| Clan Campbell | |||
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| Na Caimbeulaich,[1]Síol Diarmaid, Mac Dhiarmaid, Uí Dhuibhne[2] | |||
 Crest: A boar's head fessways erased Or, armed Argent, langued Gules | |||
| Motto | Ne Obliviscaris ("Forget Not") | ||
| Slogan | Cruachan! | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Highlands | ||
| District | Argyll | ||
| Plant badge | Bog Myrtle | ||
| Pipe music | "The Campbells Are Coming" (also known in Scottish Gaelic as "Baile Inneraora") | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Torquhil Ian Campbell | |||
| The13th Duke of Argyll (Mac Cailein Mór) ('MacCailein Mor') | |||
| Seat | Inveraray Castle | ||
| Historic seat | Castle Campbell | ||
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Clan Campbell (Scottish Gaelic:Na Caimbeulaich[naˈkʰaimbəl̪ˠɪç]) is aHighlandScottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans.[5] The Clan Campbell lands are inArgyll and within their lands liesBen Cruachan. The chief of the clan became Earl of Argyll and laterDuke of Argyll.
In traditional genealogies of Clan Campbell, the clan's origins are in the ancientBritons ofStrathclyde.[6] The earliest Campbell in written record isGillespie, whose name is recorded in 1263.[6] Early grants to Gillespie and his relations were almost all in east-centralScotland. The family's connection withArgyll came some generations earlier when a Campbell married the heiress of the O'Duines and she brought with her the Lordship ofLoch Awe.[6] Because of this, the early clan name wasClan O'Duine. The name was later styledClann Diarmaid based on a fancied connection toDiarmuid the Boar, a great hero from earlyCeltic mythology.[6]
The original seat of Clan Campbell was eitherInnes Chonnel Castle on Loch Awe or Caisteal na Nigheann Ruaidh onLoch Avich. The clan's power soon spread throughout Argyll, though at first the Campbells were under the domination of theLords of Lorne, chiefs ofClan MacDougall. The MacDougalls killed the Campbell chiefCailean Mór (Colin Campbell) in 1296. (See:Battle of Red Ford.) All subsequent chiefs of Clan Campbell have takenMacCailean Mór as theirGaelic patronymic.[6]
Between 1200 and 1500, the Campbells emerged as one of the most powerful families in Scotland, dominant inArgyll and capable of wielding a wider influence and authority fromEdinburgh to theHebrides and western Highlands.[7]
Early in the 14th century, the family of Colin Campbell became firm supporters of KingRobert the Bruce and benefited from his successes through grants of lands, titles, and good marriages.[7] In 1314, the Campbells fought for Scotland against England in theWars of Scottish Independence at theBattle of Bannockburn.[7] Throughout the 14th century, Clan Campbell rapidly expanded its lands and power. The expansion is explained in part by the loyalty ofSir Neil Campbell (Niall mac Caile) (died 1316) to the cause of Robert the Bruce, a loyalty that was rewarded with marriage to Bruce's sisterMary.[7] The family was closely associated with theStewarts and theBruces in the time of Cailean Mór.[6] Sir Neil, as a staunch ally of Robert the Bruce, was rewarded with extensive lands that had been taken from Clan MacDougall, the Lords of Lorne, and other enemies of the Bruces in Argyll.[6]
The Campbells gave support to the Crown throughout the 15th century.[6] By the end of the 15th century, the power of theLords of the Isles (chiefs ofClan Donald), the Crown's most powerful rivals, had been broken, and the Campbells were the main power in the area.[6] From this time onward, the Campbells acted as the central authority in the area; this transition of power might be the real cause of the ancient enmity between the Campbells and the MacDonalds.[6]
Descendants of SirDuncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell (Donnchadh), and his wife Lady Marjorie Stewart are descendants of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, and Robert II Stewart, King of Scotland. Lady Marjorie Stewart (born circa 1390) was the daughter of King Robert II's son, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany.[7] This makes all descendants of Sir Duncan Campbell and Lady Marjorie Stewart descendants of Robert I Bruce and of most of the early kings of Scotland.[7]
The title of 1st Lord Campbell was created in 1445. In the second half of the 15th century, the Campbells played an increasingly prominent role in Scotland. During his reign,James I of Scotland launched a great political assault on the Albany Stewarts and their allies in the west. However, Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell (Donnchadh), escaped the fate of his Albany kinsmen, who all were either executed or exiled.[7]
Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (Cailean), was ennobled asEarl of Argyll in 1457 and later became Baron of Lorn. He also was granted lands inKnapdale. The title and land grants were signs that the Argylls were one of the major forces in Scotland.[7] In 1493, after the forfeiture of the MacDonalds as Lords of the Isles, the Campbell lords might well have viewed themselves as natural successors to Clan Donald in terms of leadership of the Gaels of the Hebrides and western Highlands.[7] The Campbell lordship thus remained one of the most significant bastions of Gaelic learning and culture in late medieval and early modern Scotland.[7]
In theBattle of Knockmary in 1490, men of Clan Campbell and Clan Drummond joined forces to defeat Clan Murray.[8] The battle also became known as theMassacre of Monzievaird. In 1499, Campbell of Inverliver defeatedClan Calder at theBattle of Daltullich. Sir John Campbell, the younger son of the Earl of Argyll, subsequently received the estate of Calder andCawdor Castle through his marriage to the estate's heiress, Muriel Calder.[9][10][11]
In 1513, the 2nd Earl of Argyll was killed along with many of his clan at theBattle of Flodden.[12][13]
TheBattle of Langside took place in 1568 where the chief of Clan Campbell,Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, commanded the forces who fought forMary, Queen of Scots.[12]
In 1567, a conflict took place between the Clan Campbell andClan Arthur. Duncan MacArthur and his son of the Loch Awe MacArthur family, became the victims of their own success when jealousy of their power drove neighbours to drown them in Loch Awe during a skirmish with the Clan Campbell. In the archives ofInveraray Castle a charter dated 1567 confirms that a pardon was granted to the Campbells of Inverawe for what became known as the "drowning of Clan Arthur".[14] It is believed that the MacArthurs trying to defend themselves were driven into the loch. Centuries later in the 1970s an ancient sword was unearthed on the shore of the loch.[15][16]
For two centuries from the mid-15th century theClan Gordon and Clan Campbell controlled the north-east and west of Scotland respectively, as themagnates who straddled the divide between theScottish Highlands andScottish Lowlands.[17] In 1594,Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll was granted a Royal Commission againstGeorge Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly but was defeated at theBattle of Glenlivet.[18]
The support that the Campbells gave to the central Government brought them rewards: In 1607, Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll was granted the former MacDonald lands of Kintyre and in 1615 Campbell of Cawdor was allowed to purchase theIsle of Islay which had previously belonged to the Macleans of Duart.[6]
At theBattle of Inverlochy (1645), the ScottishCovenanter forces led byArchibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll were defeated by the Royalist forces ofJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose whose army was mainly made up of Scots of the Clan MacDonald,Clan Maclean, and others from Ireland. After the Battle of Inverlochy, Montrose and the Macleans burntCastle Campbell, but the castle remained in Campbell hands.[19] In the wake of the Battle of Inverlochy theClan Lamont took the opportunity to raid the Campbell lands.[20][21] The vengeful Campbells also ravaged the lands of the Clan Maclean who had fought against them at Inverlochy and in due course the Maclean'sDuart Castle surrendered.[22]
In 1648, at theBattle of Stirling (1648) theKirk Party Covenanter forces of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll were defeated by theEngager Covenanter forces of SirGeorge Munro, 1st of Newmore who supported theEarl of Lanark. Among Argyll's dead was William Campbell of Glenfalloch killed in action.[23]
In 1672, a feud took place between the Clan Campbell andClan Sinclair. Debt had forcedGeorge Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness to resign his titles and estates in favour of Sir John Campbell.[24] Campbell took possession of the estates on Sinclair's death in May 1676, and was created earl of Caithness in June the following year.[24] Sinclair's heir, George Sinclair of Keiss disputed the claim and seized the land in 1678.[24] This was followed by theBattle of Altimarlech, 13 July 1680, between the Clan Campbell and the Clan Sinclair in which the Campbells were victorious.[24] Legend has it that so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells were able to cross the river without getting their feet wet.[24] Having failed to regain his inheritance by force, Sinclair of Keiss then turned to the law. He took his place as Earl of Caithness on 15 July 1681, and his lands were restored on 23 September.[24] Campbell was madeEarl of Breadalbane by way of compensation.[24]
In 1678,Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll led the Campbell of Argyll militia on an expedition to theIsle of Mull and took Duart Castle from the Clan Maclean.[25] However, Argyll was beheaded on 30 June 1685 for his participation inArgyll's Rising in support of theMonmouth Rebellion to depose Catholic James VII and II and place the Protestant James, Duke of Monmouth on the throne.[26] Later in 1692,Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll again gained possession of the Maclean's Duart Castle.[27]
In 1692, 38 unarmed people of the ClanMacDonald of Glencoe were killed in theMassacre of Glencoe when a Government initiative to suppressJacobitism was entangled in the long running feud between Clan MacDonald and Clan Campbell. The slaughter of the MacDonalds at the hands of the soldiers, led by CaptainRobert Campbell of Glenlyon, after enjoying their hospitality for over a week was a major affront of Scots Law and Highland tradition. The majority of soldiers were not Campbells, but a roll call from a few months before included six Campbells in addition to Cpt. Robt. Campbell: Corporal Achibald Campbell, Private Archibald Campbell (elder), Private Donald Campbell (younger), Private Archibald Campbell (younger), Private James Campbell, Private Donald Campbell (elder), and Private Duncan Campbell.[28] See also:Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot.
During the Jacobite risings of the 18th century the Clan Campbell supported the British-Hanoverian Government. On 23 October 1715, chiefJohn Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll learned that a detachment of rebels was passing by Castle Campbell, towardsDunfermline. He sent out a body of cavalry which attacked the rebel party and defeated it in what is now known as theSkirmish of Dunfermline and took a number of prisoners, taking only light casualties.[29] A month later the British Government forces, including men from Clan Campbell, fought and defeated the Jacobites at theBattle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. However, there were in fact a small number of Campbells who took the side of the Jacobites led by the son of Campbell of Glenlyon whose father had commanded the Government troops at the Massacre of Glencoe against the MacDonalds 22 years earlier. These two families then settled their differences and swore to be brothers in arms, fighting side by side in the Sheriffmuir. However, the British Government forces led by chief John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll defeated the Jacobites.[30]
General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724 estimated the strength of the clan who supported the Government under the Duke of Argyll as 4,000 men, whilst those under Campbell of Breadalbane who had supported the Jacobites in 1715, as 1000 men.[31] In 1725, sixIndependent Highland Companies were formed to support the Government: three from Clan Campbell, one fromClan Fraser of Lovat, one fromClan Munro and one fromClan Grant. These companies were known by the nameReicudan Dhu, orBlack Watch. The Regiment of the Line was formed officially in 1739 as the42nd Regiment of Foot and first mustered in 1740, at Aberfeldy.
Just before 1745, the strength of the Clan Campbell had been put at a total of 5,000 men.[6] During theJacobite rising of 1745, the Clan Campbell continued their support for the British Government. They fought against the rebel Jacobites at theBattle of Falkirk (1746) where Government forces were defeated. However, shortly afterwards the Campbells held out during theSiege of Fort William where the Jacobites were defeated.[32] The Campbells were also involved in theSkirmish of Keith around the same time.[33] At theBattle of Culloden in 1746 where the Jacobites were finally defeated, involved in the fighting on the Government side were four companies from theCampbell of Argyll Militia, three companies fromLoudon's Highlanders who were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell and one company from the 43rd Highlanders who were under the command of Captain Dugald Campbell of Auchrossan.[34]
Castles that have belonged to the Clan Campbell have included amongst many others:
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Although mills produce many fabrics based on the Campbelltartan, the clan chief recognizes only four:
George Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll added a white line to his tartan to distinguish himself as the clan chief. He was the only member of the family to do so, but the tartan has persisted as "Campbell of Argyll" which, as with any other tartan not listed above, is not recognized as official by the clan.[39]
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