Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis
Encyclopedia
Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis was a 14th - 15th century Scottish soldier and said to be 12th chief of the Clan Munro
in the Scottish Highlands
. Hugh was seated at Foulis Castle
in Ross-shire
, Scotland
. Although Hugh is traditionally the 9th Baron and 12th overall chief of the clan, he is only the 2nd Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.
(d.1369). Upon his father's death Hugh succeeded as chief of the clan and he was granted from his cousin, Uilleam III, Earl of Ross
, charters for the lands of Katewell and the Tower of Badgarvie in the parish of Kiltearn
. The following year in 1370 Hugh was granted more lands from the same Earl including Inverlael in Loch Broom, Kilmachalmack in Strath-Oykel, Carbisdale in Strathcarron, lands in the parish of Kincardine
and was also reserved the salmon fishing in the Kyle of Oykel
for himself and his heirs.
In 1379 Euphemia I, Countess of Ross
confirmed the lands of Contullich and the Tower of Ardoch (Contullich Castle
) to her cousin Hugh Munro of Foulis and in 1394 she granted Hugh two charters, one in respect of the "Tower of Strathschech
" and "Wesstir Fowlys".
the chief of Clan Donald
in contest with Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany and Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar
for the Earldom of Ross
. This resulted in the Battle of Harlaw
. The Munros fought in the Lord of the Isles 'host' against an army of Scottish Lowlanders led by the Duke of Albany who was temporarily prevented from gaining power in Ross-shire
.
The result of the battle has been a matter of argument amongst many historians. Some have said that Donald and the Highlanders had victory as the Duke of Albany did not return to the Highlands for four years until 1415. Others say that Donald failed to inflict a decisive victory because he withdrew back to the western highlands. The battle seems to have been indecisive for both sides. In 1415 the Earldom of Ross was resigned to the Duke of Albany who in turn awarded it to his son the John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan
. However it would pass to the Lord of the Isles
within a generation.
, also known as the Great Marishchal of Scotland. They had 4 children:
Hugh Munro died in 1425 and was buried at Chanonry. In the years following Hugh's death, during the chieftenship of his eldest son George Munro, King James I of Scotland
returned from captivity in England and took strong measures to restore order in the Highlands. He came to Inverness in 1427 and seized Mary, Countess of Ross and her son Alexander MacDonald, Lord of the Isles as well as many other prominent highlanders who were punished in various ways. Among these no Munros are named. However there is a “letter of remission", signed under the Great Seal dated 24 August 1428. In the letter twenty eight named individuals are freed for crimes they had committed in the past and the first five names on the list are all Munros.
Clan Munro
-Origins:The main traditional origin of the clan is that the Munros came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th century and that they fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross who defeated Viking invaders in Rosshire...
in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. Hugh was seated at Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle lies in the parish of Kiltearn, about 1.5 miles southwest of the village of Evanton in the Highland area of northern Scotland. The castle has been the seat of the Clan Munro for over eight hundred years. During the 11th century, the clan chief was given the castle and Foulis lands as...
in Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Although Hugh is traditionally the 9th Baron and 12th overall chief of the clan, he is only the 2nd Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.
Lands and Charters
Hugh Munro was the eldest son of Robert de Munro, 8th Baron of FoulisRobert de Munro, 8th Baron of Foulis
Robert de Munro is the first chief of the Scottish Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence. He is also by tradition the 8th Baron of Foulis and 11th overall chief of the clan.-Lands and charters:...
(d.1369). Upon his father's death Hugh succeeded as chief of the clan and he was granted from his cousin, Uilleam III, Earl of Ross
Uilleam III, Earl of Ross
Uilleam III of Ross was the fourth successor of Ferchar mac in tSagairt, as Mormaer of Ross .Uilleam came into his inheritance at a torrid time, his father Aodh dying at the Battle of Halidon Hill. Uilleam temporarily lost many of his lands. However, he returned from Norway in 1336 and regained them...
, charters for the lands of Katewell and the Tower of Badgarvie in the parish of Kiltearn
Kiltearn
Kiltearn is a parish in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. The principal settlement is the village of Evanton, and the parish extends almost to Dingwall and about halfway to Alness. The old Kiltearn church and burial ground are on the shore of the Cromarty Firth. The current church is on the main...
. The following year in 1370 Hugh was granted more lands from the same Earl including Inverlael in Loch Broom, Kilmachalmack in Strath-Oykel, Carbisdale in Strathcarron, lands in the parish of Kincardine
Kincardine
Kincardine or Kincardine-on-Forth is a small town located on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, in Fife, Scotland. The town was given the status of a Burgh of barony in 1663. It was at one time a reasonably prosperous minor port...
and was also reserved the salmon fishing in the Kyle of Oykel
River Oykel
The River Oykel is a major river in northern Scotland that is famous for its salmon fishing. It rises on Ben More Assynt, a few miles from Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland, and drains into the North Sea via the Kyle of Sutherland...
for himself and his heirs.
In 1379 Euphemia I, Countess of Ross
Euphemia I, Countess of Ross
Euphemia I , also called Euphemia of Ross and Euphemia Ross, and sometimes incorrectly styled Euphemia Leslie and Euphemia Stewart , was a Countess of Ross in her own right.Euphemia was the elder daughter of Uilleam III, Mormaer of Ross...
confirmed the lands of Contullich and the Tower of Ardoch (Contullich Castle
Contullich Castle
Contullich Castle was a castle located a few miles north-west of the town of Alness, on the eastern side of the county of Ross-shire, Scotland....
) to her cousin Hugh Munro of Foulis and in 1394 she granted Hugh two charters, one in respect of the "Tower of Strathschech
Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle lies in the parish of Kiltearn, about 1.5 miles southwest of the village of Evanton in the Highland area of northern Scotland. The castle has been the seat of the Clan Munro for over eight hundred years. During the 11th century, the clan chief was given the castle and Foulis lands as...
" and "Wesstir Fowlys".
Harlaw and the Lord of the Isles
In 1411 Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis joined Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the IslesDomhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles
Donald, or properly, Dómhnall Íle , was the son and successor of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald. The Lordship of the Isles was based in and around the Scottish west-coast island of Islay, but under Domhnall's father had come to include many of the other islands off the...
the chief of Clan Donald
Clan Donald
Clan 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...
in contest with Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany and Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar
Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar
-Biography:He was an illegitimate son of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan and probably Mairead inghean Eachann.Alexander held the Earldom of Mar and the Lordship of the Garioch in right of his first wife Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar . Alexander's marriage to Isabella followed his capture of...
for the Earldom of Ross
Earl of Ross
The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
. This resulted in the Battle of Harlaw
Battle of Harlaw
The Battle of Harlaw was a Scottish clan battle fought on 24 July 1411 just north of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. It was one of a series of battles fought during the Middle Ages between the barons of northeast Scotland against those from the west coast....
. The Munros fought in the Lord of the Isles 'host' against an army of Scottish Lowlanders led by the Duke of Albany who was temporarily prevented from gaining power in Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
.
The result of the battle has been a matter of argument amongst many historians. Some have said that Donald and the Highlanders had victory as the Duke of Albany did not return to the Highlands for four years until 1415. Others say that Donald failed to inflict a decisive victory because he withdrew back to the western highlands. The battle seems to have been indecisive for both sides. In 1415 the Earldom of Ross was resigned to the Duke of Albany who in turn awarded it to his son the John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan
John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan
John Stewart, Earl of Buchan was a Scottish nobleman and soldier who fought alongside Scotland's French allies during the Hundred Years War. In 1419 he was sent to France by his father the Duke of Albany, Regent of Scotland, with an army of 6,000 men...
. However it would pass to the Lord of the Isles
Lord of the Isles
The designation Lord of the Isles is today a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It emerged from a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of...
within a generation.
Family
Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis married Isabelle Keith daughter of William Keith, 1st Earl MarischalEarl Marischal
The title of Earl Marischal was created in the peerage of Scotland for William Keith, the Great Marischal of Scotland.The office of "Marischal of Scotland" had been held heritably by the senior member of the Keith family since Hervey de Keith, who held the office of Marischal under Malcolm IV and...
, also known as the Great Marishchal of Scotland. They had 4 children:
- George Munro, 10th Baron of FoulisGeorge Munro, 10th Baron of FoulisGeorge Munro of Foulis is traditionally the 10th Baron and 13th successive chief of the Clan Munro. However he is only the third successive chief of the clan who can be proved by contemporary evidence...
. Hugh's heir and successor as chief of the Clan MunroClan Munro-Origins:The main traditional origin of the clan is that the Munros came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th century and that they fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross who defeated Viking invaders in Rosshire...
. - John Munro, 1st of Milntown. Progenitor of the Munros of MilntownMunros of MilntownThe Munros of Milntown were a family cadet branch of the Highland Clan Munro. They were the 'senior' cadet branch of the clan and spawned many cadet branches. They were frequently recorded as 'Monro' as well as Munro...
branch of the clan. - Janet Munro. Married Malcolm Og MacKintosh, a cadet of the MacKintoshes of Dunachton, Clan MackintoshClan MacKintoshClan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness with strong Jacobite ties. The Mackintoshes were also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
. - Elizabeth Munro. Married Neil MacKay, 8th chief of the Clan MacKayClan MacKayClan Mackay is an ancient and once powerful Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old kingdom of Moray. They were a powerful force in politics beginning in the 14th century, supporting Robert the Bruce. In the centuries that followed they were...
.
Hugh Munro died in 1425 and was buried at Chanonry. In the years following Hugh's death, during the chieftenship of his eldest son George Munro, King James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
returned from captivity in England and took strong measures to restore order in the Highlands. He came to Inverness in 1427 and seized Mary, Countess of Ross and her son Alexander MacDonald, Lord of the Isles as well as many other prominent highlanders who were punished in various ways. Among these no Munros are named. However there is a “letter of remission", signed under the Great Seal dated 24 August 1428. In the letter twenty eight named individuals are freed for crimes they had committed in the past and the first five names on the list are all Munros.