George Munro, 5th Baron of Foulis was the seventh

tradition A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

al chief of the Scottish,

Clan Munro Clan Munro (; gd, Clann an Rothaich ) is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically the clan was based in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional origins of the clan give its founder as Donald Munro who came from the north of Ireland and ...

. There is no longer any existing contemporary evidence for George's existence; however according to early 18th-century historian

Alexander Nisbet Alexander Nisbet (bapt. 23 March 1657; died 7 Dec. 1725) was a Scottish lawyer and antiquarian. He is remembered for his works on the subject of heraldry, which are generally considered to be some of the most complete and authoritative ever pr ...

there was once proof of his existence. Nisbet, was known as a reliable and careful scholar and usually provided a source if possible. In this case he cites a charter which he says was received by George Munro from the

Earl of Sutherland Earl of Sutherland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created circa 1230 for William de Moravia and is the premier earldom in the Peerage of Scotland. The earl or countess of Sutherland is also the chief of Clan Sutherland. The origin ...

during the reign of King

Alexander II of Scotland Alexander II (Medieval Gaelic: '; Modern Gaelic: '; 24 August 1198 – 6 July 1249) was King of Scotland from 1214 until his death. He concluded the Treaty of York (1237) which defined the boundary between England and Scotland, virtually unch ...

. Nisbet claims the charter to have read as: ''Clarissimo & fidelissimo Confanguineo Georgio Munro de Foules''. Unfortunately this charter cannot now be traced. George Munro, 5th Baron of Foulis also appears on the Munro family tree of 1734. Late 19th century author Alexander Mackenzie also mentions this George Munro. However, he states that George was merely a witness to this charter from William, Earl of Sutherland to the Archdeacon of Moray, dated 1232 -1237 and concludes that this confirms the tradition that Hugh Freskyn who was the grandfather of William, Earl of Sutherland bore the same relation to George Munro of Fowlis. However, Mackenzie only quotes Nisbet's work as a source, which has been mentioned above. Mackenzie gives the same charter reading provided by Nisbet, only the spelling of George differs: ''Clarissimo & fidelissimo Confanguineo Georgis Munro de Foules''. Mackenzie goes on to say that George received all of his

Ross-shire Ross-shire (; gd, Siorrachd Rois) is a historic county in the Scottish Highlands. The county borders Sutherland to the north and Inverness-shire to the south, as well as having a complex border with Cromartyshire – a county consisting of ...

lands in a charter before 1249 during the reign of Alexander II and that George died in 1269, although this is not mentioned by Nisbet. George was succeeded by his son Robert Munro, 6th Baron of Foulis.

References

Clan Munro Chiefs 13th-century Scottish people Scottish feudal barons {{Scotland-noble-stub

See also

References