Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 7 on 7/3/2003.

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A Rich Heritage

CHARLES DOUGLAS ADMIRES THE ECLECTIC ELEGANCE OF INVERARAY CASTLE, HOME TO THE CAMPBELLS OF ARGYLL FOR 600 YEARS

The name of Campbell inspires many emotions in the Scottish psyche, but much of this has been brought about by a deliberate misinterpretation of historic fact. It is certainly hard to forgive Clan Campbell for what they did to the unfortunate Lamonts of Toward Castle and Ascog Castle during the 17th century, but the on-going censure over the massacre of the McIan Macdonalds of Glencoe in 1692 does need to be put into perspective.

The Glencoe massacre was the result of an order put out by the Master of Stair, King William of Orange’s Joint-Secretary of State for Scotland, as a punishment for the McIan chief being late in taking an oath of allegiance. Now, it just so happened that the commanding officer in charge of the troops billeted on the McIans at the time was Campbell of Glenlyon, and because of this, the name of Campbell has carried the blame ever since.

But Clan Campbell was, and remains, a large and diverse clan which first came to prominence in the 13th century, and whose branches at the peak of their power extended throughout the Highlands, from Lorn to Moray, and from Taymouth in Perthshire to Loudon in Ayrshire.

However, it was the Campbells of Argyll who played the most prominent roles in the history of Scotland. From their support of Robert the Bruce during the struggle for independence against the English, and subsequent strategic marriages, they gained their extensive lands on the west coast as the influence of the Macdonald Lords of the Isles declined.

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By Charles Douglas

Section : Historic Houses

Page number : 16