Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver (died 1517), was the tenth chief of the ancient

Clan Mackay Clan Mackay ( ; ) is an ancient and once-powerful Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Mormaer of Moray, Kingdom of Moray. They supported Robert I of Scotland, Rober ...

, a

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

of the

Scottish Highlands The Highlands (; , ) is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Scottish Lowlands, Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Scots language, Lowland Scots language replaced Scottish Gae ...

Early life

Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver, was the eldest son of Angus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver, and his wife who was a daughter of Mackenzie of Kintail, chief of

Clan Mackenzie Clan Mackenzie ( ) is a Highland Scottish clan associated with Kintail and Ross-shire. Its chiefs trace their lineage to the 12th century, though the earliest recorded chief is Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail, who died after 1471. The clan suppo ...

Feud with the Rosses

Iye Roy Mackay's father, Angus Roy Mackay, had been killed in 1486 at the

Battle of Tarbat The Battle of Tarbat was a Scottish clan battle fought in the 1480s on the Tarbat peninsula, in Easter Ross. The Clan Ross cornered a raiding party of Clan Mackay near the village of Portmahomack and put many of them to the sword. The surviv ...

in a feud over lands with the Clan Ross. Soon after this the Mackays, under John Rivach Mackay (second son of Angus Roy Mackay) and William Mackay who was the chieftain of the

Mackay of Aberach The Mackays of Aberach also known as the Clan Aberach are a Scottish family and a branch of the ancient Clan Mackay of the Scottish Highlands. They were the senior cadet branch of the Clan Mackay and were seated at Achness, in Strathnaver, which i ...

branch of the clan, invaded Ross and defeated the Clan Ross at the

Battle of Aldy Charrish The Battle of Aldy Charrish (also known as the Battle of Auldicharish, Aldicharrish, Aldecharwis, Alt a'Charrais, Alt Charrais, Alt na Charrais) was a Scottish clan battle that took place on 11 July 1487. The Clan Mackay and possibly the Clan ...

in 1487 where Alexander Ross of Balnagown, chief of the Rosses was killed, along with seventeen other landed gentlemen of the province of Ross.Mackay, Angus. (1906). ''The Book of Mackay''. p. 70. Quoting: Gordon, Sir Robert, ''A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland''. Quoting the ''Fern Abbey MS'' (manuscript). Historian Angus Mackay however disputes the account given by

Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun (14 May 1580 – 1656) was a Scottish politician and courtier, known as the historian of the noble house of Sutherland. Early life Born at Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Sutherland, on 14 May 1580, he was the fourt ...

, who himself was a son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, and who says that at this battle the Mackays were supported by a force provided by the Earl of Sutherland.Mackay, Angus. (1906). ''The Book of Mackay''. pp. 70 - 71. Quoting: Gordon, Sir Robert, ''A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland''. Mackay states that the feudal superiority of the Earls of Sutherland over the Mackays, as claimed by Sir Robert Gordon, "nowhere existed save in his own fertile imagination". Angus Mackay says that it is also unlikely that the Earl of Sutherland who was married to a daughter of Ross of Balnagown would have assisted against his own father-in-law. Thirdly, Angus Mackay says that the Earls of Sutherland are not mentioned in a remission from the king to John Rivach Mackay in 1494, and so it seems that Sir Robert Gordon had tried to snatch the victory of the Mackays over the Rosses at Aldy Charrish, but that the facts are against him. In 1490

James IV of Scotland James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was List of Scottish monarchs, 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 I ...

granted to David Ross, nephew and heir of John Ross, and grandson of John Ross of Balnagown, the lands of Strathoikel and Strathcarron, which had formerly belonged to Morgan Neilson Mackay. Likewise, on 15 March 1504, Iye Roy Mackay 10th of Strathnaver secured from the king the lands of Ferencostrig, Strathhalladale, Creichmore, Assent, Coigach, Gruids and Strathfleet. On 15 February 1506, Iye Roy Mackay caused the charter granted by Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles, and by which the Mackays laid claim to these lands, to be recorded. However, the Lords of Council decided that the lands had belonged to Euphemia II, Countess of Ross. Although John Rivach Mackay received a remission from the king in 1494, the blood feud with the Rosses appears to have continued as David Ross of Balnagown and Iye Roy Mackay of Strathnaver were summoned to appear before the

Earl of Argyll Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. A feminine form of ''earl'' never developed; instead, ''countess'' is used. The titl ...

who was the

Lord High Chancellor of Scotland The Lord Chancellor of Scotland, formally titled Lord High Chancellor, was an Great_Officers_of_State_(United_Kingdom)#Scotland, Officer of State in the Kingdom of Scotland. The Lord Chancellor was the principal Great Officer of State, the Speake ...

. On 4 October 1496, each of them were bound by extending their hand to Argyll in the king’s name to keep the peace towards each other and that their "folks sal be harmless and skaithles", under the penalty of 500 merks if they failed. Notwithstanding the apparent reconciliation, David Ross of Balnagown and his brother Hucheon Ross, brought an action to the Lords of Council against the Mackays for spoils taken from their lands eight years earlier.

Apprehension of Sutherland of Dirlot

Sutherland of Dirlot who was Iye Roy Mackay’s nephew and who was pursued for some debts by Sir James Dunbar of Cumnock, murdered his relative, Alexander Dunbar, who in turn was the step-father of John, Earl of Sutherland. In consequence Sutherland of Dirlot was " put to the horn". Iye Roy Mackay was already bound to the king's service for maintenance and order and received a

commission In-Commission or commissioning may refer to: Business and contracting * Commission (remuneration), a form of payment to an agent for services rendered ** Commission (art), the purchase or the creation of a piece of art most often on behalf of anot ...

to apprehend Sutherland of Dirlot, and did so. Mackay was rewarded by a charter under the

Great Seal of Scotland The Great Seal of Scotland (; also the Scottish Seal; formally the Seal appointed by the Treaty of Union to be kept and made use of in place of the Great Seal of Scotland) is a seal used by the first minister of Scotland to seal letters pate ...

dated 4 November 1499, for the lands of Dirlot, Farr, Armadale, Strathy, Rennvie, Davach, Lochnaver, Davach Eriboll, all in Strathnaver, and also Kinald, Golspie, and Kilcolumkill in

Sutherland Sutherland () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The name dates from the Scandinavian Scotland, Viking era when t ...

, and also Dirlot, Cattack, Bronach, two pennylands of Stroma, all in

Caithness Caithness (; ; ) is a Shires of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area of Scotland. There are two towns, being Wick, Caithness, Wick, which was the county town, and Thurso. The count ...

. Historian Angus Mackay says that Sutherland of Dirlot being a nephew of Iye Roy Mackay, his apprehension does seem heartless, but justifies it by the fact that Sutherland of Dirlot had by some means been able to get hold of lands in Strathnaver that had previously belonged to the Mackay family.

Rebellion of Donald Dubh

Towards the end of the 15th century and at the beginning of the 16th century, the king of Scotland who was irritated at the misconduct of the Hebrideans, cancelled many

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the ...

s of the leading families which caused them to revolt. Around the same time Donald Dubh, grandson of John of Islay, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, escaped from imprisonment on Innis Chonnell. Donald Dubh put himself at the head of the discontented confederates and it took three expeditions in 1503, 1505, and 1506 to quell the tumult. Historian Angus Mackay states that Iye Roy Mackay of Strathnaver, in all of these expeditions, did most effective work at the head of his clan. This included capturing Torquil, chief of the

Clan MacLeod of Lewis Clan MacLeod of The Lewes, commonly known as Clan MacLeod of Lewis (), is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, which at its height held extensive lands in the Western Isles and west coast of Scotland. From the 14th century up until the be ...

, who the Parliament of 1505 had found guilty of treason. The

Earl of Huntly Marquess of Huntly is a title in the Peerage of Scotland that was created on 17 April 1599 for George Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly. It is the oldest existing marquessate in Scotland, and the second-oldest in the British Isles; only the English ma ...

, Mackay and others battered Stornoway Castle with

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

, after which MacLeod was taken prisoner. The king rewarded "Y Mackay" with extensive lands for helping to crush the Hebrideans in a charter dated 15 March 1504. However, it is

Clan Cameron Clan Cameron is a West Scottish Highlands, 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, the highest mountain in the British Isl ...

tradition that they defeated a joint force of Mackays and

Munros A Munro (; ) is defined as a mountain in Scotland with a height over , and which is on the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) official list of Munros; there is no explicit topographical prominence requirement. The best known Munro is Ben Nevi ...

at the Battle of Achnashellach in 1505, the Cameron chief having supported the rebellion of Donald Dubh.

Battle of Flodden

According to the ''Blackcastle MS'' (which was written by Alexander Mackay of Blackcastle who had access to the Mackay chief’s family charters and papers) when

resolved to invade

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, Iye Roy Mackay of Strahtnaver accompanied by his brother John Rivach Mackay, at the head of a contingent from Strathnaver, fought at the

Battle of Flodden The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton or Brainston Moor was fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland and resulted in an English victory ...

in 1513.Mackay, Angus. (1906). ''The Book of Mackay''. p. 76. Quoting: Mackay, Alexander, ''Blackcastle Manuscript''. Iye Roy Mackay escaped with his life, but his brother John was killed along with a number of clansmen.

Relations with the Earl of Sutherland

Shortly before his death, Iye Roy Mackay joined a band of friendship with Adam Gordon, Earl of Sutherland dated 31 July 1517. Historian Angus Mackay disputes the account given by Sir Robert Gordon, who himself was a son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, and who Mackay says makes it appear that Mackay was acting as a vassal to his superior. Likewise, historian Sir William Fraser states that Sir Robert Gordon describes it as if it was granted by an inferior to a superior which is not the case, and that the agreement, except for the acknowledged fact that Earl Adam was Mackay’s overlord in certain lands, is in fact a transaction between equals.Mackay, Angus. (1906). ''The Book of Mackay''. p. 77. Quoting: Fraser, Sir William, ''The Sutherland Book''.

Family

Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver, married a "celebrated beauty" who was a daughter of Norman, son of Patrick O’Beolan of

Carloway Carloway ( ) is a crofting township and a district on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The district has a population of around 500. Carloway township is within the parish of Uig, and is situated on the A858. ...

on the

Isle of Lewis The Isle of Lewis () or simply Lewis () is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The t ...

. O’Beolan was the lineal descendant of the family of

Applecross Applecross ( , 'The Sanctuary', historically anglicized as 'Combrich') is a peninsula in Wester Ross, in the Scottish Highlands. It is bounded by Loch Kishorn to the south, Loch Torridon to the north, and Glen Shieldaig to the east. On its wes ...

, a well known priestly family whose progenitor was St. Maolrubha. This marriage did not conform with canon law, but Iye Roy Mackay secured from

a precept of legitimation for his two surviving sons, John and Donald. Iye Roy Mackay and his wife had the following children: #

John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver (died 1529), was the eleventh chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver, was the eldest son of Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver, an ...

, who succeeded his father in 1517. #

Donald Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver Donald Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver (died 1550), was the eleventh chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life Donald Mackay was the second eldest son of Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver, and his wife ...

, who succeeded his brother John in 1529. #Angus Mackay, who was killed fighting the Rosses, near

Tain Tain ( ) is a royal burgh and parish in the County of Ross, in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. Etymology The name derives from the nearby River Tain, the name of which comes from an Indo-European root meaning 'flow'. The Gaelic n ...

, before 1511. #A daughter, who married Hugh MacLeod of Assynt and had two children: Neil and Helen. Helen MacLeod married her first cousin,

Iye Du Mackay, 12th of Strathnaver Iye Du Mackay (Iye Mackay), 12th of Strathnaver, was the chief of the Clan Mackay, a Highland Scottish clan, from 1550 to 1572.Mackay, Angus. (1906). p. 94. Early life Iye Du Mackay was the eldest son of Donald Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver, chief ...

, to whom she had Donald Balloch Mackay the progenitor of the Mackay of Scoury family, and another son, John Beg Mackay. #A daughter, who married the Honl. Alexander Sutherland of Killipheder, son of John, Earl of Sutherland. Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver died towards the end of 1517.

References

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