Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg
| Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile | |||
| Region | Islay, Kintyre and Antrim | ||
| Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg no longer has a chief, and is an armigerous clan | |||
| Historic seat | Dunyvaig Castle[1] | ||
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Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, also known as Clan Donald South, Clan Iain Mor, Clan MacDonald of Islay and Kintyre,[2] MacDonalds of the Glens (Antrim) and sometimes referred to as MacDonnells, is a Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald. The founder of the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg is Iain Mhoir Tanistear Mac Dòmhnaill (John Mor Tanister MacDonald), a son of Iain Mic Dhòmhnaill (John of Islay, Lord of the Isles) and Margaret Stewart.[3]
History
The founder of Clan Donald of Dunnyveg and the Glens was John Mor Tanister MacDonald who was the second son of John MacDonald also known as Good John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, 6th chief of Clan Donald and 1st Lord of the Isles through his marriage to Margaret Stewart.[3]
John Mor Tanister MacDonald married Margaret Bissett of the Glens of Antrim. From his marriage he claimed, but did not possess, this territory in Ireland, along with those he already possessed in Islay and Kintyre in Scotland.
He and his descendants became known as Lords of Dunnyvaig and the Glens, although they did not possess the latter until the 16th century. Their seat in Dunnyvaig was on the Island of Islay and in the Glens they were seated in Antrim.
John Mor was assassinated by James Campbell in 1427. His son Donald Balloch MacDonald the 2nd chief led the clan when they fought and won at the first Battle of Inverlochy (1431). This was in support of their cousin Alexander MacDonald who was chief of Clan Donald, 3rd Lord of the Isles and the current Earl of Ross. They fought against the Royal forces of the Earl of Mar who was supported by Clan Cameron and Clan MacKintosh.
The third Chief, Sir John Mor with his heir John Cathanach and three grandsons were apprehended through the treachery of the Macdonald of Ardnamurchan and were executed in Edinburgh for treason. However MacIian of Ardnamurchan who had also betrayed Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and was himself killed in 1518 by those who he had betrayed.
On the death of James MacDonald the 6th chief of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg and Antrim, the Antrim Glens were seized by one of his younger brothers called Somerled or Sorley Boy MacDonnell known also as Sorley Buy.
In 1565 under Sorley Boy MacDonnell the Clan Donald of Antrim and Dunnyveg fought the Battle of Glentasie against Shane O'Neill in Ireland. Sorley Buy swore allegiance to James IV of Scotland and his son Ranald was made Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim by Queen Elizabeth.
Much quarrelling took place between Angus MacDonald, 8th of Dunnyveg and his eldest son, Sir James MacDonald this was largely due to the intrigues of the Clan Campbell. Sir James MacDonald led the clan who fought and won at the Battle of Gruinart Strand on the Isle of Islay in 1598 against an invasion force of the Clan MacLean who were led by Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean of Duart who was killed.[4]
Further intrigue by the Clan Campbell brought the downfall of the Clan Donald of Dunnyveg and by 1620 Sir James MacDonald had lost control of Islay and Kintyre. However during the Civil War the lands were back in the hands of the MacDonalds briefly when they were supporters of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.
Clan Donald of Dunnyveg became known as Clan Donald South to distinguish them from the Clan Macdonald of Sleat who were known as Clan Donald North.
The last chief, Sir James MacDonald of the Clan Donald of Dunnyveg or Clan Donald South died in London in 1626.
Chiefs
- John Mor Tanister MacDonald, 1st of Dunnyveg killed 1427
- Donald Balloch MacDonald, 2nd of Dunnyveg died 1476
- John Mor MacDonald, 3rd of Dunnyveg executed 1499
- John Cathanach MacDonald, 4th of Dunnyveg executed 1499
- Alexander MacDonald, 5th of Dunnyveg died 1538
- James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg died 5 July 1565
- Archibald MacDonald, 7th of Dunnyveg died circa 1569
- Angus MacDonald, 8th of Dunnyveg died 21 October 1614
- Sir James MacDonald, 9th of Dunnyveg died 1626
Castles
- Dunyvaig Castle, three miles east of Port Ellen on the south of the Isle of Islay was the seat of the chief of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg.[1] There are now only ruins of what was a strong castle.[1] There was a small tower or keep that was surrounded by an inner and outer courtyard.[1] The last MacDonald of Dunnvaig defeated the Clan MacLean at the Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart, but MacDonald was however ordered to surrender the castle and was forfeited in 1608.[1] The castle was then put under the stewardship of the Bishop of the Isles for the king, but Alasdair Colkitto MacDonald retook it in 1612.[1] In 1615 the castle passed to the Clan Campbell of Cawdor and while Alasdair Colkitto MacDonald escaped, many of his men were killed.[1] It was re-taken by Alasdair Colkitto MacDonald in 1647, but after a siege by David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark, the castle was forced to surrender when the water supply failed and Alasdair Colkitto MacDonald was finally hanged from the walls.[1] The castle was held by the Campbells of Cawdor until 1677 and the island remained with branches of the Clan Campbell.[1] The castle has mostly crumbled away but the ruins have been consolidated and can be visited.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. p. 360. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
- ^ Adams, Frank (Eighth edition 1970). The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands. Johnston and Bacon. ISBN 0-7179-4500-6.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameters:|coauthors=and|month=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ a b The Family Tree of the Lords of the Isles finlaggan.com. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ William Anderson (1862). The Scottish nation: or The surnames, families, literature ...
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