Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 37 on 20/03/2008.

This article is 9 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.

The clan Gordon

James Irvine Robertson examines a successful clan from the far north of Scotland.

Any researcher of history in the far north of Scotland cannot avoid tripping over the Gordons. They were the region’s most successful family and attracted the opprobrium that goes with such success.

Clan chiefs had only one duty, the aggrandisement of their line. The successful ones were utterly ruthless in the methods they used to achieve this. To criticise them for this is like blaming a lion for having sharp claws.

Unsuccessful clan chiefs were equally ruthless, but tended to end up dead more frequently than their rivals. In spite of their success, the Gordons became dead quite a lot, and did not always enjoy the means. ‘Ye’re ane o’ the tender Gordons – you daurna be hang’d for hurting your neck’ runs one Scots proverb. But another warns, ‘Ne’er misca’ a Gordon in the raws [streets] of Strathbogie’ The family name may have originated in Gourdon in Normandy. Another theory is that it means gor din – great hill-fort. The first of the line is said to have fought with Malcolm Canmore at the Battle of Lumphanan in 1097 when he killed and took the crown from MacBeth. His reward was lands in Berwickshire.

A couple of misty centuries later, Sir Adam of Gordon was a close associate of the Red Comyn, slain by Robert the Bruce in front of the altar of Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. To revenge his friend, he fought for King Edward I of England.

But the English harried his estate in the south, so Adam switched sides in 1313 to become one of Bruce’s trusted lieutenants. He was rewa.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Scotland Magazine to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By James Irvine Robertson

Section : Scotland Clans

Page number : 52