Clan MacDonald of Keppoch ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill na Ceapaich ), also known as Clan Ranald of Lochaber or Clan MacDonell of Keppoch'','' is a Highland

Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised ...

and a branch of

Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry ...

. The progenitor of the clan is Alistair Carrach MacDonald, 4th great-grandson of the warrior

Somerled Somerled (died 1164), known in Middle Irish as Somairle, Somhairle, and Somhairlidh, and in Old Norse as Sumarliði , was a mid-12th-century Norse-Gaelic lord who, through marital alliance and military conquest, rose in prominence to create the ...

and the

Lords of the Isles The Lord of the Isles or King of the Isles ( gd, Triath nan Eilean or ) is a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It began with Somerled in the 12th century and thereafter the title w ...

. The MacDonalds of Keppoch occupied the territories of Keppoch and Lochaber between

Loch Linnhe Loch Linnhe () is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. The part upstream of Corran is known in Gaelic as (the black pool, originally known as Loch Abar), and downstream as (the salty pool). The name ''Linnhe'' is derived from the Gaelic ...

and

Loch Leven Loch Leven may refer to: ;Bodies of water in Scotland * Loch Leven (Kinross), a freshwater loch in Perth and Kinross ** Loch Leven Castle, a fortress on the loch ** William Douglas of Lochleven, later the 6th Earl of Morton * Loch Leven (Highlands ...

, which are located in

Inverness-shire Inverness-shire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Nis) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. Covering much of the Highlands and Outer Hebrides, it is Scotland's largest county, though one of the smallest in popula ...

. The clan chief is traditionally designated as "son of Ranald's son" (

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

: ''Mac Mhic Raonuill''). The clan was notorious for their reputation for lawlessness, frequent cattle raids and territory conflicts with neighboring clans, particularly with their rivals,

Clan MacKintosh Clan Mackintosh (''Clann Mhic an Tòisich'') is a Scottish clan from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The chiefs of the clan are the Mackintoshes of Mackintosh. Another branch of the clan, the Mackintoshes of Torcastle, are the chiefs of Cl ...

. The MacDonalds of Keppoch took part in various clan conflicts throughout the centuries to protect their lands from aggressive forces. The MacDonalds of Keppoch supported the Jacobite cause for the

House of Stuart The House of Stuart, originally spelt Stewart, was a royal house of Scotland, England, Ireland and later Great Britain. The family name comes from the office of High Steward of Scotland, which had been held by the family progenitor Walter fi ...

in the 17th and 18th centuries, playing a prominent and significant role during the Jacobite uprisings of

1689 Events January–March * January 22 (January 12, 1688 O.S.) – Glorious Revolution in England: The Convention Parliament is convened to determine if King James II of England, the last Roman Catholic British monarch, vacated ...

1715 Events For dates within Great Britain and the British Empire, as well as in the Russian Empire, the "old style" Julian calendar was used in 1715, and can be converted to the "new style" Gregorian calendar (adopted in the British Empire i ...

, and later during the infamous

Jacobite Uprising of 1745 The Jacobite rising of 1745, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45 ( gd, Bliadhna Theàrlaich, , ), was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (20 December 1720 ...

. Clan MacDonald of Keppoch has a chief that is recognized by the

Court of the Lord Lyon The Court of the Lord Lyon (the Lyon Court) is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All ...

, and the

Lord Lyon King of Arms The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants ...

, who is the heraldic authority in Scotland.

History of the MacDonalds of Keppoch

Origins

Further information:

and

Lord of the Isles The Lord of the Isles or King of the Isles ( gd, Triath nan Eilean or ) is a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It began with Somerled in the 12th century and thereafter the title ...

The MacDonalds of Keppoch are one of the branch clans of

—one of the largest Scottish clans. The eponymous ancestor of Clan Donald is

Donald Donald is a masculine given name derived from the Gaelic name ''Dòmhnall''.. This comes from the Proto-Celtic *''Dumno-ualos'' ("world-ruler" or "world-wielder"). The final -''d'' in ''Donald'' is partly derived from a misinterpretation of the ...

, son of Reginald, son of

. Somerled, son of Gillebride was a 12th century Norse–Gaelic leader and warrior who fancied himself as "King of the Isles" and "King of Argyll". Through marital alliance and ambitious military conquest, Somerled rose in prominence to create the

Kingdom of Mann and the Isles The Kingdom of the Isles consisted of the Isle of Man, the Hebrides and the islands of the Firth of Clyde from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. The islands were known to the Norse as the , or "Southern Isles" as distinct from the or Nort ...

. Traditional genealogies suggest Somerled is a descendent of various Irish legendary figures. Historians and scholars, however, are skeptical and dubious of Somerled's genealogical royal origins, nor the credibility of Somerled's eventual rise to power. Lochaber was one of the many territories that

Robert the Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventuall ...

gifted to his friend,

Aonghus Óg of Islay Aonghus Óg Mac Domhnaill (died 1314 × 1318/ 1330), or Angus Og MacDonald, was a fourteenth-century Scottish magnate and chief of Clann Domhnaill. He was a younger son of Aonghus Mór mac Domhnaill, Lord of Islay. After the latter's apparen ...

, who fought alongside Bruce during the

First War of Scottish Independence The First War of Scottish Independence was the first of a series of wars between English and Scottish forces. It lasted from the English invasion of Scotland in 1296 until the ''de jure'' restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty ...

, including the successful

Battle of Bannockburn The Battle of Bannockburn ( gd, Blàr Allt nam Bànag or ) fought on June 23–24, 1314, was a victory of the army of King of Scots Robert the Bruce over the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. It wa ...

in 1314. Aonghus Óg's loyalty to Bruce's claim for the Scottish crown and military services would signify a lasting legacy, in which his own clan became Lords of the Isles. MacDonald of the Isles (MacIan)

The MacDonalds of Keppoch are descended from Alistair Carrach MacDonald who was a younger son of ''Good''

John of Islay, Lord of the Isles :''This article refers to John I, Lord of the Isles; for John II, see John of Islay, Earl of Ross'' John of Islay (or John MacDonald) ( gd, Eòin Mac Dòmhnuill or gd, Iain mac Aonghais Mac Dhòmhnuill) (died 1386) was the Lord of the Isles (1 ...

, 6th chief of

and his second wife Margaret Stewart, daughter of King

Robert II of Scotland Robert II (2 March 1316 – 19 April 1390) was King of Scots from 1371 to his death in 1390. The son of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjorie, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, he was the first monarch of the House of S ...

. John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, apportioned his estates between the children of his two marriages in accordance with the marriage settlement of his father-in-law Robert II of Scotland and the Lordship of

Lochaber Lochaber ( ; gd, Loch Abar) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig, as they were before being reduced in extent by the creatio ...

was given to Alistair Carrach MacDonald who was the third and youngest son from his second marriage. Alistair Carrach MacDonald was the first MacDonald of Keppoch and Garragach. The MacDonalds of Keppoch retained an ancient Celtic tradition of electing their chiefs through the ''derbfine'', a system where patrilineal leaderships are defined through power structures within their clan and kinships. These chiefs would inherit property based on previous land owners in the Highlands.

15th century

Alistair Carrach MacDonald of Keppoch took an active part in supporting his brother, Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles, in claiming the

Earldom of Ross The Earl or Mormaer of Ross was the ruler of the province of Ross in northern Scotland. Origins and transfers In the early Middle Ages, Ross was part of the vast earldom of Moray. It seems to have been made a separate earldom in the mid 12th ...

. The result was that upon the death of Domhnall, Lord of the Isles in 1425 the Lordship of Lochaber was forfeited to the Crown and then the Crown bestowed it on the natural son of Stewart,

Earl of Mar There are currently two earldoms of Mar in the Peerage of Scotland, and the title has been created seven times. The first creation of the earldom is currently held by Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar, who is also clan chief of Clan Mar. T ...

. This grant was later cancelled but the Lordship of Lochaber did not revert to Alistair Carrach MacDonald but instead was given to the Lord of the Isles who subsequently granted the lands of Lochaber to the chief of

Clan Mackintosh Clan Mackintosh (''Clann Mhic an Tòisich'') is a Scottish clan from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The chiefs of the clan are the Mackintoshes of Mackintosh. Another branch of the clan, the Mackintoshes of Torcastle, are the chiefs of Cl ...

and this was confirmed by the Crown. However, the superiority remained with the Lord of the Isles who did restore it to Alistair Carrach MacDonald of Keppoch. However, this arrangement was never confirmed by the Crown and upon the forfeiture of the Lord of the Isles in 1493, Angus MacDonald, 2nd of Keppoch had to maintain his position in Lochaber by force. It was defended for two and a half centuries and it was not until the downfall of the clan immediately after the

Battle of Culloden The Battle of Culloden (; gd, Blàr Chùil Lodair) was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force under Prince Wi ...

in 1746 that Mackintosh become the real Lord of Lochaber. In 1480 or 1483, The third chief, Donald Angusson MacDonald, 3rd Laird of Keppoch led the MacDonalds of Keppoch to fight alongside Aonghas Óg MacDonald against his father,

John of Islay, Earl of Ross :''This article refers to John II, Lord of the Isles; for John I, see John of Islay, Lord of the Isles'' John of Islay (or John MacDonald) (1434–1503), Earl of Ross, fourth (and last) Lord of the Isles, and ''Mac Domhnaill'' (chief of Clan ...

at the

Battle of Bloody Bay The Battle of Bloody Bay, or Blàr Bàgh na Fala in Scottish Gaelic, was a naval battle fought near Tobermory, Scotland. It was fought on the coast of Mull north of Tobermory, between John MacDonald of Islay, the Lord of the Isles and ch ...

, after which, Aonhgas Óg emerged victorious. However, the Lordship of the Isles was forfeited in 1493. Donald Angusson of Keppoch, paid tribute to

James IV of Scotland James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James III, at the Battle of Sau ...

at Mingary Castle. Nevertheless, Donald continued to defy the royal Scottish crown and in 1497, his title and lands were forfeited. Donald was issued a royal summons, but never appeared — Donald Angusson MacDonald would be killed fighting the Stewarts of Appin. The fourth chief, Ian Aluinn, was deposed after a short time. He had surrendered a thief to the Macintoshes, who were considered blood enemies of the MacDonalds. The clan next elected the grandson of Alistair Carrach, Alexander who was soon killed in an ambush. His son, Donald Glass, fared better and built the original Castle Keppoch in Lochaber. In 1497 or 1498 the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch defeated the

Clan Stewart of Appin Clan Stewart of Appin is the West Highland branch of the Clan Stewart and have been a distinct clan since their establishment in the 15th century. Their Chiefs are descended from Sir James Stewart of Perston, who was himself the grandson of Al ...

and the

Clan MacLaren Clan MacLaren ( gd, Cinneadh MacLabhrainn) is a Highland Scottish clan.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish C ...

at the Battle of Black Mount in which both the chiefs of Appin and Keppoch were killed.

16th century

The next chief, Ranald Mor, 7th chief of Keppoch, was a principle supporter of

John Moidartach of Clanranald John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

and was present at the

Battle of the Shirts The Battle of the Shirts ( gd, Blàr na Léine, also the Battle of Kinloch-Lochy) was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1544 in the Great Glen, at the northern end of Loch Lochy. The Clan Macdonald of Clanranald and their allies th ...

, supporting the MacDonalds of Clanranald and

Clan Cameron Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The Chi ...

against

Clan Fraser of Lovat Clan Fraser of Lovat ( gd, Friseal french: link=yes, Fraiser) is a Highland Scottish clan and the principal branch of Clan Fraser. The Frasers of Lovat are strongly associated with Inverness and the surrounding area since the Clan's founder gaine ...

. It is said that only eight MacDonalds and five Frasers survived the battle. Ranald Mor and Ewen Allanson of Lochiel were tried and imprisoned at

Elgin, Moray Elgin (; sco, Ailgin; gd, Eilginn, ) is a town (former cathedral city) and formerly a Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ...

for the slaughter of

Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lord Lovat Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lord Lovat (c. 1494 – 15 July 1544) was a Scottish peer and Chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat from 1524 until 1544. Biography Fraser was the eldest son of Thomas Fraser, 2nd Lord Lovat (died 1524) and Janet Gordon, daughter of ...

eventually executed in 1547 for their part in the murder of Lord Lovat. It is said that Keppoch's wife, who was a sister of Mackintosh, implored a prayer of vengeance upon her brother, and prayed that for many generations to come a son should not succeed his father in the succession of the Mackintosh Chiefs. From Ranald Mor the line of chiefs would eventually adopt their later patronomyc of the Gaelic "Mac Mhic Raotiuill", meaning "son of Ranall's son". His son, Alistair Boloyne died of wounds gained during a clan raid against the

. Ranald Og (d. 1587) was an exception for his loyalty to the crown and to the regent Moray.

17th century

The 8th chief, Alexander nan Cleas of Keppoch, was reputed to be a sorcerer, which led to him be given the nickname, “Nan cleas”, meaning “the tricky”. Weather sources say that this claim was true or not, Alexander was guilty of many serious crimes including “slaughters” and “burnings”. He was granted a remission in 1608, but he was eventually forced to flee Scotland to Spain after he helped

Sir James MacDonald, 9th of Dunnyveg Sir James MacDonald, 9th of Dunnyveg ( gd, Séamus Mac Dòmhnuill) (died 1626), was the last chief of Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg or Clan Donald South. He was most often known as James ''M'Connall'' from the Gaelic pronunciation of the name ''Mac ...

escape from Edinburg Castle. He only returned after he offered

James VI James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

secret information on an impending Spanish invasion. Alexander was even granted a pension and lived out the rest of his days in peace. Ranald MacDonald of Keppoch (d. 1640) was a supporter of Charles I in the Civil War. This led to a personal feud with the Earl of Argyll, a stout Presbyterian, who invaded Lochaber and razed Castle Keppoch. Over the next few years, Ranald’s younger brother, Donald Glass took revenge by plundering Argyll with the forces of the Marquess of Montrose. Alexander MacDonald, 12th of Keppoch, along with his brother was slain in 1663 in what is known as the

Keppoch murders The Keppoch Murders ( gd, Murt na Ceapaich) is the name given to the murders of Alexander MacDonald, 12th of Keppoch and his brother Ranald by rival claimants to the chieftainship of the MacDonalds of Keppoch. The murders took place on September ...

. The heads of the seven murderers were washed at ''Tobair-nan-ceann'' (

for the "Well of Heads"), before presentation to the Lord MacDonell of Invergarry.

Jacobite Uprising of 1689

In 1688, the Mackintoshes, supported by

Clan Chattan Clan Chattan ( gd, Na Catanaich or gd, Clann Chatain) is a unique confederation of Highland clans. The clan is distinctive in highland clan history in that it was acknowledged to be a community or confederation, of twelve separate Scottish cla ...

and the government of

James II of England James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...

, made one final attempt to take Lochaber from the MacDonalds of Keppoch. This resulted in the

Battle of Mulroy The Battle of Mulroy (''Blàr a' Mhaoil Ruaidh'' in Scottish Gaelic) was a Scottish clan battle fought in August 1688 in the Lochaber district of Scotland. It was fought between the Clan Mackintosh who were supported by government troops under ...

— considered the last private battle between Highland clans. The young chief,

Coll MacDonald, 16th of Keppoch Coll Macdonald, 16th of Keppoch (c.1664-1729), was a Scottish clan chief and prominent Jacobite, active in both the 1715 Jacobite rebellion and Dundee's rising of 1689. He was chief of the Macdonalds of Keppoch, holding land in Lochaber. He ...

, led his men against a force of 1,000 men led by

Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie Captain Kenneth Mackenzie, 2nd of Suddie was a Scottish soldier who was killed at the Battle of Mulroy in 1688 whilst commanding Government troops against rebel Scottish clans. Lineage He was the son of Alexander Mackenzie, 1st of Suddie and his ...

. Although the clan was outnumbered, the MacDonalds of Keppoch won the battle and MacKenzie of Suddie was killed. Coll went on to raid the Mackintosh lands. Later, Coll’s clansmen joined the Jacobite cause and fought for Viscount Dundee. During the Jacobite rising of 1689, the MacDonalds of Keppoch laid siege to the town of Inverness. Later on, the MacDonalds of Keppoch later fought at the

Battle of Killiecrankie The Battle of Killiecrankie ( gd, Blàr Choille Chnagaidh), also referred to as the Battle of Rinrory, took place on 27 July 1689 during the 1689 Scottish Jacobite rising. An outnumbered Jacobite force under John Graham, Viscount Dundee and ...

. Noted in the Black-book of Taymouth that in 1681 a bond of

manrent Manrent refers to a Scottish contract of the mid-15th century to the early 17th century, usually military in nature and involving Scottish clans. The bond of manrent was commonly an instrument in which a weaker man or clan pledged to serve, in r ...

was given by Gilleasba, chief of Keppoch, to John Glas, first

Earl of Breadalbane Earl of Breadalbane and Holland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1681 for John Campbell, 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland, Sir John Campbell, 5th Baronet, of Glen Orchy, Glenorchy, who had previously been deprived of ...

; ''"such as Ceppoch's predecessors gave to the Earl's predecessors."'' binding Keppoch ''"to restrain all the inhabitants of Brae-Lochaber, and all of the name of Macdonell, from committing robberies within the Earl's bounds."'' RR McIan -

18th century

Jacobite Uprising of 1715

During the

Jacobite rising of 1715 The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( gd, Bliadhna Sheumais ; or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland for the exiled Stuarts. At Braemar, Aberdeenshire, ...

the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch were indirectly involved in the

siege of Inverness (1715) The siege of Inverness that took place in November 1715 was part of the Jacobite rising of 1715. The town of Inverness and Inverness Castle were being held by the Clan Mackenzie, led by Sir John Mackenzie of Coul who supported the rebel Jacobi ...

General Wade Field Marshal George Wade (1673 – 14 March 1748) was a British Army officer who served in the Nine Years' War, War of the Spanish Succession, Jacobite rising of 1715 and War of the Quadruple Alliance before leading the construction of barra ...

's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the clan strength at 220 men. Coll MacDonald and his clansmen would eventually fight for the Jacobites at the Battle of Sheriffmuir. After the Jacobite Rising of 1715 failed, Coll MacDonald suffered exile in France for a time, but retained his power after the Rising, eventually dying in 1729.

Jacobite Uprising of 1745

During the

Jacobite rising of 1745 The Jacobite rising of 1745, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45 ( gd, Bliadhna Theàrlaich, , ), was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took ...

, the

Chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the bo ...

Alexander Macdonald, 17th of Keppoch Alexander Macdonald, 17th of Keppoch (died 1746) was a Scottish clan chief, military officer, and prominent Jacobite who took part in both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite risings. He was killed at the Battle of Culloden leading a regiment composed ...

, was among the men who attacked British Government soldiers who were preparing a surprise assault on the

Glenfinnan Glenfinnan ( gd, Gleann Fhionnain ) is a hamlet in Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. In 1745 the Jacobite rising began here when Prince Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie") raised his standard on the shores of Loch Shiel ...

gathering at what is now known as the

Highbridge Skirmish The Highbridge Skirmish was the first engagement of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 between government troops and Jacobites loyal to Prince Charles Edward Stuart. It took place at Highbridge, Lochaber, on the River Spean on 16 August 1745, and mark ...

. This was the first strike on the government during the 1745 rising. The MacDonalds of Keppoch were also involved in the

siege of Fort William The siege of Fort William took place in the Scottish Highlands during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, from 20 March to 3 April 1746.

in March 1746. Alexander, 17th Chief of Keppoch, was later killed in action during the

in 1746. Among the Keppoch Jacobites to suffer the supreme penalty after the defeat of the Uprising was Major Donald MacDonald, the

Tacksman A tacksman ( gd, Fear-Taic, meaning "supporting man"; most common Scots spelling: ''takisman'') was a landholder of intermediate legal and social status in Scottish Highland society. Tenant and landlord Although a tacksman generally paid a yea ...

of Tir na Dis near

Spean Bridge Spean Bridge ( gd, Drochaid an Aonachain) is a village in the parish of Kilmonivaig, in Lochaber in the Highland region of Scotland. The village takes its name from the Highbridge over the River Spean on General Wade's military road between ...

, who was executed at

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from xcb, Caer Luel) is a city that lies within the Northern English county of Cumbria, south of the Scottish border at the confluence of the rivers Eden, Caldew and Petteril. It is the administrative centre of the City ...

in October 1746. Before his death, however, the Major stated, "I die a member of the Holy Roman Catholic Church in the Communion of which I have lived... And I here declare, upon the faith of a dying man, that it was with no view to establishing that church or religion in this nation that I joined the Prince, but purely out of duty and allegiance to our only rightful, lawful, and native sovereign, due to him had he been a heathen,

Mahomedan ''Mohammedan'' (also spelled ''Muhammadan'', ''Mahommedan'', ''Mahomedan'' or ''Mahometan'') is a term for a follower of Muhammad, the Islamic prophet. It is used as both a noun and an adjective, meaning belonging or relating to, either Mu ...

, or even a

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abili ...

." Alexander was succeeded by his son, Ranald, the 18th Chief, followed by his son, Richard (19th Chief). The chiefship would become dormant in 1848 with the death of Chichester, the 21st Chief.

20th century

John de Lotbinière MacDonald (c. 1857 – 1935), paternal grandson of

John MacDonald of Garth John MacDonald of Garth (1771 – 25 January 1866) was a colourful character involved in the Canadian fur trade. He was an enthusiastic duellist and a shrewd businessman who became a partner in the North West Company and a member of the Beaver C ...

was the 22nd clan chief. Maternally, his grandfather was

Robert Unwin Harwood Robert Unwin Harwood (January 22, 1798 – April 12, 1863) was the last ''seigneurial system of New France, seigneur'' of Vaudreuil (provincial electoral district), Vaudreuil, commanding officer of the Vaudreuil Militia, and for thirty years ...

, and Michel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de Lotbinière was his great-grandfather. The next chief wasn't acknowledged until 13 September 2006 when Ranald Alasdair MacDonald of Keppoch was acknowledged as the lawful chief by the

Lyon Court The Court of the Lord Lyon (the Lyon Court) is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All ...

, following a 30-year fight for the right to use the ancient title of ''Mac Mhic Raonuill''. His descent from Donald Gorm, younger brother of Archibald 15th Chief (c. 1680) was accepted by the Court.

Clan Castle

The seat of the chief of the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch was originally at Keppoch Castle which was near to

. In 1690 it passed to the Mackintoshes. The lands were then disputed with the Mackintoshes, with the last clan battle being fought here. The castle itself had been demolished in 1663 after the

Crest

The

crest badge A Scottish crest badge is a heraldic badge worn to show allegiance to an individual or membership in a specific Scottish clan. Crest badges are commonly called "clan crests", but this is a misnomer; there is no such thing as a collective ''clan' ...

is suitable for members of the Keppoch MacDonald clan to wear, which consists of the

heraldic crest A crest is a component of a heraldic display, consisting of the device borne on top of the helm. Originating in the decorative sculptures worn by knights in tournaments and, to a lesser extent, battles, crests became solely pictorial after th ...

and

slogan A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan, political slogan, political, Advertising slogan, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the publi ...

. The crest is: ''a golden eagle with outspread wings wearing a crown''. The slogan within the crest badge is ''AIR MUIR'S AIR TIR'', which translates from

as "''By Sea By Land''".

Tartan

The MacDonald of Keppoch tartan colours are red, dark green, navy and sky blue. The MacDonald of Keppoch

tartan Tartan ( gd, breacan ) is a patterned cloth consisting of criss-crossed, horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Sc ...

sett is said to have been copied from a plaid that was given to

Prince Charles Edward Stuart Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (20 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, grandson of James II and VII, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland and ...

. However, there is another tartan sett for which the same claim is made by the

Clan Johnstone Clan Johnstone is a Border Reiver Scottish clan.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 19 ...

List of clan chiefs

The following is a list of the historic chiefs of the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch: * Alexander ''Alisdair Carrach'' MacDonald, 1st of Keppoch (1369-1440) * Angus ''Aonghas na Fearste'' MacDonald, 2nd of Keppoch (1390-1484) * Donald MacDonald, 3rd of Keppoch (bef 1484-1497) * John ''Iain Aluinn'' Macdonald, 4th of Keppoch (bef 1497-15??) * Alexander ''Alastair nan Gleann'' Macdonald, 5th of Keppoch (bef 1484-1499) * Donald "Glass" MacDonald, 6th of Keppoch (bef 1499-~1513) * Ronald "Raonall MacDhonaill Ghlais" MacDonald, 7th of Keppoch (bef 1513-1547) * Alexander ''Alastair Boloine'' MacDonald BT, 8th of Keppoch (bef 1547-1554) * Ranald ''Og'' MacDonald BT, 9th of Keppoch (bef 1547-1587) * Alexander ''Alastair nan Cleas'' MacDonald, 10th of Keppoch (aft 1547- aft 1640) * Ranald ''Og'' Macdonald, 11th of Keppoch (bef 1593-1640) * Donald "Glass" MacDonald, 12th of Keppoch (bef 1593-bef 1650) * Alexander MacDonald, 13th of Keppoch (bef 1650-1663) * Alexander ''Alastair Buidhe'' MacDonald, 14th of Keppoch (bef 1593-1669) * Archibald MacDonald, 15th of Keppoch (aft 1663-1688) * Coll MacDonald, 16th of Keppoch (bef 1688-1729) *

(bef 1729-1746) (Killed at the

) * Angus MacDonald, (1725-1818) (ignored) * Sir Ranald MacDonell, 18th of Keppoch (1736-1788) * Sir Alexander MacDonell, 19th of Keppoch (1772-1808) * Sir Richard MacDonell, 20th of Keppoch (1780-1819) * Maj. Alexander MacDonell, (abt 1742-1820) (ignored) * Sir Chichester MacDonell, 21st of Keppoch (bef 1819-1848) * Angus MacDonell, 1st of Keppoch (1801-1855) The current chief is ''Ranald Alasdair MacDonald, 22nd Chief of the Honorable Clan Ranald of Lochaber'', who became chief in 2006 after the original line dead off with Angus MacDonell (1801-1855), who produced no heirs to the clan in the 19th century.

References

External links

The Honourable Clan Ranald of Lochaber
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacDonald of Keppoch Scottish clans Gaels