The
MacDonalds of Glencoe also known as
Clann Iain Abrach are a branch of
Clan DonaldClan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
.
History
The founder of the MacDonalds of Glencoe was
Iain Fraoch MacDonaldIain Fraoch MacDonald was a younger son of Angus Og of Islay, and founder of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe."Fraoch" is a nickname which means "the snarling" in the Scottish Gaelic language, although it usually means heather -External links:...
(d. 1368) who was a younger son of
Angus Og of IslayAonghas Óg MacDomhnaill was the son of Aonghas Mór MacDomhnaill. As Lord of Islay and chief of Clan Donald, he was a Hebridean nobleman who participated in the Wars of Scottish Independence.-Biography:...
(d.1330), 5th chief of
Clan DonaldClan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
, who fought with King
Robert the BruceRobert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
at the
Battle of BannockburnThe Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
in 1314.
Tradition records that Iain's marriage to the MacEanruig or MacHenry the 'head man' in Glencoe brought the MacDonalds these Glencoe lands. Glencoe was however an ever hostile environment where people were obliged by the sparseness of the soil to raid and steal cattle from their neighbours.
The MacDonalds alliance to the
StuartThe House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
cause made them more unpopular with the government. This led to the
Massacre of GlencoeEarly in the morning of 13 February 1692, in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite uprising of 1689 led by John Graham of Claverhouse, an infamous massacre took place in Glen Coe, in the Highlands of Scotland. This incident is referred to as the Massacre of Glencoe, or in...
(Gaelic:
Mort Ghlinne Comhann) in the early hours of the 13th of February 1692, where 38 unarmed MacDonalds were massacred by troops under
Robert Campbell of GlenlyonRobert Campbell, 5th Laird of Glenlyon , was a minor member of Scottish nobility and is best known as one of the commanding officers at the Massacre of Glencoe.-Life:...
from
Clan CampbellClan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
the massacre took place near the village of Glencoe (Gaelic:
Gleann Comhann) and in various parts of Glencoe at Inverrigan, Invercoe, Carnoch, Auchnaion and Achtriochtan. Most of the clan, perhaps 300, did escape the initial slaughter only for some to die in the surrounding hills and mountains due to lack of food and shelter as their houses had been burned down.
The massacre was ordered upon them because of the Chief's failure to sign an oath of allegiance to King
William III of EnglandWilliam III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, Scotland and Ireland before the 1st January 1692. However MacIain had intended to sign the oath but savage snow storms prevented him. Even though his attempt was known to the government they decided an example needed to be made and the massacre went ahead anyway.
The chief's sons escaped into the snow and although the clan was temporarily demoralised they fought in the 18th century for the
House of StuartThe House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
during the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 to 1716 at the Battle of Sherrifmuir and 1745 to 1746 at the
Battle of PrestonpansThe Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
.
The clan's tartan is sold as MacIain/MacDonald of Glencoe but sometimes is often sold as
MacDonald of ArdnamurchanThe MacDonalds of Ardnamurchan also known as MacIain of Ardnamurchan are a branch of Clan Donald.-Origins of the Clan:The founder of the Macdonalds of Ardnamurchan was Iain Sprangach MacDonald , the third son of Angus Mor MacDonald , 4th chief of the Clan Donald.Iain Sprangach MacDonald was also...
through confusion of both clans being known as MacIains. There is a separate tartan known as the MacDonald of Glencoe, it is very different from the MacIan or the Ardnamuchan. This is the proper tartan for Glencoe and was found on the bodies exhumed in the 1800's for burial in consecrated ground. This is an ancient tartan and predates the Highland Clearances.
The clan no longer has a chief and they are represented by the High Chief of
Clan DonaldClan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
.
Currently there are 4 contenders for MacDonald of Glencoe Chiefship. It is anticipated that this matter will be settled by Lord Lyon King of Arms in the next few years.
Septs of the Clan
The list of
SeptsA sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
of the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe is:
Gondek,
HendersonThe Clan Henderson is a Scottish clan with members living throughout the world. The clan rose to prominence in Glen Coe with branches in Fife, the Borders, Caithness and the Shetland Islands...
, Hendrie, Hendry, Henry, Johnson, Kean, Keene, MacDonald, MacGilp, MacHendrie, MacHendry, MacHenry, MacIan, MacKean, MacKillop, MacPhilip, Philip, Philp
External links