Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 29 on 25/10/2006.

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Virtue mine honour (Clan Maclean)

This issue James Irvine Robertson considers the Clan Maclean

Although the usual fanciful pedigrees locates the clan originally 150 miles north east at Glen Urquhart in Moray, the Macleans are from the west coast island of Mull.

Gillean of the Battle-Axe, the first of the clan on record, fought against the Vikings in 1263 on the beach at Largs on the occasion that persuaded King Haakon of Norway to cede the Western Isles to the Scottish king.

Three of Gillean’s grandsons fought with King Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn.

However, a clash with the Lords of Lorne drove the family to Mull, to McKinnon country. In 1367, Lachlan Lubanach, first of the Macleans of Duart and builder of the mighty castle of the name, fell for Mary, daughter of Donald, Lord of the Isles who was then as powerful as the monarch.

Even six centuries later his effrontery appears outrageous. Donald with his retinue had been hunting on Mull. He set out to return to Ardtornish Castle, his stronghold on the mainland accompanied by the McKinnon chief and Lachlan. As Mackinnon was stepping into his galley to follow, Lachlan and Hector Maclean fell upon him and slew him. They then disarmed McKinnon’s men and hastening after the Lord of the Isles, seized his galley, forced him to grant them an indemnity for the deed and to approve of Lachlan’s marriage to his daughter. He did, and within a couple of generations the clan controlled Mull, Tiree, Coll and on the mainland, Kingairloch, Ardgour and Morvern.

In one of those delightful Scottish titles, the eldest daughter of th.....

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By James Irvine Robertson

Section : Scottish Clans

Page number : 52