Hamlet 3
Hamlet 3The MacKenzie's originated from Cailean(Colin) Fitzgerald form the
Norman family of the Earls of Desmond and dukes of Leinster in
Ireland,(McNie,1983). Supposedly he was driven from Ireland to the Court
of Alexander III, of Scotland.(McNie,1988). There he distinguished himself
in the battle of Largs one year later. After that battle he was given the title of Governor of Eileandonan by the King. Eileandonan was a strong castle in
Kintail, by Loch Dunich and Loch Long, today it's one of the most
photographed castles in Scotland.
Soon other titles were given to powerful MacKenzie's. Like Sir George
MacKnezie the first Earl of Cromarty,(McNie,1983), who wrote the charter
of 1266 in his Majesties service. The charter contains the events which lead
to the MacKenzies gaining there coat of arms. It tells the story of Cailean
who saved the King in the forest of Mar,(McNie,1983). The King was out
hunting and his hounds when a furious stag charged at him. Cailean stepped
in front of the charging deer and shot it in the forehead with an arrow. For his
bravery the King granted for arm's a stags head bleeding from the forehead
and as a crest a Dexter arm bearing a naked sword, and the motto "fide
parta,fide aucta," which has since being changed,(McNie,1983).
A later Earl of Cromarty said that Ceilean Fitzgerald wed a Kenneth
MacMhathoin, the Mathieson chiefs daughter,(McNie,1988). Ceileans wife
gave birth to a baby boy, which was named after the grandfather, Kenneth.
Soon after Ceilean was murdered by his father-in-law, because he was jealous
that a Irish descendant was given a Scottish title. All the later members of the
family took the name of Ceilean's son Kenneth, from there on the family name
was MacKenzie which means son of Kenneth.
The first chief of the MacKenzies was Alexander MacKenzie who held
the lands of Kintail,(McNie,1998). His relative William the Earl of Ross who
was married to Alexander's aunt, demanded that Alexander give the castle to
him. Alexander didn't give it up so he gathered neighboring clans that
included the MacIvers,Macaulay, and other families in Kintail. They managed
to hold of the Earl and they eventually defeated the attacking
forces,(McNie,1983).
Alexander married the daughter of the Earl of Lorne, who was a
Macdougall. Alexander's brother-in-law was Ian grandson of the Red Comyn,
so Ian took the place as Robert the Bruce. Robert the Bruce was the title
given to the unauthorized King of Scotland. Ian the King used the MacKenzie
castle,Eileandonan, as shelter for his monarch. Alexander was a supporter of
Ian and lead his army of 500 hundred strong into the battle of Inverury, aswell
as the battle of Bannockburn,(McNie,1983). Later his loyalty is answered
because it was found out that Alexander also married a daughter of a monarch
supporter.
After Alexander the MacKenzie chief Murdoch married a daughter of
MacLeod of Harris, who was a descendent of Olaf, King of Man, whose wife
was was also related to King Robert the Bruce. These two families mixed and
their royal blood was passed on to the next chief witch was Alastair the
Upright. King James I, summoned him to Inverness to be arrested, many
others were killed for there deeds, he was sent to school because he was still
young. His three uncles lead the Mackenzie's for three years,(McNie,1988).
Then Alastair returned and had them killed for there corrupt leading. Then the
young chief returned the clan to power and got back there possessions. For
this he received two charters the first confirmed the lands of MacKenzie
which was Kintail. His second came 13 years later and it gave the
MacKenzies, Strathconan, Stratbran, and Strathgarve which had being taken
for them in the past.
The greatest MacKenzie was the sixth chief Alexander, and there are
many romantic stories about him because he was a womanizer. He was also
the most powerful chief who lead the MacKenzie's to one of the most
powerful clans in Scotland. He had two wives so the eldest of his first
marriage succeeded him. The eldest son from the second family started and
became the ancestor of the Gairloch family, which would come into play in
the future, (McNie,1983).
Kenneth MacKenzie the seventh chief proves he was a proven leader.
The MacDonalds had set up an army of 1600 and went north through the
MacKenzie lands, destroying towns. On a Sunday morning at Contin the
MacDonald set fire to a church which contained many men,women, and
children(McNie,1988). Kenneth quickly set up an army of 600, which was
totally out numbered. Kenneth then out smarted the MacDonalds by tricking
them into a peat bog in which they got stuck. Then hidden archers picked
them off and the MacKenzie's had won the battle and the Lordship of the
Isles, which they forfeited to the Crown. He was knighted by James IV and
died in 1491.
In 1497 there was a mix up with a chief who was considered
illegitimate as a clan member. So his uncle Hector Roy, same clan that Rob
Roy came from, took control of the clan as it's estates. This caused
controversy because Hector was a illegitimate chief. A lieutenant found this
out and started to spread the word. So Hector killed him and his men,
(McNie,19983). Finally Hectors nephew, John, who was legitimate would
take over as the chief, but Hector remained by his side. After a battle, chief
John was taken prisoner, but let free by a lady he logged with. She had told
him a story about how she and her baby were in MacKenzie land and trapped
in snow. When a MacKenzie member found her. They all were freezing cold,
so the clans man killed his horse and skinned it and put her and the baby in
the horses skin. So she let him free.
John Mackenzie was a true leader. With the MacRae's they fought of
many attacks from the MacDonalds, for this King James gave the clan more
possessions. In his old age he went into battle for Queen Mary who was a
child, he was taken prisoner but the clan paid his ransom. Under his
leadership the clan gained many family estates in Brae Ross, (McNie,1983).
In 1580 led by the eleventh chief One-Eyed Colin, the Mackenzie's and
the MacDonalds fought one of the largest battles in Scottish history. It all
started because the MacKenzie's killed a MacDonald for poaching on
MacKenzie land. This war lasted years and caused many deadly events. The
MacKenzie's were on there second chief of this war and twelfth all time,
Kenneth. While he was in France the MacDonalds raped,slayed, and burned
MacKenzies. Kenneth returned in time and was able to defeat the
MacDonalds and brought back the largest sum in way of damages ever in the
highlands.
The MacDonald's for revenge killed many MacKenzie women and
children and killing all the MacKenzie livestock. The MacKenzie's were
finally defeated when Lady MacKenzie sent out a small army of men that
defaced a boat which contained sixty men and they all were killed. The
MacKenzie's also destroyed the MacDonalds castle. MacDonald returned by
burring down a MacKenzie church in the early morning, MacDonald had his
pipers play there pipes loud and march around the burning building so he
couldn't hear the screams. This battle did not end until 1607.