Clan Maclean (; Scottish Gaelic: ) is a Highlands Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early MacLeans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in clan skirmishes with the Mackinnons, Camerons, MacDonalds and Campbells, as well as all of the Jacobite risings.
History
Origins of the Clan
There are several different origins for the surname MacLean, however, the clan surname is an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic MacGilleEathain. This was the patronymic form of the personal name meaning "servant of (Saint) John". Or the "son of the servant of Saint John. The clan's rise to power began in 852 with a Papal Bull of Charter & Protection for the Iona Abbey, issued by Pope Leo IV. While marriages with clan MacDonald in the late 1200s, clan Bruce in 1300s, clan MacKenzie in the 1400s brought the clan MacLean into the Scottish royal sphere.
Gillean of the Battleaxe
The founder of the clan was a Scottish warlord descended from the royal Cenél Loairn named Gillean of the Battle Axe . There are stories of Gillean being descended from the FitzGerald dynasty. He was a Judex (judge) and Councillor to King David of Scots. Gillean fought at the Battle of Largs in 1263 during the Scottish-Norwegian War where the Scottish were victorious.
Gillean's son Malise mac Gilleain (from the Gaelic Maoliosa "Servant of Jesus") was thought by some to have taken the name Gillemor in 1263 and is also said to have led his followers at the Battle of Largs in 1263. He wrote his name as "Gillemor Mcilyn ("son of Gillean"), County of Perth" on the third Ragman Rolls of 1296, swearing fealty to Edward I of England.
Gillean's great-great-grandson was Iain Dhu Maclean who settled on the Isle of Mull. One of his sons was Lachainn Lubanach (Lachlan) who was the progenitor of the Macleans of Duart and the other son was Eachainn Reafanach (Hector) who was the progenitor of the Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie. The Macleans of Duart married into the family of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles (chief of Clan Donald). By the end of the 15th century the Macleans owned the isles Mull, Tiree, Islay, Jura, Knapdale as well as Morvern in Argyll and Lochaber in mainland Scotland.
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Clan MacLean are said to have fought in support of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
The Early MacLeans at Duart
By the 14th century, the Clan MacLean had become a dominant force in the Western Isles. In about 1364 Lachlan Lùbanach MacLean (1325-1405) of Duart, 5th Chief, solidified the MacLean alliance with the Macdonalds through marriage. His bride, Mary Macdonald, was not only the daughter of John Macdonald, first Lord of the Isles, but also the granddaughter of Robert II, King of Scots. The families were close enough related that the approval of the church was sought. The papal dispensation issued by Pope Urban V on 3 May of 1367 approving the already consummated marriage is the first mention of a MacLean in any official records.. The papal dispensation blessed the marriage retroactively as insurance that it could not be annulled for political purposes. Mary's marriage dowry included Duart Castle and much of Mull. Lachlan Lùbanach also was granted the hereditary position of Lieutenant-General of the Isles. He was the recognized as the superior MacLean on Mull by the Lord of the Isles. Hector (1328-1407), his younger brother, was in the late 1300s given Lochbuie by the Lord of the Isles.
Fifteenth century and clan conflicts
During the 14th and 15th century many battles were fought between the Clan Maclean and Clan Mackinnon.
Battle of Harlaw
In 1411, Clan MacLean fought with Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, to claim the earldom of Ross, which was his by right of his wife, Mariota Leslie, countess of Ross. Robert Stewart, the ambitious the Duke of Albany, had denied Donald's claim because he wanted Ross for himself. (The young King of Scots, James I, was being held prisoner of the English king, Henry IV, and Albany did nothing to seek his release.) The Battle of Harlaw took place near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire on 24 July 1411 against an mounted army of knights led by Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. The MacLeans were led by Hector Roy Maclean, "Red Hector of the Battles", the 6th Chief, and nephew of Donald Macdonald. Hector commanded the right flank of Donald Macdonald's army. Hector engaged in single combat with the chief of Clan Irvine, Sir Alexander Irvine. After a legendary struggle both died of the wounds inflicted upon each other.