Mackinnon vs. MacLean

The Mackinnon and the Maclean Clans began the 15th century as allies, this was shown after the death of John, the Lord of the Isles, when the MacKinnon’s joined forces with the  MacLean’s and the MacLeod’s in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the MacDonald Clan’s grasp on the Scottish Western Isles.  The Mackinnon leader was put to death but the MacLean’s escaped penalty and began to have increasing influence over the island of Mull. This increased power created a rivalry between these two clans. In 1400 Hector and his brother Lubanach Maclean, the chief of Clan Maclain, joined the chief of Clan MacKinnon on a hunting trip in Mull, they were also accompanied by the lord of the Isles who was visiting.  While the Lord of the Isles had left in his ship to head back to Ardtornish Castle, Mackinnon stepped on his galley to follow.  Lachlan and Hector MacLean approached Mackinnon, stabbed him to death and disarmed his men, they seized the Mackinnon’s ship and tracked down the Lord of the Isle’s galley, seized it and held the Lord for ransom.

On one occasion, the feuding became so nasty between the rival clans that the chief of Clan Mackinnon was forced to relinquish his lands to the MacLean’s and seek refuge in Ireland with the Earl of Antrim.  The Earl agreed to provide the young Mackinnon chief with 40 men to try and recapture his property.  The party landed at “The Bloody Bay” just North-west of Tobermory in Mull and headed through the woods to Ledaig House where the MacLeans of Duart and Lochbuie had hunkered down for the night.  MacKinnon and his soldiers cut and stripped cabers from trees and placed them in the ground around the Maclean’s stronghold, they also hung a sword on the door of the Ledaig house.  In the morning the Macleans woke and realized quickly that they had vistors during the night that could have easily killed them in their sleep.  The terrified Maclean chief sent for Mackinnon and restored his lands.

The two clans finally met in battle at a place called Doire Shuaig, near Gribun on the Isle of Mull.  According to tradition the Mackinnon’s were on the verge of victory when one of their powerful clansmen, who was married to a Maclean, deserted along with his supporters.  This changed the balance of power and the Mackinnon’s were eventually defeated.  The Chief of Clan MacKinnon and his men fled from the battle ground and hid in a nearby cave named Gribun Cave.  Once the Chief of the Maclean clan was informed about the location of Mackinnon he and his men headed to the cave with the intent to put the chief to death.  The Maclean’s attempted to smoke the Mackinnon’s out but he was able to escape, his men were able to get him to a boat and row him to Staffa, where he hid until he was able to make his final escape to Skye.  The Mackinnon’s lost their lands of Gribun and inchkenneth, as well as Mishnish, they primarily became a clan of the Isle of Skye thereafter.