| Clan Mackay | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Aoidh/Clann Mhic Aoidh[1][2] or Sìol Mhorgain[3] | |||
 Crest: A dagger held erect | |||
| Motto | Manu forti ("With a strong hand")[2] | ||
| War cry | Bratach gheal Chlann Maccaoidh! | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Highland | ||
| District | Strathnaver | ||
| Plant badge | Bulrush[2] | ||
| Pipe music | Bratach Bhan Chlann Aoidh (The White Banner of MacKay)[2] | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| Æneas Simon Mackay | |||
| 15th Lord Reay (Morair Maghrath) | |||
| Historic seat | Castle Varrich[4] | ||
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Clan Mackay (/məˈkaɪ/mə-KY;Scottish Gaelic:Clann Mhic Aoidh[ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠvĩçˈkʲɤj]) is an ancient and once-powerfulHighlandScottish clan from the far north of theScottish Highlands, but with roots in the oldKingdom of Moray.
They supportedRobert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century. In the centuries that followed they were anti-Jacobite. The territory of Clan Mackay consisted of the parishes ofFarr,Tongue,Durness andEddrachillis, and was known asStrathnaver, in the north-west of the county ofSutherland. However, it was not until 1829 that Strathnaver was considered part of Sutherland, when the chief sold his lands to theEarls of Sutherland and theHighland Clearances then had dire consequences for the clan.
In the 17th century the Mackay chief's territory had extended to the east to include the parish ofReay in the west of the neighbouring county ofCaithness. The chief of the clan isLord Reay and the lands of Strathnaver later became known as the Reay Country.
Historian Angus Mackay in hisBook of Mackay (1906) compares two different genealogies of the early chiefs of the Clan Mackay.[8] The first is bySir Robert Gordon, a 17th-century historian and the second by Alexander Mackay of Blackcastle, an 18th- to 19th-century historian who had access to the charters and historical documents of the Mackay chief's family.[8] Both genealogies have similarities but there are also significant differences given for the ancestry of the Mackay chiefs. Gordon's genealogy also claims that the chiefs of the Clan Mackay shared a common ancestor with both the chiefs of theClan Forbes[note 1] and chiefs ofClan Farquharson. Historian Angus Mackay gives evidence that explains that Gordon's theory of the connection to the Forbeses was due to an extremely strong alliance between the two families that began during the 16th century in a long feud with the Gordon family.[9][note 2] TheBlackcastle MS shows that the Mackay chiefs were related to the Farquharsons but gives a different connection to that given by Gordon.[8] Angus Mackay analyses what evidence is available to support each of the two genealogies and concludes that the one given in Alexander Mackay'sBlackcastle Manuscript is by far the most accurate.[8]
TheBlackcastle MS claims that Iye Mackay, 1st chief of the Clan Mackay, who was born in about 1210, was a descendant ofMalcolm MacHeth, 1stEarl of Ross who died in about 1168.[8] Malcolm MacHeth, Earl of Ross may well have been related to the early rulers orMormaers of Moray.[10] According to Angus Mackay, sometime in the 1160s, the MacHeths and their supporters after conflict with kingMalcolm IV of Scotland fled northwards over the hills ofRoss intoStrathnaver, where they were welcomed by the NorseHarald Maddadsson,Mormaer of Caithness who was then an enemy of the king.[11] In 1215, the MacHeths along with theMacWilliams retaliated against the king but were defeated byFearchar, Earl of Ross and the grandson of Malcolm MacHeth, Kenneth MacHeth was killed.[12] According to Angus Mackay it is possible that from this Kenneth MacHeth the Stathnaver Mackays are descended,[12] and that Iye Mackay, 1st chief of Clan Mackay may well have been his son or nephew.[13] According to theBlackcastle MS Iye Mackay's son was Iye Mor Mackay, 2nd chief of Clan Mackay who married a daughter ofWalter, Bishop of Caithness in 1263.[8]
According toMajor-General Stewart, the Mackays were amongst the clans who supportedRobert the Bruce at theBattle of Bannockburn in 1314.[14] Later in the 14th century, in 1370, chiefIye Mackay, 4th of Strathnaver and his son were murdered atDingwall Castle byNicholas Sutherland, 1st of Duffus, head of one of the junior branches ofClan Sutherland. Much bloodshed followed, including a retaliatory raid on Dornoch in 1372. The cathedral was once again set on fire and many Sutherland men were hanged in the town square. After this, the feud quietened down as both sides were called away to fight against the English.[15]
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In 1403, theBattle of Tuiteam Tarbhach was fought between Clan Mackay andClan MacLeod of Lewis: ChiefAngus Mackay, 6th of Strathnaver had married the sister of the MacLeod of Lewis. MacLeod found that his sister had been mistreated and he decided to spoil Strathnaver and Brae-Chat in Sutherland but in the ensuing battle MacLeod was killed.[16]
In 1411,Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles challenged the Stewart royal family for theEarldom of Ross. ChiefAngus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver joined the Stewart Confederacy and theBattle of Dingwall took place in which Donald of the Isles defeated Mackay and imprisoned him on one of his castles on the coast. However, after the battle, Donald made peace with Angus and gave him in marriage his sister, Elizabeth.[17] She was a granddaughter ofRobert II of Scotland, indicating how important the Clan Mackay had become.[18]
In 1426, theBattle of Harpsdale took place where Chief Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver, with his son Neil, laid waste toCaithness. The inhabitants of Caithness assembled and fought Angus Du at Harpsdale, where there was great slaughter on both sides.[19] In August 1428,James I of Scotland came toInverness, intending to inflict his rule on the Highland chiefs, including Angus Du Mackay who submitted himself to the King's mercy, and gave his son Neil as a pledge of his future obedience. The King accepted, and sent Neil Mackay to remain in captivity on theBass Rock, in the Firth of Forth; he was afterwards called NeilBhasse orWhasse.[20][21]
Sometime between 1429 and 1433, theBattle of Drumnacoub took place where Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver defeated theClan Sutherland who were led by Angus Moray.[22][23] This battle is also mentioned by the historiansGeorge Buchanan (1506–1582)[24][25] and the 18th centuryJohn Pinkerton who quoted the 15th centurychronicler,Walter Bower.[26] In 1437, a conflict known as theSandside Chase took place where men of Caithness were overthrown byNeilBhasse Mackay, 8th of Strathnaver after his release from theBass Rock following the assassination of James I.[27]
In 1464, theBattle of Tannach took place where the Clan Mackay, underAngus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver, and theClan Keith defeated theClan Gunn of Caithness.[28]
In the late 15th century the Clan Mackay andClan Ross had long been at feud. This resulted in theBattle of Tarbat in 1486 where the Mackays were defeated by the Rosses and chief Angus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver was killed.[29] This was followed by theBattle of Aldy Charrish where the Rosses were defeated by the Mackays and the Ross chief was killed along with many of his clan.[30] According to 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon, who was a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, the Clan Sutherland joined the side of the Clan Mackay at this battle.[30] However, 19th-century historian Angus Mackay disputes the Sutherland's presence at the battle stating that it would be unlikely that the Earl of Sutherland at the time would have assisted against the Rosses as he was married to a daughter of the Ross chief of Balnagowan, and also that the feudal superiority of the Sutherlands over the Mackays "nowhere existed save in his own fertile imagination".[31]
Towards the end of the 15th century and at the beginning of the 16th century, chiefIye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver supported the Scottish Crown against the rebellion ofDonald Dubh with much success.[32] However, it isClan Cameron tradition that in 1505, the Cameron chief who supported Donald Dubh, defeated a joint force of Mackays and Munros atBattle of Achnashellach.[33] In 1513, chief Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver along with his brother, John Riavach Mackay, led the Mackays at theBattle of Flodden, where John Riavach was killed along with many of his clansmen.[34]
According to historian Sir Robert Gordon, who himself was a son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, in 1517, theBattle of Torran Dubh took place where theClan Sutherland defeated the Clan Mackay who were led byJohn Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver.[35] However, historian Angus Mackay disputes Gordon's account and says that the battle was actually fought by the Mackays against the Rosses, Murrays and Gunns, and not against the Sutherlands.[36] According to Sir Robert Gordon, in 1522, Alexander Gordon (theEarl of Sutherland's eldest son) overthrew John Mackay of Strathnaver at Lairg, and forced him to submit himself to the Earl of Sutherland, to whom John Mackay gave a bond ofmanrent and service.[37] However, historian Angus Mackay disputes Gordon's account that there was even a skirmish and says that John Mackay was simply renewing the bond of friendship in 1522 with Alexander Gordon, that he had previously made with Alexander Gordon's father, Adam Gordon, in 1518.[38] In 1528, the Mackays, who were then at feud with the Gordon, Earls of Sutherland are associated withClan Forbes who were then at feud with the Gordon, Earls of Huntly, chiefs ofClan Gordon. According to the bookConflicts of the Clans which was published in 1764, in 1542 theBattle of Alltan-Beath took place where the Clan Mackay were defeated by the Clan Sutherland.[39] According to historian Sir Robert Gordon, in 1542, chiefDonald Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver was captured by the Gordon Earls of Sutherland and Huntly, and imprisoned inFoulis Castle.[40] However, this is disputed by historian Angus Mackay.[41]
In 1542, chiefIye Du Mackay, 12th of Strathnaver and his followers fought against the English at theBattle of Solway Moss.[42] In 1544, Mackay joined the Earl of Arran at theBattle of Glasgow and in 1548 he joined in theSiege of Haddington.[43]
In 1555, the Siege ofBorve Castle took place where the castle capitulated and chief Iye Du Mackay, 12th of Strathnaver was captured by the Sutherlands,[18] imprisoned atDumbarton Castle,[44] and later inEdinburgh Castle.[18] According to Sir Robert Gordon, son of the Earl of Sutherland, the siege was followed by theBattle of Garbharry which was the last battle between the Mackays of Strathnaver and the Earls of Sutherland.[45] In 1562, theBattle of Corrichie took place where the Mackays supportedMary, Queen of Scots againstGeorge Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly.[46]
In 1586, theBattle of Allt Camhna took place where the chief's younger brother William Mackay, 1st of Bighouse, assisted the Clan Gunn in a victory over theClan Sinclair of Caithness.[47][48] This was followed by theBattle of Leckmelm where theMackay of Aberach branch of the clan assisted the Earl of Sutherland in defeating the Clan Gunn.[49] In 1588, chiefHuistean Du Mackay, 13th of Strathnaver joined the Earl of Sutherland and married his daughter the following year.[50] In 1590, the chief's half-brother, Donald Balloch Mackay, led a company of archers at theBattle of Clynetradwell in support of the Earl of Caithness but he later sided with the Earl of Sutherland.[51]
In April 1616 chief Donald Mackay went toLondon with his uncle, Sir Robert Gordon, and was knighted by the king.[52] In 1626, Sir Donald Mackay embarked with 3000 men atCromarty underCount Mansfeld for theThirty Years' War in the service of the king ofDenmark alongside their colonel,Robert Monro.[53] In March 1627 Sir Donald Mackay was created aBaronet of Nova Scotia,[18] and in 1628 was elevated in the peerage asLord Reay.[18] In 1630,Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay accompanied his regiment to Germany, and was present at the capture ofStettin andColberg.[54] The following year in 1631 Lord Reay was empowered byCharles I of England to raise another force of men for service withGustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden.[55] He quarreled with David Ramsay at the English Court and, having challenged him to a duel, both were imprisoned in theTower of London to preserve the peace.[56] During 1632, Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden was killed at theBattle of Lützen and Lord Reay was not repaid large sums of money due to him by the king.[57]
In 1638,James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose and the Lords Home, Boyd and Loudoun invitedDonald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay to meet them and others to consider the religious troubles of the time and to sign the Covenant, which he did unwillingly, along with his son, John Mackay, Master of Reay, because of his long attachment to Charles I.[58] In 1644, like Montrose, Lord Reay again espouses the cause ofCharles I of England in theEnglish Civil War, and aided Lord Crawford for several months at theSiege of Newcastle, in the defence of the city against the Scots army.[58] When the town was captured by General Leslie, Lord Reay and Lord Crawford were sent as prisoners toEdinburgh Castle.[58] In 1645, following Montrose's victory at theBattle of Kilsyth, Lord Reay was liberated from imprisonment and returned home.[59] In January 1649 Charles I was executed.[60] Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay having fought for Charles I during the civil war was to be created Earl of Strathnaver but the royal patent was not completed and Reay went into exile in Denmark where he died in February 1649.[18]
In 1651, a company of men from the Clan Mackay led by William Mackay of Borley fought at theBattle of Worcester in England under the Duke of Hamilton in support ofCharles II of England.[61]
In 1680, George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay succeeded his grandfather and for the next fourteen years was under the guardianship of his maternal grandfatherSir George Munro of Culrain.[62] In 1689, GeneralHugh Mackay garrisoned 100 Mackays inBrahan Castle, seat of Mackenzie, Earl of Seaforth to keep check on the Mackenzies.[63] General Hugh Mackay, was made Commander-in-Chief in Scotland byWilliam, Prince of Orange.[64] He was defeated at theBattle of Killiecrankie but he won the campaign againstJohn Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount of Dundee, who was killed at Killiecrankie.[65] General Hugh Mackay was mortally wounded at theBattle of Steinkirk in 1692.[66] The son of the second Lord Reay was The Hon. Aeneas Mackay, Brigadier-General who had a prolonged military service in Scotland, Ireland and on the continent.[67] He died inBath, Somerset in 1697 and there is a monument to him inBath Cathedral.[67]
During theJacobite rising of 1715 the Clan Mackay were anti-Jacobite, taking the side ofGeorge I of Great Britain and defendingInverness Castle against the Jacobites.[69] The Mackays were also present at theSkirmish of Alness in 1715 against Mackenzie, Earl of Seaforth.[70] In 1719, a detachment of 80 men from the Clan Mackay fought at theBattle of Glen Shiel where they defeated the Jacobites.[71]
During theJacobite rising of 1745 the Clan Mackay again supported the British Government and the MackayIndependent Highland Companies, along with some men fromLoudon's Highlanders regiment, intercepted and captured gold which had been sent from France to the Jacobite leaderCharles Edward Stuart, in what become known as theSkirmish of Tongue.[72] Independent Highland Companies formed from the Clan Mackay, that were led by Ensign John Mackay, fought at theBattle of Littleferry in 1746 where they defeated the Jacobites and also captured the JacobiteGeorge Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie atDunrobin Castle.[73]
In 1806, the "Mackay's Society" was founded inGlasgow. In 1815, at theBattle of Waterloo, the79th Highland Regiment of Foot formed a square upon being attacked by French Cavalry, andpiper Kenneth Mackay, showing no fear, marched out of the square playing the tune "War or Peace". He was subsequently presented with a set of Silver Pipes by the King's own hand for his bravery. In 1815 - 1818 - TheHighland Clearances began to take effect on the Mackay lands, by which the people were removed to make room for sheep. In 1829, the Reay estate was sold to theCountess of Sutherland by Eric, 7th Lord Reay.
In 1865, David Mackay won theVictoria Cross by taking the colours of thePunjabis during an attack on the fortification of Sercunderbah in India. The mutineers were the 2nd Battalion of Punjabis, the onlySikh regiment to mutiny. Later in the day David Mackay was shot while attacking a second fort at Shah Neijeef and was returned to Britain to recover.
In 1875, on the death of Eric Mackay, 9th Lord Reay, who was unmarried, the title passed to the branch of the family resident in Holland and who were descended from John Mackay, 2nd Lord Reay. Æneas Mackay, a Baron of the Netherlands, Vice President of the Council of State and holder of the Cross of the Order of the Netherlands, became 10th Lord Reay. He died in 1876. His son, Donald James Mackay, succeeded as 11th Lord Reay, left Holland and was made a Peer of the United Kingdom as Baron Reay of Durness (8 October 1881) with a seat in the House of Lords. He was appointed Governor of Bombay (1885–90) and Under-Secretary of State for India (1894–95) and was Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire. In 1900, inSouth Africa,John Frederick MacKay, serving with theGordon Highlanders at the Battle of Crow's Nest Hill, North Johannesburg, wins the highest award, theVictoria Cross.
_(Daniell).jpg)
| Tartan image | Notes |
|---|---|
%2c_1816.png) .png) | Clan Mackay ('Logan'), circa 1816.[76] |
 | Barr-Colony Mackietartan (Canada)[77] |
.png) | Clanmorgan (MacKay)tartan, as published in 1842 inVestiarium Scoticum |
Written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland (Sir Robert Gordon'sA Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland).
Republished in 1827 in English by James Aikman
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