall, and after exchanging a few rounds with the Scots Royals and "34th," marched off the field with colours flying and pipes playing.
MacDonald of Glencoe.
The chief of this branch, called Mac Vic Ian, held his lands of Appin, says the Report of the Lord President in 1745, and he could always bring out 150 men. He was lineally descended from the ancient Lords of the Isles, and from the Royal family, the common ancestor of the MacDonalds having espoused a daughter of Robert II. In the Roll of the Clans in 1587 the tribes appear as the Clan Maclain of Avricht or Abrach.
Glencoe served under Montrose in his wars, and fought with particular valour at the battle of Inverlochy in 1045.
At the time of the Revolution in 1688, MacIan of Glencoe was, according to a contemporary testimony, "a person of great integrity, honour, good nature, and courage;" and his loyalty to his master. King James, was such that he continued in arms from Dundee's first appearing in the Highlands till the fatal treaty that brought about his ruin. The infamous massacre of Glencoe by the troops of William of Orange, that barbarous infraction of all laws human and Divine, which covered with disgrace the abettors of the Revolution, is too well known in history to require further mention here. In the Antiquarian Museum at Edinburgh are four amber beads, which were esteemed by the sept of Glencoe as a cure for blindness, and were worn by a lady of the clan on the morning of the massacre. Latterly they were in possession of Mrs Campbell of Glenlyon.
Glencoe is supposed to be the birthplace of Ossian. Through the middle of the solemn valley runs "the roaring stream of Cona;" on its northern side rises the Hill of Fingal, and close by is "the sunny place of Darthula."
The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans: With Notes. W. & A. K. Johnston, 1900.
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