The Spartans of Scotland – Clan Maclean
The name MacLean is derived from Gillean of the Battle Axe, the earliest of the MacLean chiefs to attain prominence. In the middle of the 13th century Gillean held large possessions in the Isle of Mull. While hunting one day he was lost in a dense mist, which descending suddenly, lasted four days when at the point of death the chief placed his long-handled battleaxe upright among some cypress and laurel bushes, and then lay down beneath them. Suddenly the mist lifted and revealed the battle-axe to his followers, who were searching for him in the vicinity. From that day he was known as Gilliean of the Battle-axe. Hence the battle-axe between a laurel and a cypress, which form part of the MacLean coat of arms. Malcolm, the third outstanding MacLean chief, helped to make history when on June 24, 1314, at the head of his clansmen, he fought beside Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. With the decline of the Lords of the Isles the MacLeans became the paramount clan in the Western Highlands. Their chiefs were, in fact, if not in name, the Lords of the Isles, and they ranked with the noblest in Scotland. Their strength and the remoteness of their stronghold, Duart Castle, in Mull, should have saved them from eternal strife on the mainland. But the doctrine of “safety first” held no charms for the MacLeans. Prosaic historians describe the clan as “warlike.” Whenever and wherever in Scotland, for centuries on end, if there was serious fighting the MacLeans were in the thick of it.
Though devoted to the House of Stuart and no lovers of England, the MacLeans played a picturesque part in the episode of the Spanish Armada, in September, 1588, the Florentia, a great Spanish galleon, which is said to have carried the pay chests for the Armada, having escaped Drake and the storms, rounded the north of Scotland and dropped anchor in Tobermory Bay. Her commander, Captain Pareira, being in need of provisions, sent an officer ashore to arrange for the purchase of cattle and other necessaries. The officer was ordered to say that in the event of delay or refusal soldiers would be landed, to take what was required by force. The effect of such a message upon a Highland chieftain with 1000 men at his back may be imagined. Sir Lauchlan Mor MacLean, Big Lachlan, the chief concerned, met the demand with fitting sarcasm. It was not the custom of the chiefs of MacLean, he replied, to “pay attention to the demands of threatening and insolent beggars.” The wants of the distressed people would be attended to, but not until their master has been “taught a lesson in courteous behaviour.” Ultimately the provisions were supplied, and Captain Donald MacLean of Morven was sent aboard to collect payment. A dispute arising, he was seized as a hostage and confined below next to the powder magazine. When the Florentia weighed anchor the young captain fired the magazine and blew himself, his captors, and the galleon to destruction.
At Inverkeithing, on July 20, 1651, the Scottish army was overwhelmed by Cromwell’s Ironsides under Lambert. Despite the defeat the MacLean’s won undying glory. Sir Hector Roy MacLean, Red Hector, commanding 800 MacLean’s and 700 Buchanan’s, armed with Claymores, withstood the repeated onslaughts of the Ironsides for four hours. Of the 800 MacLean’s only 40 crippled clansmen returned to their glens, leaving 760 dead in the field. Throughout the battle the young chief’s reckless daring made him a conspicuous figure. His clansmen watched anxiously over him, continually interposed their bodies to save him from death. As one after another fell a shout would arise, “Another for Hector.” Among others seven brothers thus died to save their chief. Despite their devotion Hector was slain. From that day “Another for Hector” has been the MacLean war cry. A study of the heroic part enacted by the clan on this occasion led Andrew Lang to describe the MacLean’s as “The Spartans of Scotland.”
Duart Castle, the stronghold of the MacLean’s, is older than any known history of it. Build probably by the Norsemen; it was a strong castle in 1250, when it was already held by the MacLean’s. Its walls on two sides are 10 feet thick, and on the other sides 14 feet thick. Though gallant fighters, the MacLean chiefs were idealists rather than statesmen. Thick and thin supporters of the impossible Stuart kings, they lost their all in consequence. On March 31, 1691, the Crown dispossessed them, and the castle and lands were made over to the Earl of Argyle, the chief of the Campbell’s. The MacLean chief, Sir John MacLean, joined Prince Charlie in exile. The clan was scattered. In the hands of the Campbells, and those to whom they sold it afterwards, Duart Castle became a ruin. Every succeeding MacLean chief dreamed of recovering it; but it was not until 1911 that the old castle came onto the market. Sir Fitzroy Donald MacLean, the clan chief, seized the opportunity of purchasing it. Having done so, he set about its restoration. He then summoned his clansmen throughout the world to meet him at Duart on August 24, 1912. A host of clansmen from all over the world assembled at the castle. Amid scenes of indescribable enthusiasm the chief re-entered the halls of his fathers. The supreme moment came when, after a lapse of 210 years, the silken banner of the MacLean’s was again unfurled on the castle keep.
- Adapted from Donald MacLean, 1936