Everything about Clan Macdougall totally explained
Clan MacDougall is a Highland
Scottish clan who were the descendants of
Dugald, son of
Somerled, who ruled
Lorne and the
Isle of Mull in
Argyll in the 13th and early 14th centuries.
History
Origins of the clan
Clan MacDougall is a
Scottish clan traditionally associated with the lands of
Argyll and
Lorn in
Scotland. Like the
Clan Donald or MacDonald and all of its MacDonald branches, the MacDougalls are also descended from the King
Somerled. The clan takes its name from
Dougall, a son of Somerled, who, after his father's death in 1164, held most of Argyll and also islands such as the
Isle of Mull,
Lismore,
Jura,
Tiree,
Coll and many others. Likewise the
Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald branch take their name from another of King Somerled's sons called Ranald and the head
Clan Donald take their name from Somerled's grandson and Ranald's son who was called Donald.
The Celtic Christian name Dougall, or Dugald, is derived from the Gaelic 'dubh-gall', meaning 'black stranger'.
Dougall's royal descent was acknowledged by the king of Norway, and he styled himself 'King of the South Isles and Lord of Lorne'. His son, Duncan, and his grandson,
Ewan, built castles to defend their dominions, including
Dunstaffnage,
Dunollie and
Duntrune on the mainland, and Aros, Cairnburgh, Dunchonnel and
Coeffin on the islands. Dunollie, a craig rising up over seventy feet, was most likely fortified as early as the sixth century and was to become the chief seat. Duncan also built
Ardchattan Priory, where the MacDougall chiefs were buried until 1737.
After
Haakon IV of Norway had been defeated by the Scottish army at the
Battle of Largs in 1263 the Clan MacDougall attacked his fleet. The Norsemen were defeated by the MacDougalls in the sea battle.
Battle of Red Ford, Lorn 1296; Battle between
Clan Campbell and Clan MacDougall. This battle took place due to the feud over coastal lands between the two clans. In the late 13th century the rising force on Scotland's Western Seaboard was the MacDougalls. Controlling the Western mainland was MacDougall's
Dunollie Castle and
Dunstaffnage Castle, near Oban in Argyll while their huge fleet of galleys commanded the seas. Many lives were lost on both sides at the Battle of Red Ford which takes its name from the Ford which ran red with blood where the battle took place. Also on the day one of Campbell's castles on loch Awe was seized by the MacDougalls. The Campbell Chief
Cailean Mor Campbell was killed at the battle. His body was carried to the church of
St. Peter the Deacon at Kilchrenan on Loch Awe side and buried there. Although the exact burial place is unknown, in 1816 the Duke of Argyll inserted in the gable of the present church, a 14th century gravestone in memory of his ancestor.
Wars of Scottish Independence
The MacDougalls were supporters of
William Wallace and King
John I of Scotland but were later driven out by supporters of King
Robert I of Scotland during the civil wars in Scotland which formed part of the
Wars of Scottish Independence. Two years later and Bruce led an army of three thousand men against the MacDougalls.
John MacDougall of Lorne set an ambush for them but after a savage engagement the MacDougalls were broken and forced to flee. The MacDougalls lost most of their lands in
Argyll which were then passed to the
Clan Campbell for their loyalty to the King. However Clan MacDougall fought against Robert the Bruce and the
Earl of Atholl at the
Battle of Dalry in 1306 where the MacDougalls were victorious. However the victorious MacDougalls were later defeated when they fought against Robert the Bruce at the
Battle of Pass of Brander in 1308.
Alistair MacDougall married the sister of
John Comyn of the
Comyn, Scotland’s most powerful man. John’s son, the "Red Comyn", was next in line as King of Scotland after the Balliols. However this was the time when Bruce made his bid for the Crown. Bruce slew the Red Comyn at the altar rails in Dumfries and the MacDougalls entered into the feud which ended in the utter destruction of the
Clan Comyn and the loss of the MacDougalls' islands to Bruce.
15th century & clan conflicts
In 1463 Sir John Stewart was murdered outside of a church just as he was about to marry his MacLaren wife. He was murdered by Alan MacCoul, an ally of the Clan MacDougall. However his murder was avenged in 1468 when the
Clan Stuart and
Clan MacLaren together defeated the Clan MacDougall at the Battle of Stalc, which took place opposite
Castle Stalker.
17th century & Civil War
In the 17th century during the Civil War the Clan MacDougall were generally
Royalist and in 1645 chief Alexander MacDougall led five hundred of his men into battle. After the defeat of James
Graham the
1st Marquess of Montrose a Covenanting army under
David Leslie was sent to Argyll to deal with the royalist sympathisers. When the
Stuart monarchy was restored so were the MacDougall lands.
18th century & Jacobite Uprisings
In the 18th century during the
Jacobite Risings the Clan MacDougall supported the
Jacobite cause in 1715 and fought at the
Battle of Sheriffmuir which the Jacobites lost. The MacDougall chief was forced into exile but later returned to
Scotland to live as a
fugitive. He was pardoned in 1727.
His son and next chief, Alexander MacDougall didn't take part in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1745 to 1746. Although his brother and some of the clansmen did indeed fight as Jacobites at the
Battle of Culloden in 1746.
Castles
Castles owned by the MacDougalls have included:
MacDougall Lords
Dugald, son of Somerled
Dugald Screech and Donnchad of Argyll (died 1237x1248) (and perhaps Uspak), sons of Dugald
Eóghan MacDubhgall, son of Dugald (died 1268x1275)
Alexander of Argyll, son of Eoghan (died 1310x1311, perhaps at Carlisle), married a daughter of John Comyn, driven from Scotland by Robert Bruce and his allies; his sister Mary married Magnus Olafsson, King of Mann and, on Magnus's death, remarried with Maol Íosa, Mormaer of Strathearn
John of Lorne, son of Alexander (died on pilgrimage to Canterbury, September 1317), enemy of Bruce and Bruce's ally Angus Óg of Islay, defeated and driven into exile
Clan profile
Origin of the Name: Mac Dùghall (Gaelic for "Son of Dougall").
Gaelic Names: MacDhughaill (Surname) & Clann 'icDhughaill (Collective).
Motto: Buaidh no bàs (Victory or Death).
Plant Badge: Bell Heather.
Animal Symbol: Raven.
Crest: On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, a dexter arm in armour embowed fessways couped Proper, holding a cross crosslet fitchée erect Gules.
Arms: Quartered in these arms are two ancient royal emblems, the Black Galley of Lorn symbolizing descent from the royal house of the Norse and the lion symbolic of the descent from the Scottish Kings of ancient Dal Riada.
Pipe Music
"Caisteal Dhunolla"
"Cumha Chaiptein MacDhughaill"
"Failte Iain Cheir"
"Jeanne Rea's Wedding"
"Latha Dhunabharti"
"Maid of Lorn"
"MacDougall's Gathering"
"MacDougall Gillies"
"MacDougall's Lament"
"MacDougall of Lunga"
"MacDougall of Lunga-Paterson"
"McDougall's Jig Oban Reel"
Tartans
MacDougall (Modern)
MacDougall (Ancient)
MacDougall (Dress)
Chief
Morag Morley MacDougall of MacDougall
Branches
MacDougall of MacDougall and Dunollie
MacDougall of Lunga
Septs of Clan MacDougall
Carmichael
Conacher
Get more info on 'Clan Macdougall'.
|
External Link Exchanges
Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:
<a href="http://clan_macdougall.totallyexplained.com">Clan MacDougall Totally Explained</a>
Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned. |
