Clan Chattan - WikiHQ

Clan Chattan ( or ), also sometimes referred to as "Clan Dhugaill" (Quehele) after its progenitor Dougall-Dall, is a unique confederation of Highland Scottish clans. This distinctive allied community comprised at its greatest extent seventeen separate clans (currently twelve), who each had their own clan chief recognized under Scottish law, but were further united and bound to the superior chief of the Confederation for mutual solidarity, sustenance and protection in the Middle Ages and early modern period in the Great Glen and Cairngorms. A tribal coalition of this magnitude was a source of apprehension to both the Lord of the Isles and the Kings of Scots and records exist of machinations to "crying doon the Clan Chattan" by fomenting internal dissension.

Origins and early history

There are multiple theories about the true origins of this clan:

The name Chattan may derive from the Catti who were a germanic tribe that had been driven out by the Romans.

In the time of Malcolm II of Scotland, the Clan Chattan possessed the lands of Glen Loy and Loch Arkaig. Some members of alternative male inheritance lines have however questioned the validity of this decision through a female line which would lead to occasional discord. Neither side of this dispute have questioned the historicity of Aife, merely the inheritance line.

Migration out of Lochaber

The couple resided at Tor Castle before withdrawing to Rothiemurchus apparently due to the enmity of Aonghus Óg of Islay, chief of Clan Donald, the uncle of Angus Mackintosh. Tradition has it that he had intended to marry Eva off to one of his family members and in so doing acquire the Clan Chattan lands.

Earliest written documents

The earliest official document, the MS 1467 which recognises the Clan Chattan is dated 1467; but the chronicler Bower, writing about 1440, speaks of Clan Chattan in 1429. Bellenden, in his translation of Boece, about 1525, is the first who mentions this clan having been at the Inches in Perth in 1396, and this probably owing to a misprint in the original, of Clan Quhete for Quhele'. He referred to it as Quhattan.

From singular clan to Confederation

Prior to the 14th century, the Clan Chattan was a conventional clan.

secondly of the Clan Mackintosh and their cadet branches (Clan Shaw, Clan Farquharson, Clan MacThomas) and Clan Davidson (according to the Kinrara MS, the clans principal account of their origins and early history).
thirdly of families who were not originally related by blood (Clan MacGillivray who took protection around 1268, Clan Tearlach/the Macleans of Dochgarroch, the Clan Revan/MacQueens of Strathdearn and the Clan Inteir/MacIntyres of Badenoch). Other lesser known clans are also recorded:
The Vic Gories, who took protection around 1369.
The Dhus of Strathnairn, who took protection around 1373.
Clan Clerich/The Clarks, who took protection around 1400.
Clan Tarril, the Kinrara MS also states, " In the time of Lachlan (8th of Mackintosh, who died in 1407), a small clan from Strathnairn settled in Petty, becoming followers of Mackintosh." Within two generations however, their status changed. Gillespie, a brother of the Earl of Ross, entered Petty with reivers driving off cattle and inhabitants. The invaders were surprised at Culloden by Duncan and two other sons of Malcolm Mackintosh, who recovered the stolen goods, but were too late for Clan Tarril, nearly all of whom were slain.
The Sliochd Gillie vor MacAonas who took protection around 1485. and
'Clan an t-Saoir', Clan Andrish or the MacAndrews ('Clan Gillandrish').

thumb|right|250px|Lineages of the ancestries and merging of Clans Chattan and MacKintosh, forming the early Confederation. Based on the recorded genealogies of clans Macpherson, Davidson and Mackintosh (click to enlarge).

The Skene assumption

William Forbes Skene, however, gave a different version of how Clan Chattan was formed prior to the Mackintosh alliance. Clan Vuirich (Clan MacPherson) and Clan Day (Clan Davidson) were the original co-founders and referred to as old Clan Chattan. and may therefore be a historical error by Skene, whose shortcomings have been noted by later writers – one of Skene's harshest critics was the Scottish philologist Alexander MacBain.

Sir Æneas Mackintosh/Charles-Fraser Mackintosh assumption

Noted historian of Clan Chattan, Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, in his 'An Account of the Confederation of Clan Chattan; its kith and kin' (the work known as 'Minor Septs of Clan Chattan') published a list of 16 associated tribes of Clan Chattan, along with an associated date reference, as written down by Sir Æneas Mackintosh. It begins with The Clan vic Gillivray, 1271. The second clan is The Clan Wurrich (Macpherson), 1291 and the third is The Clan Vean (Macbeans), 1292; then the fourth is The Clan Day (Davidsons), 1350. Others follow including (No.9) The Clan Tearlich (Macleans of the North), 1400, (No.10) The Clan Revan (Macqueens), 1400 and (No.14) The Clan Phail (Macphails), 1500.

In his 'The Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan' (1903), A. M. Mackintosh arranges his chapters to provide a history of Clan Chattan, its chiefs and its Mackintosh branches, then in Chapter XV details the 'Tribes and Families of Clan Chattan other than the Mackintoshes of Inverness-shire'.

He begins (page 405) with the heading 'Clans Springing from the Mackintoshes': the Shaws, the Farquharsons, the Mackintoshes of Dalmunzie, the McCombies and Clan Thomas.
Then A. M. Mackintosh comes to Part II of this chapter headed 'Clans Supposed to be of the Blood of the Old Clan Chattan' (i.e. not Mackintoshes, but members of Eva's family): the MacPhersons, the Cattanachs, the MacBeans and the MacPhails.
The author then covers in Part III of the same chapter, headed (page 496) 'Clans Not of the Blood of either MackIntoshes or Old Clan Chattan': the MacGillivrays, the Davidsons, the Macleans of Dochgarroch, Clan Tarril, the Smiths or Gows, the MacQueens or Clan Revan, Clan Andrish and the Clarks or Clan Chlerich.

The members today

Today, the Clan Chattan Association, which is based in Scotland with members across the world, comprises the following twelve principal clans:

Clan Davidson
Clan Farquharson
Clan MacBean
Clan MacGillivray
Clan Mackintosh
Clan MacPhail
Clan MacPherson
Clan MacQueen of Strathdearn
Clan MacThomas
Clan Shaw of Tordarroch
The MacIntyres in Badenoch
The Macleans of Dochgarroch (the Macleans of the North), (See 15th century Battle of Harlaw)

thumb|centre|800px|Approximate location of the different clans throughout the Confederation lands. Note: Clan boundaries were known to change over time and were not static. This is a general map of Clan Chattan lands at their greatest extent. This map also does not include any temporary Mackintosh lands in the Lochaber district.

Chiefs

Old Chattan Chiefs

The following is a list of the traditional chiefs of the Clan Chattan before marriage between Aife/Eva, heiress of Clan Chattan, with the Chief of Clan Mackintosh, through whose marriage a new line of Mackintosh Captains (Chiefs) of Clan Chattan was created :

At this juncture the chieftainship of Mackintosh and Clan Chattan split.

The last few Clan Chattan Confederation chiefs therefore were:

Duncan Alexander Eliott Mackintosh of Mackintosh-Torcastle, born 1 December 1884 and died 29 May 1966. He married Ellen Primrose Smith and they had three sons and two daughters.
Kenneth Mackintosh, born 23 November 1916, who became the 32nd Chief of Clan Chattan. He married Margaret Farmer and had two children.
Duncan Alexander John Mackintosh, born in 1946, according to Burke's Peerage.
However, a genealogy published in an updated history of the Clan Mackintosh noted that Duncan died young, and that his younger brother Malcolm Mackintosh (born 20 October 1950) succeeded their father, who died in 1976, as 33rd Chief of Clan Chattan, becoming styled as Malcolm Mackintosh of Mackintosh-Torcastle and Clan Chattan.

Clan Mackintosh therefore remains the principal clan of the Clan Chattan Confederation and the current and past Mackintosh of Mackintosh has been President of the Clan Chattan Association.

Battles, Skirmishes and Raids

Clan Chattan as a whole or as individual clans were involved in the following events:

Scottish–Norwegian War
1263 Battle of Largs
Wars of Scottish Independence
1314 Battle of Bannockburn
1337 Battle of Drumlui
Second War of Scottish Independence
1346 Battle of Neville's Cross
1370 Battle of Invernahavon
1380–1390(?) Massacre of Dun Dige. A MacSorley chief of Glen Nevis invited Clan Chattan to a dinner to discuss a peace. His piper apparently played their war pibroch which resulted in the Chattan seeing this as an insult. They returned later in the evening and massacred the MacSorleys. The remnants of the MacSorelys would go on to merge with Clan Cameron.
1391 Raid of Angus by Clan Shaw and led by the Wolf of Badenoch, an illegitimate son of King Robert II.
1396 Battle of the North Inch, Judicial combat
1407 Invasion of Chattan lands by brother of Earl of Ross, Chattan Clan Tarril completely slain.
1424 Clan Shaw ambush and skirmish with Clan Comyn at Lag na Cuimenach near Loch Pityloulish.
1429 Battle of Palm Sunday, after a spreagh of cattle was stolen from Strathdearn apparently by some Camerons.
1429 Battle of Lochaber
1431 Battle of Inverlochy
1441 Battle of Craig Cailloch
1450 Clan MacPherson retaliatory raid on the Clan Comyn (MacNivens) for stealing cattle near Raitt's Cave.
1454 Battle of Clachnaharry, skirmish with Clan Munro on passage money demanded by Clan Mackintosh.
1491 Raid on Ross
1526 Hector Mackintosh, uncle of the infant chief of Mackintosh raised the town of Dyke against the Earl of Moray who had the infant William Mackintosh in his custody
1528 King James V issues a commission of Fire and Sword against the entire Clan Chattan with the Earl of Moray to carry out "utter extermination and destruction" of the clan and its supporters "leaving none alive except priests, women and children" in an effort to catch Hector Mackintosh.
1531 Clan Mackintosh lay siege to Darnaway Castle
1534 Battle of Glasgow Muir see Mackintosh of Killachie
1544 Battle of the Shirts
Anglo-Scottish Wars
1547 Battle of Pinkie
Mary, Queen of Scots feuds
1562 Battle of Corrichie
1568 Battle of Langside
1569–1573 Chanonry Castle, Mackintoshes supported the Mackenzies in besieging the Munros.
1570 Battle of Bun Garbhain
1592 Retaliatory Mackintosh raid into Strathdee and Glenmuick on 10 November, during which four Gordon lairds were killed.
1592 Auchindoun Castle of the Gordons destroyed by Clan Mackintosh in retaliation due to the 6th Earl George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly's, killing their ally, The Bonny Earl O’Moray.
1594 Battle of Glenlivet, Both sides
Cattle Raiding Period
1602 Raid on GlenIsla, Largest recorded cattle raid in Scottish history when MacGregors, MacDonells of Glengarry and Clan Chattan, carried away over 2000 cattle, but were subsequently ambushed by the Robertson's of Straloch
1602 Skirmish at Loch Garry, Clan Macpherson ambushes a Clan MacColl raiding party
1602 Battle of Cairnwell Pass, west of Meall Odhar involved a skirmish between the Clan MacThomas and cattle reivers attempting to steal a herd of black cattle.
1604 Raid on the Earl of Airlie, Cattle raid by Finlay Farquharson
1606 Raid on Delreddy, Cattle raid by Donald Farquharson and others
1633 Clan Farquharson skirmish with Maclaughlins near the Braes of Mar attempting to steal cattle and raid plunder.
1634 Raid on Hew Ross, Cattle raid by Clan Mackintosh
1645 Battle of Alford Royalist Forces levy 300 conscripts from Clan Farquharson
1645 Battle of Kilsyth Royalist Forces levy 300 conscripts from Clan Farquharson
1645 Battle of Philiphaugh Chief of Clan MacThomas withdrew his support from Royalists after this defeat.
1665 Stand-off at the Fords of Arkaig, amicable end to feud with Clan Cameron
1665 Skirmish in Inverness, between of the MacDonells of Glengarry and Mackintoshes in Inverness resulting in £4,800 in damages and fees for a surgeon.
1665 Bandit Raid on Balchirie, another Lachlan Mackintosh operated a cattle lifting gang which with 25 men raided the estate of John Lyon of Muiresk at Balchirie and successfully rounded up about 60 cattle. He was declared a outlaw and was captured four months later and executed in Edinburgh in January 1666.
1688 Battle of Mulroy, Fort Dunachton destroyed, Clan MacPherson rescue the Mackintosh chief.
Jacobite rising of 1689
1689 Battle of Killiecrankie
Jacobite rising of 1715
1715 Battle of Preston, Clan MacPhails' Tainistear captured and deported to Virginia.
1715 Siege of Culloden House
Jacobite rising of 1719 see William Mackintosh of Borlum
Jacobite rising of 1745
1745 Siege of Carlisle a Macbean was said to be the first over the walls.
1745 Clifton Moor Skirmish
1745 Battle of Inverurie
1746 Battle of Falkirk Muir
1746 Atholl raids
1746 Battle of Culloden

Gathering the Confederation for Battle

No single gathering point is known to exist for the entire Confederation to have ever used, but several other gathering points have been identified:

Clach An Airm in Strathnairn: Known gathering point of the MacGillivrays to organise and sharpen weapons.
Clach na Coileach: Meeting place in the MacThomas lands.thumb|right|150px|Clach na Coileach
Carn na Cuimhe beside the river Dee, east of Invercauld: Known gathering point of the Farquharsons. A fire cross was said to have been sent around the clan lands by runners to notify fighting men to gather.thumb|right|150px|Carn na Cuimhe
Creag Dhubh: Known gathering point of the Macphersons, a rocky hill near Cluny Castle in times of emergency.
Dunlichity Church: Known gathering point of the Mackintosh and nearby MacPhails with evidence of the stone walls being used to sharpen swords.

thumb|centre|800px|Panorama South from Chattan Clan monument to Sarah Justina Macpherson of Cluny at Creag Dhubh, Laggan, Scotland

Confederation Agreements

The list below shows some of the more important agreements of the Confederation in terms of bands of union, friendship, maintenance and manrent.

1397 Band of Union

The Chattan Confederation's first band may have been created in 1397 after the Battle of the North Inch, but it only lasted 14 years until 1411 when Clan MacPherson decided to take a different stand from the rest of the Chattan Confederation in regional politics.

1609 Band of Union

After the death of Mackintosh of Dunnachten in 1606, the Mackintoshes made an effort to reunite the clan and bring to an end the "controversies, questions, debates and hosts, that has fallen furth betwixt the said haill kin of Clan Chattan these times bygone, whereupon there followed groat incanvanisnciss". The Earls of Mar and Huntly who had been feuding, had fueled this division to gain advantage over each other had also been a major cause of this disunity. The Chattan Confederation came together at Termit about five miles from Inverness in 1609 to sign a new Band.

1664 Band of Union

Renewal of the 1609 Band, signed at Kincairne, but with an additional clause of action against Ewan Cameron in response to a Royal Commission seeing the Camerons as rebels at that point.

The MacBeans of Faillie ventured into land holdings but had developed a huge debt. As the MacBean's estate was not enough to pay off the debt, these lands fell under control of the court. The whole debt, with interests and costs, then fell onto the wider Clan Chattan. The burden, however, was still too heavy, and the estate was of little use to the MacBeans after 1744. By 1756 William MacBean consented to MacKintosh's reclaiming the Laggau lands, signing a deed of consent. This deed was also signed by other leaders of Clan Chattan, such as Alexander MacPhail of Inverernie; Robert MacKintosh, Tacksman of Termit; William MacKintosh of Aberarder; William MacKintosh of Holme; and John MacKintosh of Calclachie. These heads of Clan Chattan signed this agreement at Gask, in Strathnairn, on 27 October 1756, in presence of Donald MacBean and Alexander Fraser, farmer in the Mains of Tordarroch. This document is particularly interesting as it is dated several years after the Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746 came into effect, which abolished such agreements and the powers of clan chiefs.

2009 Band of Union

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the 1609 Clan Chattan Band of Union, a new Band of Union was signed in 2009 to renew the clan's historic connection.

Other agreements

1467: Friendship with Lord Forbes and others, on the one part; and Duncan Macintosh, of Clan Chattan, Hugh Rose of Kilravock and others, on the other part.
1481: Maintenance between Farquhar Macintosh, son and apparent heir of Duncan Macintosh, of Clan Chattan, to Hugh Rose of Kilravock.
1490: Manrent and marriage between Duncan Mackintosh to Cawdor.
1527: Friendship between Hector Mackintosh of Mackintosh and Hector Munro of Foulis, Chief of Clan Munro; John Campbell of Cawdor, Hugh Rose of Kilravock, Chief of Clan Rose; and "Donald Ilis of Sleat".
1549: Friendship between William Mackintosh of Dunachton and Earl John of Sutherland.
1568: Friendship between Lachlan Mackintosh and Earl of Huntly as his superior and confirmation of control of the lands of Benchar, Clune, Kincraig, Schiphin, Essich, Bochrubin, Dundelchat and Tordarroch.
1588: Friendship with William Macleod of Macleod, 13th chief of Clan Macleod.
1589: Bond agreement between Mackintosh and MacDonald of Keppoch that he would pay 2000 pounds for rent in his lands.
1590: Friendship and protection between clans Mackintosh and Grant of Freuchy and against aggressive Earls.
1591: Manrent between MacPherson and the Earl of Huntly signed at Huntly Castle.
1593: Manrent between Mackintosh of Dunnachten and the Earl of Moray.
1595: Manrent between Clan Farquharson and Clan Chattan and acknowledgement of the Chief of the Mackintosh as their superior chief.
1609: Manrent between Donald MacQueen of Corrybrough and the chiefs of Clan Chattan.

Internal and external disputes that affected the unity of the Confederation

Internal disputes

1370: Between clans MacPherson and Davidson as to which clan would form on the right wing of the Confederation Chief in battle.
1464: Between clans Mackintosh and Shaw after Shaw gained possession of Rothimurchus lands from the Bishop of Moray, making them independent of the Mackintosh.
1572: Honor killing of Dougal MacPherson by Hector MacKintosh to revenge the killing of his father 21 years earlier.
1591: Between clans Mackintosh and MacPherson over the hereditary leadership of the Clan Chattan Confederation and sealing a separate agreement of manrent with the Earl of Huntly. In 1672, Duncan MacPherson of Cluny applied for and obtained from Lord Lyon the matriculation of arms as "the laird of Cluny MacPherson as the only true representer of the ancient and honorable family of Clan Chattan". However, the Chief of MacKintosh at that time successfully sued a reduction and Lyon apparently charged Cluny with adding supporters which had not been really granted in the text of the parchment. MacIntosh was thus upheld as the Chief of Clan Chattan.
Between clans MacKintosh and MacPherson over the construction of a mill in the same river as that of the existing MacPherson one. This argument led to the Mackintoshes asking the Grants to assist them in the fight to which they refused and the MacPhersons pulling down the incomplete structure.
Between clans Shaw and Farquharson: a fight between a party from Rothimurcus and Finla Mor Farquharson and his followers over a claim made by Shaws to the lands of Invercauld.
1669-1699: twice letters of horning between MacPails and Shaws.
1673: Between clans Farquharson and MacThomas over disputed grazing rights in upper Glenisla.

It is not clear if the Confederation had a formal dispute resolution process for internal disputes. There is however a recorded agreement dated 4 June 1726, appointing MacGillivray of Dunmaglass arbiter between Lachlan, 20th chief of MacKintosh, and Lachlan MacPherson of Cluny, in any disputes that might arise in the carrying out of an agreement made between the two at Moy Hall on 15 September 1724.

External disputes

Throughout the 16th Century, the Clan Chattan Confederation was caught up in the machinations of the Earls of Mar, Moray and Huntly, particularly George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, mainly to use parts of the clan in their respective earldoms in disputes between themselves. This led to external attempts to divide the various tribes of Clan Chattan by undermining known internal disputes.

James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray tried to take back lands in Pettie and Strathern from Clan Chattan. His father, James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray had gifted them for loyal support. This then resulted in an insurrection against the Earl. The Earl then issued at letter of intercommuning against the Clan Chattan, preventing anyone from assisting or harboring clan members under severe penalty. The matter was resolved after large fines were paid and several clan members executed. Details of this issue was recorded by John Spalding, a noted historian of the era.

thumb|centre|600px|Clan Chattan lands affected by expanding Earldoms circa 17th century

Post Culloden and Highland Clearances

Clan Chattan was not immune to Government reprisals after the Battle of Culloden.

Key land forfeitures and consequences included:

• Macpherson of Cluny: Ewen Macpherson of Cluny, had his estates in Badenoch confiscated. He evaded capture for nine years before escaping to France in 1755. His lands remained under sequestration until 1784.

• MacGillivray: The estates of the MacGillivrays, whose chief commanded the Clan Chattan regiment at the Battle of Culloden, were also affected by forfeiture for their role in the rebellion.

• Mackintosh estates: The principal Mackintosh estates escaped full confiscation because their chief was serving in the government's Black Watch regiment. However, the loss of tenants (many of whom had fought for the Jacobites) and subsequent government policies, such as the Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746, greatly diminished the traditional power and land authority of all clan chiefs.

thumb|center|500 px|Clan Chattan stone grave markers at Culloden

The Badenoch Land clearances of 1797, affected the township of Biallid Beag, the location of an ancient Macpherson/Macintyre cemetery, St. Patricks.

From Confederation to Association

The activities of the Clan are carried on by the Clan Chattan Association, a descendant of the original association established in 1727 for the purpose of defending the interests of the clan "against all who would seek the injury of any of its subscribers".

In the nineteenth century, many clan societies and associations emerged, with the aim of promoting social interaction between people linked by a common name, and interest in their clan's history. Among these was the second Clan Chattan Association, founded in Glasgow in 1893. Initial support for the association was strong with the meetings, lectures and dances described as "a brilliant success", but it faded out by about 1900. Even so, clan historians of that period produced several works which are still used today.

John Mackintosh of Mackintosh (President)
Philip Farquharson (Vice President)
James Brodie Macpherson of Cluny (Vice President)
Iain Shaw of Tordarroch (Vice President)
Richard McBain of McBain (Vice President)
Grant Guthrie Davidson of Davidston (Vice President)
Andrew MacThomas of Finegand (Vice President)
The Very Reverend Allan MacLean of Dochgarroch (Vice President)

Of the remaining clans of the Chattan Confederation:

Clan MacGillivray has a clan Commander but no claimant to the chiefship.
Clan MacPhail's last reported chief died in Australia in the early 1900s.
Clan MacQueen's chiefly line moved to New Zealand and although descendants remain, there has been no claimant to the chiefship.

Clan Profile

The correct pronunciation of Chattan is Hattan. The "C" is silent. The "H" is slightly guttural.
Pipe music: Gathering of Clan Chattan /Cruinneachadh Chloinn Chatain.

{| class="wikitable" width=100%

!width=10% |Image

!width=90% |Notes

|160px || Clan Chief's Coat of Arms:

Left upper quadrant: A Rampant Lion used to denote the relation to ancient royalty.
Right upper quadrant: A bloody hand holding a heart is believed to be an allusion to the heart of Robert the Bruce and thus intended to express the clan's loyalty to him. The description of this quarter in the shield is officially given in the 1947 Matriculation with the wording: 2nd, argent, a dexter hand couped fessways holding a heart in pale Gules, a label Azure in chief charged with three 'bulls' heads cabossed of the first for difference (for Mackintosh). By comparison, the description of this quarter in the 1947 Matriculation of the Chief of Clan Mackintosh is 2nd, argent, a dexter hand couped fessways grasping a heart paleways gules – i.e. no label.
Left lower quadrant: A Boars Head | Depicts the clan connection to the House of Gordon through marriage, and
Right lower quadrant: An Azure (blue) Lymphad of pre-1947 may allude to the clan's connection with the Lord of the Isles.
At the centre, the Azure (blue) lymphad on a gold shield shown 'inescutcheon', along with a difference in the 2nd quarter of the main shield, distinguishes the arms as those of Mackintosh of Mackintosh-Torcastle, Chief of Clan Chattan, as opposed to those of Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Chief of Clan Mackintosh.

|160px || * Crest badge: A cat salient, proper.

Clan's motto: "Touch not the cat bot a glove" or "Na bean don chat gun lamhainn" in Scottish Gaelic ("bot" meaning "without"). (The archaic spelling of 'catt', and the use of either 'but' or 'bot' are present in different sources in various combinations).

There is various thoughts as to the origin of the cat as this clan's crest: 1. As a play on words related Saint Catan. 2. As an ancient totem: The original clan residence, Tor Castle has a field adjacent called Dail a’ Chait i.e. ‘The field of the Cats’ where ‘Divination’ is said to have occurred. The correct designation is Tigh-ghairm nan Cat; i.e. ‘The House of Invocation of the Cats.

|160px || Clan Chattan tartan. Individual Clans of Clan Chattan each have their own tartans. There is however also a specific Clan Chattan tartan, formerly known as Mackintosh Chief, recognised by The Lord Lyon in 1938. James Logan, author of the Scottish Gael states that the Chief of the Clan Mackintosh, Sir Aeneas Mackintosh of that Ilk, acknowledged this sett as the Clan tartan in 1816. ('The Scottish Gael' 1831). It was also included in the recording of Arms by George C McChlery, Public Register of Arms and Bearings 44/66 on 22 August 1960.

|280px || Heraldic Standard of Clan Chattan.

|160px || Clan plant badge: Red Whortleberry or Braoileag, Latin vaccinium vitis-idaea

thumb|center|1000px|Clan crests of the entire Chattan Confederation

In Folklore and Culture

In a book of Scottish Songs, published in Edinburgh in 1791, there is a ballad entitled "Hardyknute" which contains the following:

<poem>

"Syne he has gane far hynd attowre

· Lord Chattan's land sae wyde

That Lord a worthy wight was ay

Quhen faes his courage seyd :

Of Pictish race by mother's syde,

Quhen Picts ruled Caledon,

Lord Chattan claim'd the princely maid,

Quhen he saift Pictish crown."

</poem>

The Burning of Auchindoon, a ballad about the vendetta between the Earl of Huntly and the Clan Mackintosh in 1592thumb|right|150px|Ruins of Auchindoun Castle