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Early, and somewhat suspect, genealogies trace Gillean's descent back to the ancient kings of Dalriada who ruled the Argyll area of Scotland. They were also said to be one of the ancient “learned” families. Gillean is thought to have descended from Old Dugald of Scone. Scone, being in Argyll, seems to confirm the Dalriada story. They likely had Viking “roots” as well. Lochlann, a very common Maclean name, means Viking or Norseman. Gillean is reported to have had three sons, the youngest of whom was Maolise, or Gilliosa, thought to have been the second Chief. He in turn had a son Gillemoire MacGillean and a second called Malcolm. Gillemoire “Mackilyn”'s name appears on the Ragman Roll, which acknowledged “forced” homage to Edward I of England in 1296. Malcolm, the third Chief, married the daughter of the Lord of Carrick, a close relative of Robert the Bruce's mother. This connection to the warrior king was a major step in the rise of the Macleans. One clan historian has the Macleans at Bannockburn, where the English were soundly trounced, and this does seem likely. The Macleans seem to have been a sea power from very early on. Nicholas Maclean Bristol, author of two of the best and more recent histories of the Clan, says, “Their rise to prominence may well have as much to do with their control of ships as with their relationship to the king.” At the time, travel by sea was quicker and safer than by land. The Maclean galleys were adaptations of the Viking long ships. They were speedy, manoeuvrable warships that could transport both men and supplies and control the vital sea lanes. Robert the Bruce needed such vessels. In the future, virtually all Maclean castles were on the water, as much to defend their beached galleys as their men.
Duart Castle, the home of the Chiefs of the Macleans, is located on the Isle of Mull. It was probably originally built by the MacDougalls. However, it was the Macleans of Duart who made it their own. The keep was built by Lachlan, while Hector built Moy Castle, the seat of the Lochbuie Macleans/Maclaines. All of the cadet branches of the Clan are descended from these three brothers. The Macleans became the favoured lieutenants of the Lord(s) of the Isles, even over other members of the Macdonalds (the Lords' own clan). Donald of the Isles claimed the title of Earl of Ross. Being denied this claim by the Regent of Scotland, Donald promptly invaded, took, and held the north of Scotland. Charles Maclean, a son of Hector of Lochbuie, was given the keeping of Urquhart Castle about 1392. He was the progenitor of the Macleans of the North (Clan Tearlech), now the Macleans of Dochgarroch. The Battle of Harlaw in 1411 was a continuation of this dispute. Red Hector Maclean of the Battles (the Maclean Chief) and Irvine of Drum, an old rival, fought to their mutual deaths in a one-on-one confrontation in the midst of the general melee. Both battles were stalemates. James I of Scotland, who was understandably unhappy that he had not been ransomed by the above-named Regent, reversed many of his polices after his eventual release from English control. This resulted in the Lord of the Isles, and thus the Macleans, being back in charge of the Loch Ness area. By 1421 Sir Ewen, the son of Charles, was confirmed by James II as Constable of Urquhart Castle, the most powerful castle in Northern Scotland. The Macleans retained this control, for the most part, as agents of the Lords of the Isles until 1475, when the Lords were forfeited by the Crown. The Macleans still seem to have held on to Urquhart by force of arms until sometime between 1482 and 1556, depending on whom you believe. ____________________________ Meantime the Duart and Lochbuie feuds continued, although usually in the end, like most families, they worked together. Part of the still ongoing angst stemmed from the fact that some believed that since Hector had been the eldest son he should therefore have been Chief of the Clan. In the highland clans of those days, the “gentlemen” of the clan chose the person from the Chiefly family that they felt could best lead the clan. Thus birth order was not the critical issue. An example of the ongoing tensions occurred when Hector Mor Maclean of Duart supported Iain the Toothless of Lochbuie in suppressing a rising led by Lochbuie's only son, Ewan of the Little Head. Ewan was slain and his ghost the “Headless Horseman” is said to still ride whenever a Maclaine of Lochbuie is about to die. Hector imprisoned poor Iain on an island with the ugliest woman he could find to look after Iain. Hector's idea was to prevent another heir being born, which would allow Hector to take over Iain's lands. Despite this apparently good plan, a son, Murdoch the Stunted, was born, escaped to Ireland, and eventually returned to claim his heritage. As long as there was hope of maintaining, or resurrecting, the Lordship of the Isles, the Macleans were loyal. When the fall became final, the Macleans and the Macdonalds not only parted ways but became bitter enemies. The most notorious example occurred when Lachlan Mor Maclean went to Islay expecting a peaceful meeting but was “murdered” by the Macdonalds in a surprise attack. His son Hector Og massacred many Macdonalds in retaliation. Both the Macleans and Macdonalds spent much of their wealth and power fighting each other. The Maclean loyalty was now directed towards the Stewart kings, usually to the detriment of the Macleans themselves. Sir Lachlan was made a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1633 but had to borrow money from Campbell, Duke of Argyll, to gain the honour and pay the family debts. His son Sir Hector died fighting for Charles II of England against Cromwell's army at Inverkeithing. Seven brothers gave their lives for their Chief crying “Another for Hector,” which has become the Clan's war cry. Despite their support of the monarchy, the Macleans lost Duart and their lands in 1689 to the Campbells. This happened, ironically, while the Macleans were away fighting for the Jacobite cause at Killiecrankie. Sir John held out on the island castle of Cairnburgh until 1692, when he went into exile. He raised the Clan for the Jacobites in the 1715 rising. His son Sir Hector Maclean, when attempting to do the same in 1745, was imprisoned and thus was unable to lead the Clan. The Clan was led by Maclean of Drimnin, who was killed at Culloden. ____________________________
Any Maclean history must mention Sir Fitzroy Maclean, the 26 th Chief, who lived to be 101 and bought back and restored Duart in 1912. On his hundredth birthday it was suggested to him by the Duke of Argyll that the Macleans and the Campbells should end their feud. He is said to have responded, “Certainly - at least for my lifetime!” Duart, the site of Clan Gatherings, is again the home of the Macleans. Over the years the name Maclean has been widely found in many interesting places and for many different things. Two notable traits appear to be courage and the art of communication. Francis Maclean commanded a troop under General James Wolfe and participated in the capture of Quebec. In 1778 Francis was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of a new regiment, 82 nd Foot, for service in North America. Subsequently he was appointed military commander at Halifax with the rank of Brigadier-General. In that role he built and brilliantly defended a fort in Maine that was attacked by American Republicans. In 1775 Colonel Allen Maclean commanded the British forces that successfully defended Quebec against the American troops led by Benedict Arnold. The successful defence of Quebec, it has been argued, led to the formation of not one new nation, the United States, but two, as Canada did not become part of the US and eventually evolved into the country we know today. Kaid Sir Harry Maclean was Commander in Chief of the Sultan of Morocco's army at the end of the 19 th century, and the Sultan's pipe band still has Maclean tartan bags and streamers. The 236 th Battalion, Maclean Kilties, were raised (initially) in New Brunswick to fight in the First World War. Sir Fitzroy Maclean, the Balkan Brigadier, thought to be the model for James Bond, was with the famous SAS and led the World War II liaison mission to Yugoslavia to work with Tito and his partisans. He was a Chieftain of the Clan and hereditary Keeper and Captain of the ruined castle of Dunconell. He also was a successful writer of many books on Scotland, the clans, and Yugoslavia. Dr. Steven MacLean, the Canadian astronaut, has already taken part in a flight on board Space Shuttle Columbus and is slated to be on the next space mission, operate the Canadaarm 2, and walk in space. Courage of a different sort was displayed by two Macleans who may well be considered infamous. “Red” John Maclean, born in Glasgow in 1879, was an orator, political agitator and a communist who advocated “Celtic communism,” the “communism of the clans...re-established on a modern basis.” He spent a good deal of time in jail. And then there is Donald Duart Maclean, a member of the famous Cambridge Spy Ring. He was a devout socialist who spied for Russia and escaped to that country but spoke out against the USSR when he felt they were not properly following communist principles. ____________________________
And then we have actors. One of the most famous “leading men” of our age, Sir Sean Connery, is not only a Scottish Nationalist but a proud Maclean (his mother was a Maclean) It is the “hunting” Maclean of Duart kilt that he wore when being knighted. The keen-eyed might have noted that the castle shown in his movie Entrapment is none other than Duart. Shirley Maclaine, known for her acting as well as her (Celtic?) mysticism, is also born of a Maclean mother. The Honourable Angus Maclean was a war hero, Member of Parliament for Prince Edward Island, and Premier of that province. The Rankin Family (a sept of Maclean) from Cape Breton are known worldwide for their wonderful modern and traditional versions of Celtic singing, While I could name many more, the last I will mention is Lord Maclean the current Chief's father, who was Lord Chamberlain to the Queen from 1959 until 1975, thus handling the famous Diana marriage among other royal duties. He was also Chief Scout of the Commonwealth.
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