Fairy Flag

The Dunvegan Cup, Fairy Flag, and Sir Rory Mor's Horn are heirlooms of the MacLeods of Dunvegan. This photo was taken sometime before 1927.

The Fairy Flag (Scottish Gaelic: Am Bratach Sith) is an heirloom of the MacLeods of Dunvegan, chiefs of Clan MacLeod. There are numerous traditions relating to its origins and magical properties. Most of these traditions state that the flag originated as a gift from fairies. The flag has been examined numerous times over the last two centuries; and since this time its condition has somewhat deteriorated. The flag has been stated to have been made of silk originating from the Far East and that it may have been an important relic of some sort. Others have attempted to associate the flag with the Crusades, and even the raven banner which was said to have been used by various Viking leaders in the British Isles. The flag is held in Dunvegan Castle, along with other notable heirlooms, such as the Dunvegan Cup and Sir Rory Mor's Horn.

Description

In the 19th century, the writer Rev. Norman Macleod (1783-1862) recalled seeing the Fairy Flag during his childhood in about 1799 (see relevant section below). He described the flag as then having crosses wrought in gold thread, and several "elf spots" stitched upon it. N. Macleod recollected that when the flag was examined, bits were taken off it from time to time; so much so, that later in his life he did not believe the flag still existed. In August of 1814, Sir Walter Scott visited Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye, and wrote of the visit in his diary. One of several items he mentioned seeing was the Fairy Flag. Scott described it as "a pennon of silk, with something like round red rowan-berries wrought upon it". John Francis Campbell saw the flag in 1871, and described it as being "made of yellow raw silk with figures and spots worked on it in red". In 1927, Roderick Charles MacLeod described the flag as then being square and brown. He measured it as about 18 inches (46 cm) either way. He considered the flag to have originally been much larger; and remarked on its extreme fragility and the requirement for careful handling, if it should be handled at all. R.C. MacLeod noted N. Macleod's description of the flag, but observed that it now only contained the "elf spots"—there was then no evidence of any crosses upon what remained of the flag. R.C. also observed that several tears in the flag had been carefully mended.

The flag was examined in the early 20th century by A.J.B. Wace of the Victoria and Albert Museum, who concluded that the silk was woven in either Syria or Rhodes, and the darns were made in the Near East. It was his opinion that the flag, in its original state, would have been quite precious, possibly a relic like the shirt of a saint. The belief at the time of this examination was the MacLeods were descended from Harald Hardrada, who spent some time in Constantinople in the 11th century. In line with this belief, it was suggested that the flag may have passed from Harald Hardrada down to the eponymous ancestor of the clan—Leod.

Tradition and legend

There are several traditions concerning the Fairy Flag, which tell of its origin and its miraculous powers.

Thomas Pennant (1772)

19th century engraving of the Fairy Flag, Sir Rory Mor's Horn, and the Dunvegan Cup.

In 1772, Thomas Pennant made a tour of the Hebrides and later published his an account of his travels. One of things Pennant noted, while visiting the Isle of Skye, was the Fairy Flag. According to Pennant, the flag was named "Braolauch shi", and was given to the MacLeods by Titania the "Ben-shi", wife of Oberon, king of the fairies. Titania blessed the flag with powers which would occur when the flag was unfurled three times. On the third time, the flag and flag-bearer would be carried off by an invisible being, never to be seen again. The family of "Clan y Faitter" had the task of bearing the flag, and in return for their services, they possesed free lands in Bracadale. Pennant related how the flag had already been produced three times. The first occasion was in an unequal battle between the MacLeods and the Macdonalds of Clanranald. On the unfurling of the flag, the MacLeod forces were multiplied by ten. The second time the flag was unfurled to preserve the life of the lady of the clan. Pennant then declared that the flag was unfurled a third time in an effort to save his own life, but that the flag was then too tattered, and Titania did not seem to think his life worth fending for! Pennant also noted the belief of the MacLeod's Norse ancestry and the magical raven banners said to have been used by the Vikings in the British Isles.

Traditional account from a manuscript dating to c.1800

Tomb of Alasdair Crotach (1455–1547), Church of St Clement, Rodel.

In the early part of the 20th century, Fred T. MacLeod noted a traditional account of the Fairy Flag which was written in manuscript form, in about 1800. According to the writer of the manuscript, the honour and very existence of the clan, was thought for ages to depend almost entirely on the preservation of the flag. One family supplied the hereditary standard keepers of it, though the writer stated that the family was by then extinct. Only the eldest male living of this single family could ever unfurl the flag. The first of the family was buried in Iona, in the same grave as the chief. The second and last person to hold the position—during the tenure of chief Alasdair Crotach (1455–1547)—had a monument built over his remains in the church at Rodel, on Harris. The stone coffin, in which his body was deposited, was six feet deep; and a moveable iron grate ran through its whole length. This man's male descendants were always deposited in this coffin. The bones and dust of the last occupier, being shaken through the iron grating, fell to the bottom of the coffin and thus made way for another, whose body was always clothed in a style unique and magnificent for the times and country. The writer states that the last of this family was interred during the lifetime of his father. The tomb was shut up by the last man's daughter.

The manuscript states that the spell of the banner meant that it would vanish when it was displayed for the third time. The final unfurling of the banner would either gain the clan a complete victory over their enemies or mean that the clan was suffer total extinction forever. The writer of the manuscript goes on to state that the temptation for unfurling the banner for the third and final time was always resisted; and that at the time of his writing, that there was not much chance of it every being unfurled again, as it was in such a reduced state. The writer states that of the few shreds that remained of the banner, he himself possessed a fragment. He also stated that the staff, which was almost as sacred as the banner, was by then lost, and that the male line of the keepers was then extinct.

The manuscript continues that the flag was once held in an iron chest, within Dunvegan Castle. The key to the chest was then always in the possession of the hereditary standard bearers—whose family were called "Clan Tormad Vic Vurichie". This family was descended from Sìol Torcaill, and the family became miserably poor and the male line became extinct. On the death of the MacLeod chief Tormod (1685–1706), son of lain Breac (1637–1693), the succession to the chiefship had nearly fallen to the family of the MacLeods of Talisker. The young widow of the last chief refused to give up Dunvegan Castle to the next heir, knowing herself to be pregnant (although she had only been married six weeks previous to her widowhood). In time she gave birth to Tormod, the next chief. Around this time, a man who wished to curry favour with the expectant heir (MacLeod of Talisker) attempted to steal the flag. The banner was, however, afterwards found, but both the staff and iron chest were never discovered.

The manuscript states that the legend concerning the origin of the flag, centred around a MacLeod who had gone on a Crusade. When in mountainous pass in Palestine he met a hermit would gave him food and shelter. The hermit told the MacLeod of an evil spirit which guarded the pass. MacLeod, with a piece of the true cross, and aided with certain directions from the hermit, was able to cross the pass and eventually killed the spirit who was called "Nein a Phaipen" ("Daughter of Thunder"). In reward of his victory the spirit revealed to MacLeod the future destiny of his clan, which was passed down through the family until its extinction; and instructed Macleod to make the cloth wrapped around her loins into a banner, and her spear into its staff. The writer of the manuscript stated that the spear was then since lost and that the secrets conveyed to MacLeod were lost forever.

Reported partial fulfilment prophecy in about 1800

Late in his life, the writer Norman Macleod (1783-1862) related to one of his daughters, of having heard an old Gaelic prophecy concerning the flag; and of events which took place in his childhood which were reported as examples of the prophecy being partially fulfilled. This summarised version of the prophecy was published in the late 19th century, within an account of the life of one of his sons. Soon after, in 1878, Alexander Mackenzie proposed that the prophecy as dictated by N. Macleod, may have been a fragmented remembrance of one of the prophecies of Coinneach Odhar (who is popularly known as the Brahan Seer). N. Macleod's tale of the prophecy runs:

Of the MacLeod family it was prophesied at least a hundred years prior to the circumstances I am about to relate. In the prophesey to which I allude it was foretold, that when Norman, the third Norman ('Tormaid nan' tri Tormaid'), the son of the hard-boned English lady ('Mac na mnatha Caoile cruaidh Shassanaich'), would perish by an accidental death; that when the 'MacLeod Maidens' (certain well-known rocks on the coast of the MacLeod's country) became the property of a Campbell; when a fox had young ones in one of the turrets of the Castle, and, particularly, when the Fairy enchanted banner should be for the last time exhibited, then the glory of the MacLeod family should depart—a great part of the estate should be sold to others, so that a small 'curragh', or boat, would carry all gentlemen of the name of Macleod across Loch Dunvegan; but that in times far distant another John Breac should arise, who should redeem those estates, and raise the powers and honour of the house to a higher pitch than ever.

— Norman Macleod

N. Macleod then related of how as a child he was had been close to an English smith employed at Dunvegan. One day the smith told him in secrecy that the chest in which the flag was held was to be forced open the next morning; and that it had been arranged by Hector Macdonald Buchanan that the smith would be at the castle with the necessary tools. N. Macleod, then asked Buchanan for permission to be present, who granted him leave on the grounds that he would not tell anyone—especially the chief—what was was about to be done. The next morning the chest was forced open and the flag was found to be held within a wooden case. N. Macleod, described the flag then as being a square-shapped piece of cloth, with crosses wrought on it with gold thread, and several "elf spots" stitched onto it. After the flag had been examined it was placed back into its case. N. Macleod stated that at around this time it was learned that the heir to the chiefship, Norman, was killed at sea. The HMS Queen Charlotte, on which he was a lieutenant, caught fire and exploded at sea killing 673 officers and men. N. Macleod stated that at about the same time, the MacLeod Maidens were sold to Campbell of Ensay; and he also declared to have personally seen a fox, which belonged to a Maclean, to have lived in the west turret of the castle with its cubs. N. Macleod related how he was grateful that the worst part of the prophecy remained unfulfilled; and that the chiefly family still owned their ancestral lands.

In the early 20th century, R.C. MacLeod considered that this prophecy seemed to have been fulfilled. At the time, the Macleod chief had no gentlemen of his clan as tenants on his estate; and Ian Breac, the heir to the family, was killed in the First World War. R.C. MacLeod noted that the prophecy stated that a John Breac (Gaelic: Iain Breac, "Iain the speckled") would restore the fortunes of the family; and that he believed it was still possible that this may yet happen. However, he also lamented that "when the young Ian Breac MacLeod gave his life for King and Country on April 17, 1915, he did cast a fresh lustre on the name he bore, and showed that his race had not lost the loyalty and courage which were their chief claims to glory in ancient days".

Walter Scott, 1814

When Sir Walter Scott visited Dunvegan Castle in 1814, he learned of several traditional tales relating to the area and the clan. He was told that the Fairy Flag had three magical properties. The first was that it multiplied the number of men upon a battlefield. The second was that when it was spread upon a nuptial bed, it ensured fertility. The third was that it brought herring into the loch.

Other traditions

In the early 20th century, R.C. MacLeod noted several traditions concerning the flag. One told how the flag came into the possession of the MacLeods through a fairy. A similar tradition relates of a fairy-lullaby.

The Fairy Bridge, located near Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye. Tradition states that at this location a fairy is said to have parted from her MacLeod husband and to have given him the Fairy Flag.

The first tradition relates how one of the chiefs of the MacLeods married a fairy; and that after twenty years she was forced to leave him and return to fairyland. She bid farewell to Macleod at the Fairy Bridge (which stands about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Dunvegan) and gave him the flag and promised that when it was waved in times of danger and distress help would be given to on three occasions. R.C. considered this tradition to be connected to another, about a lullaby. This tradition originated with Neil Macleod, who was the clan bard in the last half of the 19th century. He obtained the tradition from several old women in 'Macleod country'. This lullaby-tradition runs that on an autumn night a beautiful fairy visited Dunvegan Castle. She passed through several closed doors and entered the nursery where the infant heir to the chief was lying in his cradle. The nursemaid, who was within the room as well was rendered powerless by a spell and could only watch as the fairy took the infant on her knee and sang to him a lullaby. The song was so remarkable that it imprinted itself upon the nursemaid's memory and later she would lull the baby asleep by singing the fairy's lullaby. Over time it was believed that any infant of the chiefly family, whom this lullaby was song to, would be protected by the power of the fairies. For a while, no nurse was employed by the family who could not sing the lullaby. A period of 200 years then passed before any chief had been born within the castle, and the custom of singing the fairy's lullaby ceased to be followed—but according to R.C. MacLeod, not completely forgotten. R.C. MacLeod claimed that a nursemaid sung this lullaby at the castle in the year 1847, for the infant who would later become Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod (1847–1935), 27th chief of the clan.

R.C. MacLeod listed another tradition, somewhat similar to the one that appeared in manuscript from around the year 1800. According to this version, a Macleod joined a crusading army, and went to the Holy Land. While in the desert-wilderness he came across a witch. He then came across a river and proceeded to cross it at a ford. However, a fairy maiden appeared from the water and blocked his passage. After a struggle, Macleod overcame the fairy and passed over the river; and later became friends with the fairy. Before parting she gave him a box of scented wood, in which she told him held several smaller boxes which exactly fitted the one on the outside. Inside the innermost box contained a magic banner, which when waved would bring forth a host of armed men to aid its owner. The fairy warned the Macleod, that if he opened the box within a year and a day from then, that no crops would grow on his land, no livestock would be born, as well as no children. When the Macleod returned home he gave the box to the chief's wife. The wife, however, ignored the Macleod's warning, and opened the box. Immediately a host of armed men appeared and that year no children were born. The tradition concludes that ever since that time the flag has been preserved for a time when such an army might mean salvation for the clan.

R.C. MacLeod gave another tradition, which related to the events which happened when an heir to a clan's chiefship was born. During this time, there was much rejoicing at the castle, and the nursemaid was anxious to join in the festivities and left the sleeping infant alone in her room. When the baby awoke, crying of cold, no human help came; yet a host of fairies appeared and wrapped the infant in the Fairy Flag. Meanwhile, clansmen, banqueting below, demanded to see the child and the maid was ordered to bring him forth. When she brought out the baby, wrapped in the fairy flag, the room was filled with the fairy's music and song which declared that the flag had the power to save the clan three times.

In times of war

The Bannatyne Manuscript, dates from about 1830 and is thought to have probably been written by Dr. William MacLeod Bannatyne. R.C. MacLeod stated that the manuscript contains reference to the flag having been waved at the Battle of Bloody Bay, in 1480; and at the Battle of Glendale, in about 1490. He also wrote of another tradition which stated that the flag was waved at Waternish, in about 1580; and of another which told of how it was waved during a time when a cattle plague was raging, and that it stopped the murrain. R.C. MacLeod believed that, realistically, the flag could only have been waved twice, and so rejected the tradition of it being waved at the Battle of Bloody Bay, because the MacLeods were on the losing side! R.C. MacLeod also wondered if it had been waved in 1600, when the clan was in a desperate state, warring with the Macdonalds of Sleat.

Reported powers of the flag in the 20th century

Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye in the mist, August 2007.

In 1938, a fire broke out in a wing of Dunvegan Castle, and according to Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk the flames were checked and extinguished when the flag was carried past to safety. During the Second World War, the chief of the clan, Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, received a letter from a member of the clan who attributed his luck during bombing missions over Germany to a photo of the flag which he carried in his pocket.

Sources

• Campbell, John Gregorson; Black, Ronald (2008). The Gaelic otherworld: John Gregorson Campbell's Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland and Witchcraft & second sight in the Highlands & Islands (Illustrated ed.). Birlinn. ISBN 9781841587332.
• Cooper, Derek (1983). Skye (Illustrated, reprint ed.). Routledge. ISBN 9780710095657.
• Lockhart, John Gibson (1837). Memoirs of the life of Sir Walter Scott, bart. Vol. 3. Edinburgh: Robert Cadell.
• Mackeznie, Alexander; Macgreogr, Alexander (1878). The Prophecies of the Brahan seer (Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche). Inverness: A. & W. Mackenzie.
• Macleod, Donald (1877). Memoir of Norman Macleod, D.D. New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co.
• MacLeod, Fred T. (1912–13). "Notes on the Relics preserved in Dunvegan Castle, Skye, and the Heraldry of the Family of MacLeod of MacLeod" (pdf). PSAS. 47.
• MacLeod, Roderick Charles (1906). The MacLeods. Edinburgh: Clan MacLeod Society.
• MacLeod, Roderick Charles (1927). The MacLeods of Dunvegan. Edinburgh: Privately printed for the Clan MacLeod Society.
• Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain (1967). The Highland Clans. London: Barrie & Rocklif.
• Pennant, Thomas (1774). A Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides, 1772. Chester: Printed by John Monk.