Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 21 on 10/07/2005.

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Northern warriors (Clan MacLeod)

James Irvine Robertson looks at the durability of Clan MacLeod

As had been known since time immemorial, the MacLeods are of Norse origin and descend from Leod, son of Olave, brother of Magnus, the last king of Manthe, King of Man.

A few mavericks believed that the clan rose from the indigenous peoples of the west, and recent DNAtesting of clan members gives a clear indication that the latter theory is much the most likely. However, the clan was once two.

Leod had two sons. Tormod was founder of the MacLeods of Harris, known as Siol – ‘the race of Tormod.’ Tormod’s younger brother founded the MacLeods of Lewis, the Siol Torquil.

He seems to have made an advantageous marriage with the heiress to the Nicolsons of Scorrybreac to obtain his lands and, as was usual, took over their Arms.

Siol Tormod’s first Charter was to Glenelg, that most beautiful country opposite Skye. This was the senior line of the clan and, after centuries of skirmishing and posturing between the two branches, the representative of Siol Torquil, MacLeod of Talisker, pledged his loyalty to the 28th chief Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod who died in 1976 aged 98. Dame Flora did much to stimulate the revival of the clan spirit throughout the world in the last century. In this she was following in the steps of her predecessors, for no clan has been closer to their chiefs and no chiefs have worked harder for the well-being of their clansfolk.

After the 1745 Uprising and the collapse of the clan system, the greatest service a chief could do for his people was to make or mar.....

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By James Irvine Robertson

Section : Scottish Clans

Page number : 60