MacDougall
'To Conquer or Die!'
McDougall's Bay, southwest Jura.
This clan takes its name from
Dougall, Somerled's son, who, after hsi father's death in 1164, held
most of Argyll and also the islands of Mull, Lismore, Jura, Tiree, Coll
and many others. The Celtic Christian name Dougall, or Dugald, is
derived from the Gaelic word 'dubh-gall', or 'black stranger'.
His 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 grand-son, Ewan, built castles to defend their broad
dominions, including Dunstaffanage, Dunoillie, and Duntrune on the
mainland, and Aros, Cairnburgh, Dunchonnel and Coeffin on the
islands. Duncan also built Ardchattan Priory, where the
MacDougall chiefs were buried until 1737.
Ewan held his island possessions from the King of Norway and his mainland ones from the King of Scots, and walked a fine line between both royal houses. A choice was forced upon him in 1263, when King Haakon of Norway arrived off Oban witha huge fleet for his planned invasion off the west coast of Scotland. ewan declined to join the expedition and because of old blood ties, Haakon left him in peace. Ewan saw that neutrality would eventually lead to disaster and so attacked the Vik off the coast of Mull; the the combined Viking fleet was utterly defeated at the Battle of Largs further south and three years later all the Hebrides were ceded by Norway to Scoland.
The influence of the MacDougalls in Argyll brought them into conflict with the Campbells, and in 1294 John MacDOugall, the Lame, led the clan against them. At the pass of Lorn, between Loch Avich and Scammadale, the MacDougalls were intercepted, and although Sir Colin Campbell was killed, their was considerable death on both sides.
The marriage of the fourth chief, Sir Alexander MacDougall, waa disastrous for the clan. His wife was sister of John COmyn, Lord of Badenoch, whose son, generally called the Red Comyn, was stabbed to death by Robert the Bruce in the Grey Friars Church in dumfries in May 1306. This started a blood feud between the Bruce and MacDougall clans; the Bruce had of course supported William Wallace. Shortly after his hurried coronation at Scone, King Robert was forced to retreat from the invading English into Argyll, hoping to be sheltered by the Campbells. The MacDougalls suprised the King at Dalrigh near Tyndrum. The king escaped, but it is said that on his discarded cloak was found a magnificent Celtic brooch, which was to be passed through time to the various McDougall chief's as the 'Brooch of Lorne' and it became one of the clan's great treasures. Two years later Bruce led 3,000 men into Argyll against the MacDOugalls, where John of Orne set an ambush for the kings' army at the narrow pass of Brander, but after a savage engagement they were broken and forced to flee. The king formally forfeited the MacDougall lands, most of which passed to the Campbells in recognition of their loyalty to the crown.
The MacDougalls were never to regain their island possessions, but to a large degree their fortunes were restored when Euan MacDOugall married a grand-daughter of Robert the Bruce. Most of the mainland estates were re-granted by royal charter of David II. When the last MacDOugall Lord of Lorne died, leaving only a daughter who had married Sir John Stewart. The chiefship then devolved to a line which had supported Bruce and had been granted Dunollie Castle, which the chief had forfeited in 1314.
During the troubled times of the early 17th century the MacDOugalls were generally royalist, and in 1645 Alexander MacDougall led 500 of his clansmen into battle. After the defeat of the Marquess of Montrose, a Covenanting army under David Leslie was sent to Argyll to deal with royalist sympathisers.
On the restoration of the monarchy the MacDougall lands were again restored. Their lyalty to the Stuarts was proved again when the 22nd Chief of MacDOugall, Iain Cair, fought in the Jacobit rising of 1715 at Sherrifmuir. This chief was forced into exile, but later returned to Scotland to live as a fugitive until he was pardoned in 1727. His son, Alexander, though a Jacobite sympathiser, did not join the '45, although his father and other clansmen fought at Culloden. ALexander built a more modern house behind Dunollie Castke and it was extended in the mid-19th century by the 25th Chief, Vice Admiral Sir John MacDougall of MacDougall. He had a distinguished naval career and actively promoted the development of the port of Oban. Three of his sons were to become chiefs in succession.
Places associated with the MacDougalls are MacDougalls Bay and of course, at one time, the entire island of Jura.
Ewan held his island possessions from the King of Norway and his mainland ones from the King of Scots, and walked a fine line between both royal houses. A choice was forced upon him in 1263, when King Haakon of Norway arrived off Oban witha huge fleet for his planned invasion off the west coast of Scotland. ewan declined to join the expedition and because of old blood ties, Haakon left him in peace. Ewan saw that neutrality would eventually lead to disaster and so attacked the Vik off the coast of Mull; the the combined Viking fleet was utterly defeated at the Battle of Largs further south and three years later all the Hebrides were ceded by Norway to Scoland.
The influence of the MacDougalls in Argyll brought them into conflict with the Campbells, and in 1294 John MacDOugall, the Lame, led the clan against them. At the pass of Lorn, between Loch Avich and Scammadale, the MacDougalls were intercepted, and although Sir Colin Campbell was killed, their was considerable death on both sides.
The marriage of the fourth chief, Sir Alexander MacDougall, waa disastrous for the clan. His wife was sister of John COmyn, Lord of Badenoch, whose son, generally called the Red Comyn, was stabbed to death by Robert the Bruce in the Grey Friars Church in dumfries in May 1306. This started a blood feud between the Bruce and MacDougall clans; the Bruce had of course supported William Wallace. Shortly after his hurried coronation at Scone, King Robert was forced to retreat from the invading English into Argyll, hoping to be sheltered by the Campbells. The MacDougalls suprised the King at Dalrigh near Tyndrum. The king escaped, but it is said that on his discarded cloak was found a magnificent Celtic brooch, which was to be passed through time to the various McDougall chief's as the 'Brooch of Lorne' and it became one of the clan's great treasures. Two years later Bruce led 3,000 men into Argyll against the MacDOugalls, where John of Orne set an ambush for the kings' army at the narrow pass of Brander, but after a savage engagement they were broken and forced to flee. The king formally forfeited the MacDougall lands, most of which passed to the Campbells in recognition of their loyalty to the crown.
The MacDougalls were never to regain their island possessions, but to a large degree their fortunes were restored when Euan MacDOugall married a grand-daughter of Robert the Bruce. Most of the mainland estates were re-granted by royal charter of David II. When the last MacDOugall Lord of Lorne died, leaving only a daughter who had married Sir John Stewart. The chiefship then devolved to a line which had supported Bruce and had been granted Dunollie Castle, which the chief had forfeited in 1314.
During the troubled times of the early 17th century the MacDOugalls were generally royalist, and in 1645 Alexander MacDougall led 500 of his clansmen into battle. After the defeat of the Marquess of Montrose, a Covenanting army under David Leslie was sent to Argyll to deal with royalist sympathisers.
On the restoration of the monarchy the MacDougall lands were again restored. Their lyalty to the Stuarts was proved again when the 22nd Chief of MacDOugall, Iain Cair, fought in the Jacobit rising of 1715 at Sherrifmuir. This chief was forced into exile, but later returned to Scotland to live as a fugitive until he was pardoned in 1727. His son, Alexander, though a Jacobite sympathiser, did not join the '45, although his father and other clansmen fought at Culloden. ALexander built a more modern house behind Dunollie Castke and it was extended in the mid-19th century by the 25th Chief, Vice Admiral Sir John MacDougall of MacDougall. He had a distinguished naval career and actively promoted the development of the port of Oban. Three of his sons were to become chiefs in succession.
Places associated with the MacDougalls are MacDougalls Bay and of course, at one time, the entire island of Jura.
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