The Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh was a Scottish family and a branch of the larger

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 i ...

History

The MacDonald of

Lochalsh Lochalsh is a district of mainland Scotland that is currently part of the Highland (council area), Highland council area. The Lochalsh district covers all of the mainland either side of Loch Alsh - and of Loch Duich - between Loch Carron and Loch ...

branch was founded by Celestine MacDonald (d.1476). Celestine MacDonald was the second son of Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, 3rd

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 w ...

and 8th chief of

.The Family Tree of the Lords of the Isles
finlaggan.com. Retrieved 23 May 2015. Celestine MacDonald of Lochalsh, with the support of the MacDonalds of Glengarry unsuccessfully claimed the right to succeed his father as Chief of

and Lord of the Isles. Instead the right remained with his older brother John of Islay, Earl of Ross, 4th Lord of the Isles, 9th chief of Clan Donald. Celestine was succeeded as chief of the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh by his son Alexander. Ewen Cameron XIII Chief of

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 Chief ...

and a large body of Camerons, joined by Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh, Clan Ranald of Garmoran and Lochaber and the Chattan Confederation carried out on a raid into the county of

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 ...

, now known as the Raid on Ross.The Raid on Ross 1491
clan-cameron.org. Retrieved 23 May 2015. During the raid they clashed with the Clan Mackenzie of Kintail. They then advanced from Lochaber to Badennoch where they were even joined by the Clan Mackintosh. They then proceeded to

Inverness Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histori ...

where they stormed

Inverness Castle Inverness Castle ( gd, Caisteal Inbhir Nis) sits on a cliff overlooking the River Ness in Inverness, Scotland. A succession of castles have stood on this site since 1057, although the present structure dates from 1836. The present structure is ...

and Mackintosh placed a garrison in it. The Lords of Lochalsh appear at this time to have had strong claims upon the Camerons to follow them in the field. They were superiors under the Lord of the Isles of the lands of Lochiel in Lochaber, in addition to the claims of a close marriage alliance (Ewen married a daughter of Celestine of Lochalsh). In 1497 Sir Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and his clan rebelled against the King. Gregory, Donald. (1836). ''History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland from A.D. 1993 to A.D. 1625''. p. 92. Lochalsh invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated by the Clan Mackenzie at the

Battle of Drumchatt (1497) The Battle of Drumchatt was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1497. The Clan Mackenzie and possibly the Clan Munro defeated the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh at Drumchatt (Druimchat) or "the Cat's Back", a ridge to the southeast of Strath ...

and was driven out of Ross-shire. He escaped southward amongst the Isles but was caught on the island of Oransay, by

MacIain of Ardnamurchan The MacDonalds of Ardnamurchan also known as MacIain of Ardnamurchan, or Clan MacIan,{{cite book , last=Coventry , first=Martin , year=2008 , title=Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans , location=Musse ...

, and put to death. When Sir Donald MacDonald of Lochalsh was returning home from the Battle of Flodden in 1513 he was joined by Sir Alexander

MacDonnell of Glengarry Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill Ghlinne Garaidh) is a Scottish clan and is a branch of the larger Clan Donald.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl ...

and Wiland, chief of

Clan Chisholm Clan Chisholm (pronounced / ˈtʃɪzəm/ ) ( gd, Siosal, IPA: �ʃis̪əɫ̪ is a Highland Scottish clan. History Origins According to Alexander Mackenzie, the Clan Chisholm is of Norman and Saxon origin. Tradition stating that the Chisholms w ...

to capture took Urquhart Castle. Some sources say that MacDonald occupied the castle for three years despite the efforts of

Clan Grant Clan Grant is a Highland Scottish clan. History Origins One theory is that the ancestors of the chiefs of Clan Grant came to Scotland with the Normans to England where the name is found soon after the conquest of that country, although some h ...

to dislodge them. Sir Donald MacDonald of Lochalsh, whose father had been assassinated by Maclain of Ardnamurchan. Sir Donald, who was then attempting to lay claim to the Lordship of the Isles besieged

Mingarry Castle Mingary Castle ( gd, Caisteal Mhìogharraidh), also known as Mingarry Castle, is a castle situated southeast of the small village of Kilchoan in Lochaber, Scotland. Nestled on ridge of rock overlooking the sea, it was considered a strategically ...

, seat of Ardnamurchan in 1515 and again, more successfully, two years later, when he took possession of the castle, which he burned and laid waste the surrounding lands. John MacIain of Ardnamurchan was killed at the hands of his avenging kinsmen in 1518. Not only for the assassination of MacDonald of Lochalsh in 1497 but also for the deaths of the chief the

Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, also known as Clan Donald South, ''Clan Iain Mor, Clan MacDonald of Islay and Kintyre, MacDonalds of the Glens (Antrim)'' and sometimes referred to as ''MacDonnells'', is a Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald. T ...

and his son.

References

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History

References

See also