Clan Maclean (; Scottish Gaelic: ' ) is a Highlands Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early Macleans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in clan skirmishes with the Mackinnons, Camerons, MacDonalds and Campbells, as well as all of the Jacobite risings.

History

Origins of the Clan

There are several different origins for the surname Maclean, however, the clan surname is an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic . This was the patronymic form of the personal name meaning 'Servant of Saint John', thus 'Son of the Servant of [St] John'. The clan's rise to power began in 852 with a Papal Bull of Charter and Protection for the Iona Abbey, issued by Pope Leo IV. Marriages with Clan MacDonald in the late 1200s, Clan Bruce in the 1300s, and Clan MacKenzie in the 1400s brought Clan Maclean into the Scottish royal sphere.

Early Clan Chiefs

The founder of the clan was a Scottish warlord named Gillean of the Battle Axe (1210–1263). There are stories of Gillean being descended from the FitzGerald dynasty. He was a (judge) and councillor to King David I of Scots. Gillean fought at the Battle of Largs in 1263 during the Scottish–Norwegian War, in which the Scottish were victorious. He commanded troops alongside Robert Bruce and over a dozen other Scottish clans to victory over the English. He died during the reign of King David Bruce and had three sons: John (Iain), Donald, and Neil.

Fifteenth century and clan conflicts

During the 14th and 15th century many battles were fought between the Clan Maclean and Clan Mackinnon.

Battle of Harlaw

In 1411, Clan Maclean fought with Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, to claim the earldom of Ross, which was his by right of his wife, Mariota Leslie, countess of Ross. Robert Stewart, the ambitious the Duke of Albany, had denied Donald's claim because he wanted Ross for himself. (The young King of Scots, James I, was being held prisoner of the English king, Henry IV, and Albany did nothing to seek his release.) The Battle of Harlaw took place near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire on 24 July 1411 against a mounted army of knights led by Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. The Macleans were led by Hector Roy Maclean, "Red Hector of the Battles", the 6th Chief, and nephew of Donald Macdonald. Hector commanded the right flank of Donald Macdonald's army. Hector engaged in single combat with the chief of Clan Irvine, Sir Alexander Irvine.

Battle of Corpach

The Battle of Corpach took place in 1439. It was fought between the Clan Maclean and the Clan Cameron.

Battle of Bloody Bay

In 1484 the Clan Maclean fought at the Battle of Bloody Bay on the side of the Lord of the Isles, chief of Clan Donald. In 1588 the Clan Maclean attempted to capture Mingarry Castle seat of the chief of the Clan MacDonald of Ardnamurchan, using Spanish mercenaries from the San Juan de Sicilia. Hector returned for the Jacobite rising of 1745 but was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London until 1747.

  • Ardgour House, built in 1765, lies on the shores of Loch Linnhe on land wreasted from the McMasters in the 1430's. The first Maclean of Ardgour, ‘Strong Donald the Hunter’, was the son of the 7th Chief of Clan Maclean from Duart on Mull. Ewan Maclean, 2nd of Ardgour was killed at the Battle of Bloody Bay in about 1482.
  • Aros Castle on the Isle of Mull, Argyll was originally built by the Clan MacDougall, was then held by the Clan Donald, Lord of the Isles before passing to the Macleans after 1493.

<blockquote>Maclean was born on 25 August 1942, the elder child of Charles Maclean and his wife, Elizabeth Mann. He was educated at Eton. On 2 November 1966, he married Mary Helen Gordon (1943 – 2007), and the couple had five children. On the death of his father in 1990, he succeeded him as a Baronet of Nova Scotia and as Chief of the Name and Arms of Maclean. On 8 September 2010, he married Rosemary Matheson.</blockquote>

Chieftains

  • Robin Maclean of Ardgour
  • The Very Rev Canon Allan M. Maclean of Dochgarroch
  • Sir Charles Edward Maclean of Dunconnel Bt, 2nd Baronet of Strachur and Glensluain, Baron Strachur, and 16th Hereditary Keeper and Captain of Dunconnel in the Isles of The Sea
  • Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross
  • Richard Compton Maclean of Torloisk
  • Malcolm Fraser Maclean of Kingairloch

Septs

Septs are family names associated with a particular clan. Other family names associated with the clan include Auchaneson, Beath, Beaton, Black, Clanachan, Dowart, Dowie, Duart, Duie, Garvie, Gillan, Gillon, Gilzean, Hoey, Huie, Lane, Lean, Leitch, MacBeath, MacBeth, MacBheath, MacCormick, MacEachan, Macfadin, MacFadyen, Macfadzean, Macfergan, Macgeachan, MacGilvra, Macildowie, Macilduy, Macilvera, MacKlin, MacLergain, Maclergan, MacPhaiden, MacRankin, MacVeagh, MacVey, Paden, Patten, Rankin, and Rankine.

Clan profile

thumb|[[Sean Connery wearing a kilt with the Clan Maclean hunting tartan; his mother was a Maclean]]

Symbols

Members of Clan Maclean show their allegiance to their clan and their chief by wearing a crest badge which bears the heraldic crest and heraldic motto of the clan chief. The blazon of the heraldic crest within a clan members crest badge is A tower embattled Argent. The heraldic motto upon the crest badge is VIRTUE MINE HONOUR.

Long before crest badges were used by members of clans, it is said that plants were used as badges. These clan badges consisted of plants and were worn in bonnets in addition to being used as a banner and attached to a pole or spear. The clan badge attributed to Clan Maclean is Crowberry.

There are two slogans attributed to Clan Maclean. Slogans, are sometimes said to be war cries, other times they are said to be rallying points for the clan. Slogans used by clans generally appear as a second motto within the chiefs arms. Slogans of Clan Maclean include: Bàs no Beatha (from Scottish Gaelic: "Death or life") and Fear eile airson Eachann (from Scottish Gaelic: "Another for Hector").

Maclean Arms

{|

|-

| 70px|center|Arms of Maclean of Duart|alt=Arms of MacLean of Duart

| 70px|center|Arms of Macklean

| 70px|center|Arms of Maclean of Denboig|alt=Arms of MacLean of Denboig

| 70px|center|Arms of Maclean of Coll

|}

See also

  • Maclean baronets
  • Notable Macleans
  • Ardgour
  • Duart Castle
  • Irish nobility

Notes and references

  • Maclean History
  • Clan Maclean Worldwide
  • Clan Maclean Atlantic Canada
  • Clan Maclean of Southern California
  • Clan Maclean Heritage Trust
  • Clan Maclean Amateur Radio Society
  • Clan Maclean Tartans Scottish Register of Tartans