| Clan Mackenzie | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Clann Choinnich[1] | |||
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| Motto | Luceo Non Uro (I shine not burn)[2] | ||
| Slogan | Tulach Àrd (The highhillock) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Scottish Highlands | ||
| District | Ross | ||
| Plant badge | VariegatedHolly or Deergrass[3] | ||
| Pipe music | Cabar Fèidh[4] | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie | |||
| 5th Earl of Cromartie (Caberféidh) | |||
| Seat | Castle Leod[5] | ||
| Historic seat | Eilean Donan Castle Redcastle | ||
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Clan Mackenzie (Scottish Gaelic:Clann MacCoinnich[ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠmax'kɤNʲiç]) is a HighlandScottish clan associated with Kintail andRoss-shire. Its chiefs trace their lineage to the 12th century, though the earliest recorded chief isAlexander Mackenzie of Kintail, who died after 1471. The clan supportedRobert the Bruce during theWars of Scottish Independence, but later feuded with theEarls of Ross.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Clan Mackenzie clashed with the MacLeods, Munros, and MacDonalds. In the 17th century, their chief was granted the titleEarl of Seaforth, and the clan supported theRoyalists in theScottish Civil War. They backed the Jacobites in1715 but were divided in1745, with their chief,Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose, supporting the British government, whileGeorge Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie, joined the Jacobites. Clan Mackenzie has a chief that is recognized by theCourt of the Lord Lyon, and theLord Lyon King of Arms, who is theheraldic authority in Scotland.
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The MacKenzies are believed to have the same ancestry as theMatheson and Anrias clans.[8] All three are said to be descended from Gilleoin of the Aird, aGaelic dynast who lived in the early 12th century.[8] Another theory is that all three are descended from the thirteenth centuryKermac Macmaghan.[9][10] The chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie are said to have been settled at their great stronghold onEilean Donan by 1297.[8]
All of the earliest traditional Clan Mackenzie histories claim descent from a Fitzgerald progenitor. These histories include those by John Mackenzie of Applecross (died c.1684/5),George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie (died 1714) and the unpublished Letterfearn, Ardintoul and Allangrange manuscripts.[11] It is believed that all of these histories ultimately derive from a single manuscript created by William MacQueen, Parson of Assynt in 1576, now lost.[12] Alexander Mackenzie followed the Fitzgerald theory for the first edition of his History of the Mackenzies in 1879, but abandoned it in his later 1894 edition based on the intervening publication of genealogies contained inMS 1467.[13][14]
In the 14th century during theWars of Scottish Independence the Clan Mackenzie is said to have been among the clans who fought on the side ofRobert the Bruce at theBattle of Inverurie (1308) against the forces of theClan Comyn who were rivals to the throne.[15] Chief Iain Mac Coinnich is said to have led a force of five hundred Mackenzies at theBattle of Bannockburn in 1314 where the English were defeated.[15][16]
Later in the 14th century, the Mackenzies are said to have become involved in battles against their powerful neighbour theEarl of Ross and their allies. This resulted in the capture and subsequent execution of chief Kenneth Mackenzie in 1346.[17] Soon after this it appears that his successor as chief of the clan Mackenzie was living in an island castle in Loch Kinellan near Strathpeffer in Easter Ross and it was from this base that the clan was to advance westward once again to Kintail.[17]
An early genealogy of the Mackenzies appears inMS 1467, but the earliest contemporary record of a living Mackenzie is ofAlexander Mackenzie of Kintail (Alexandro McKennye de Kintaill) who appeared in two supplications for papal dispensation in 1465 and 1466,[18] and was listed as a witness to a charter byJohn of Islay, Earl of Ross, and Lord of the Isles on 4 November 1471.[19] The earliest known likeness of a Mackenzie is that of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie (d. 7 February 1491/1492), whoseeffigy can be seen atBeauly Priory.[20] He is the firstMackenzie to be buried at Beauly Priory. There is no reliable evidence to support the traditional assertion that previous members of his family were buried atIona.[21]
In 1452 a force of tribes loyal to Mackenzie of Kintail took hostage a relative of theEarl of Ross. This resulted in theBattle of Bealach nam Broig which was fought to the north-west ofBen Wyvis.[22][23] TheClan Munro and theirsepts the Dingwalls rescued the Ross hostage but won a hollow victory, with a great loss of their own men.[22][23]
In 1488 the Clan Mackenzie fought at theBattle of Sauchieburn led byHector Roy Mackenzie but after the defeat of the King's forces there, Hector narrowly escaped, returning to Ross-shire where he tookRedcastle from theClan Rose, for the rebels.[24]
In 1491 theBattle of Blar Na Pairce was fought between the Mackenzies and the MacDonalds.[25][26] This was followed by theRaid on Ross also in 1491 when the Clan Mackenzie clashed with a number of clans including theClan MacDonald of Lochalsh,Clan MacDonald of Clanranald,Clan Cameron and theChattan Confederation ofClan Mackintosh.[27]
In 1497Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and his clan rebelled against the King. MacDonald invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated in battle by the Mackenzies at theBattle of Drumchatt (1497), after which he was driven out of Ross-shire.[28]
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During theAnglo-Scottish WarsJohn Mackenzie, 9th of Kintail led the clan at theBattle of Flodden in 1513.[29] John escaped but many of his followers lost their lives. John Mackenzie also fought at theBattle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 where he was captured by the English. However, his clan paid a ransom of cows for his release.[29]
The growing importance of the Clan Mackenzie was vividly demonstrated in 1544 when theEarl of Huntly, the Lieutenant of the North, commanded chief John Mackenzie to raise his clan againstClan Ranald of Moidart.[30] The Mackenzie chief refused and Huntly's supporters, the Clan Grant, Clan Ross and Clan Mackintosh declined to attack the Mackenzies. From that time the Mackenzies were recognised as a separate and superior force in the north-west.[30]
On 13 December 1545 atDingwall, theEarl of Sutherland entered into a bond ofmanrent with John Mackenzie of Kintail for mutual defence against all enemies, reserving only their allegiance to the youthfulMary, Queen of Scots.[31]
At theBattle of Langside in May 1568 the Mackenzies fought on the side of Mary, Queen of Scots, against the forces of her half-brotherJames Stewart, Earl of Moray. Their chief,Kenneth Mackenzie, 10th of Kintail died the following month and was buried at Beauly.[32]
In 1570, a feud broke out with the Munros overChanonry Castle. Andrew Munro of Milntown defended it for three years against the Clan Mackenzie, at the expense of many lives on both sides. The feud was settled when the castle was handed over to the Mackenzies by an "Act of Pacification".[33][34][35]
In 1597, theBattle of Logiebride took place between the Mackenzies and MacLeods of Raasay against the Munros and theBain family ofTulloch Castle.[36][37]
By the beginning of the 17th century the territory of the Mackenzies extended from theBlack Isle in the east to theOuter Hebrides in the west.[8] They took over theIsle of Lewis from its formerClan MacLeod of Lewis rulers and alsoLoch Alsh from the MacDonells.[8] TheBattle of Morar in 1602 was fought between the Clan Mackenzie andClan MacDonell of Glengarry.[38][39]
In 1623, the clan chiefColin Mackenzie was madeEarl of Seaforth, a title in thepeerage ofScotland, taking his title from a sea loch on theIsle of Lewis.
In 1645, Lord Seaforth, fighting as aCovenanter, led a force against the royalistJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, at theBattle of Auldearn where the Covenanters were defeated.[40] Montrose followed up his success by destroying many houses that belonged to people who had opposed the royalist cause, including that ofThomas Mackenzie of Pluscarden.[40] Later in 1649, Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscarden adopted the royalist cause and led his own uprising in theSiege of Inverness (1649).[40][41]
In 1672, the Mackenzies were granted a commission of "fire and sword" against theMacLeods of Assynt who were a branch of the Clan MacLeod of Lewis and were seated atArdvreck Castle, which was attacked and captured by the Mackenzies, who took control of the lands ofAssynt.[5][42]
In 1688,Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie was killed leading a Government-backedIndependent Highland Company in support of Mackintosh against theClan MacDonald of Keppoch who were supported by theClan Cameron at theBattle of Mulroy.[43] During theWilliamite War in Ireland the Clan Mackenzie (led by their chiefKenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth) are believed to have supported King James at theSiege of Derry and theBattle of the Boyne in 1690.[8]
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During theJacobite rising of 1715 chiefWilliam Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth led the Clan Mackenzie in support of the Jacobite rebels.[44] However, during theJacobite rising of 1745 the Clan Mackenzie was divided: The chief,Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose, did not support the Jacobites and raised severalIndependent Highland Companies from the Clan Mackenzie to support the British Government.[45] However, during the 1745 rising a large part of the Clan Mackenzie followed the chief's cousin,George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie who was a Jacobite.[46]
In what is known as theSkirmish of Alness in 1715 theEarl of Seaforth, chief of Mackenzie led a force of 3000 men that forced the retreat of a smaller force loyal to the British Government, which was commanded by theEarl of Sutherland and included the clans Sutherland, Munro, Ross and Mackay. Much of the Ross's and Munro's lands were ravaged,[47] but they retaliated by raiding the Mackenzie lands in what is known as theSiege of Brahan.[48][49]
TheSiege of Inverness (1715) came to an end when the town, which was being held by the Mackenzies was surrendered to Simon Fraser of Lovat. Soon after this ColonelSir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet of Foulis marched into the town ofInverness with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. Government troops arrived in Inverness towards the end of February, and for some months the process of disarming the rebels went on, led by a Munro detachment under George Munro of Culcairn.[50]
The clan rivalries which had erupted in rebellion were finding an outlet in local politics. The Mackenzie's position as Earl of Seaforth came to an end in 1716, and it seems to have been arranged that while theClan Ross held the county seat the Munros would represent theTain Burghs. To secure the burghs, control of three out of the five was necessary. Ross ascendancy was secure in Tain, and from 1716 to 1745 the Munros controlledDingwall.
The Clan Mackenzie fought at theBattle of Glen Shiel in 1719 where they were defeated by Government forces and the Mackenzie chief was wounded, afterwards retreating to the Western Isles and from there to the Continent.[51] In 1721 the Clan Mackenzie, led byDonald Murchison, defeated Government supporters from theClan Ross at theBattle of Glen Affric.[52] This was followed by theBattle of Coille Bhan where again, led by Donald Murchison and also his relative Kenneth Murchison, the Clan Mackenzie defeated Government forces.[53]General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the clan strength at 3,000 men.[54]
George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie led the Jacobite Mackenzies at theBattle of Falkirk (1746) where they were victorious in helping to defeat British Government forces.[8] The Mackenzies then went on to lay waste to the lands of the Munros who supported the Government and burn downFoulis Castle. They also went on to lay waste to the lands of theClan Sutherland and theEarl of Sutherland who also supported the Government, and capturedDunrobin Castle, although the Earl of Sutherland himself escaped through a back door.[55] However, soon after this as theEarl of Cromartie and his forces were travelling south to meetCharles Edward Stuart they were attacked by the Mackay and Sutherland Independent Highland Companies who supported the British Government in what became known as theBattle of Littleferry and the Jacobite Mackenzies were prevented from joining the Jacobite army at theBattle of Culloden.[55] Soon after George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie and his son were captured atDunrobin Castle. The Earl of Cromartie's titles were then forfeited.
Other Mackenzies took the side of the British Government: the chief, Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose had in fact raised threeIndependent Highland Companies to support the British Government.[56] In one of the Independent Highland Companies under Captain Colin Mackenzie it is recorded at Shiramore in Badenoch in June 1746 and it included many of them from Kintail as well as more than sixty men from theClan MacRae.[57]
A number of famous regiments have been raised from the Mackenzie clan, including the Highland Light Infantry (raised in 1777), the Seaforth Highlanders (raised in 1778), and the second battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders, known as the Ross-shire Buffs (raised in 1793). All those regiments wore the MacKenzietartan. Born in 1754, ChiefFrancis Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth, the last Lord Seaforth raised a regiment for the British Army in 1778, the 72nd, and the clan produced another the 78th in 1793. Both had distinguished records fighting againstNapoleon and were later amalgamated into theQueen's Own Highlanders.
The 78th Regiment, as it was first called, was raised in 1778 from men on the Seaforth and other Mackenzie estates. The Earl of Seaforth, having raised his men, sailed with them to India in 1781, but died there a few months later. During the Wars in India,Colin Mackenzie (1754–1821) was Surveyor General of India, and an art collector and orientalist. He produced many of the first accurate maps of India, and his research and collections contributed significantly to the field of Asian studies. In 1799, he was part of the British force at theBattle of Seringapatam. He also fought in theNapoleonic Wars.
Throughout the 19th century Clan Mackenzie was without a chief that was recognised by theLord Lyon King of Arms.[58] In 1979, Roderick Grant Francis Blunt-Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Cromartie, legally changed his surname toMackenzie and was widely recognised as Chief of the clan (for example by Clan Mackenzie Societies around the Commonwealth). Although not descended from aMackenzie in the male line (his father was born aBlunt and later changed toBlunt-Mackenzie after marrying Sibell Lilian Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Countess of Cromartie), he inherited his titles andMackenzie descent through his mother (even she only claims aMackenzie descent as a great-great-great-great-granddaughter ofGeorge Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie).[59]
On his death in 1990 his son John Ruaridh Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie succeeded as chief of Clan Mackenzie.[60] The Earl of Cromartie still owns lands inclan country however, the largest remaining Mackenzie landowner by some margin is Mackenzie ofGairloch, with an estate which extends to over 50,000acres (like the clan chief, Mackenzie of Gairloch has inherited his clan name and lands through the female line).[20][61] The current chief is a member of theStanding Council of Scottish Chiefs.[58][62]
The current chief of Clan Mackenzie lives atCastle Leod, which is thought to date from the 16th century. The chief has leased the unoccupied old tower to the Clan Mackenzie Charitable Trust (CMCT) for 99 years.[63] In 1991 it was announced that the castle was planned to be restored. The restoration was to include a clan genealogical centre that would be open to the public.[64] During the 1990s there was extensive work done on the tower. In 2002 the Highland Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) was contacted, to carry out a feasibility study to investigate the potential for the re-use of the upper floor space of the tower, which deemed public funding to be sought to cover the costs of restoration. Because of concerns of physical and legal separation between the clan chief and the tower, the chief decided that the conditions of public funding were too onerous.[63]
Clan chief:John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie,5th Earl of Cromartie (b. 1948), Viscount Tarbat of Tarbat, Baron Castlehaven, Baron MacLeod of Castle Leod, Chief of Clan Mackenzie.[65] Chiefs of Clan Mackenzie are titled asCaberféidh (translation from Scottish Gaelic: "Deer's antlers").[66] This Gaelic title is derived from thestag's head charge on the former chief, theEarl of Seaforth'scoat of arms.[20]
Castle owned by the Clan Mackenzie have included:
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Tartans associated with the nameMackenzie include :
Fictional Mackenzies appear in theOutlander series of books byDiana Gabaldon.
The Seat of the Clan Mackenzie,Castle Leod is widely considered to be the inspiration behind Castle Leoch, the home of the Clan Mackenzie, in Diana Gabaldon'sOutlander series. It was considered as a filming location for the TV series, however,Doune Castle was selected due to its ease of location.
Diana Gabaldon told STV that "When the TV show began scouting locations, I suggested Leod as a possibility. It's entirely accurate as to period, of course, and has magnificent grounds, with a park of enormous, exotic trees planted by centuries of MacKenzies and their visitors. (Diana herself planted a "very modest"rowan, as her "own wee contribution" to the history).[74]
In theEmberverse series byS.M. Stirling, otherwise known as the 'Change' world, the founder of the Clan Mackenzie, Juniper Mackenzie, is descended from this Scottish clan.
Quoting: Boardman, S. and Ross, A. (eds)The Exercise of Power in Medieval Scotland, 1200-1500.Dublin:Four Courts Press. pp. 175-200
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Quoting: Boardman, S. and Ross, A. (eds) The Exercise of Power in Medieval Scotland, 1200-1500. Dublin:Four Courts Press. pp.175-200
Quoting: A transcription of the charter that lists "Alexandro McKennye de Kintaill" can be found inAntiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff. Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff. (volume 3).The Spalding Club, 1857. pp. 526-527
Fraser's 1876 book contains a transcript ofGeorge Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie's 17th centuryHistory of the Family of Mackenzie
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Fraser's 1876 book contains a transcript ofGeorge Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie's 17th centuryHistory of the Family of Mackenzie
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)MacPhail's 1914 book contains a transcript of John Mackenzie of Applecross's 17th century MS History of the Mackenzies
Written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland (Sir Robert Gordon'sA Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland).
Published from a manuscript written in the reign of James VI of Scotland
Quoting a contemporary manuscript written by MajorJames Fraser of Castle Leathers
