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Clan Mackintosh (Clann Mhic an Tòisich) is a Scottish clan from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The chiefs of the Clan Mackintosh are also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation, a historic confederation of clans.
Contents
Origins of the clan
The Scottish Gaelic word toisiche means leader and can also be translated as chief. The seanachies of the Clan Mackintosh claim that the first chief of the clan was Shaw, second son of Duncan MacDuff, Earl of Fife of the royal house of Dál Riata. In 1160 Shaw MacDuff accompanied Malcolm IV of Scotland on an expedition to suppress a rebellion in Morayshire. In about 1163 he was also made constable of Inverness Castle and was granted land in the Findhorn valley. The heart land of the clan was the lands of Petty which was also the burial place of the chiefs. In 1179 Shaw MacDuff was succeeded by his son who was also called Shaw and was confirmed in his patrimony by William the Lion.
Scottish-Norwegian war
In 1263, during the Scottish–Norwegian War, Ferquhar Mackintosh, the fifth chief led his clan at the Battle of Largs against the army of Haakon IV of Norway. However he was killed in a duel in 1265 leaving his infant son, Angus, as heir.
The Chattan Confederation
Angus Mackintosh was brought up in the court of his uncle, Alexander of Islay, Lord of the Isles, chief of Clan Donald. In 1291 a splendid match was arranged for Angus when he married Eva, the only daughter of Dougal Dal, chief of the Clan Chattan, which brought Angus the lands of Glenloy and Loch Arkaig. Angus and Eva lived on the lands of the Clan Chattan at Tor Castle but they later withdrew to Rothiemurchus. After this the Clan Chattan developed into the Chattan Confederation, a confederation of independent Scottish clans that was led by the Mackintosh chiefs. However their leadership was unsuccessfully challenged over the centuries by the Clan Macpherson who were part of the confederation. From this point onwards Clan Mackintosh and Chattan history is inextricably entwined.
Wars of Scottish Independence
During the Wars of Scottish Independence the sixth chief of Clan Mackintosh supported Robert the Bruce.
14th century and clan conflicts
Clan Mackintosh were involved in many clan battles, mostly against Clan Cameron with whom they had an extensive feud which lasted over 350 years:
The Battle of Drumlui was fought in 1337; it was a dispute between the Clan Mackintosh and Clan Cameron over land at Glenlui and Loch Arkaig. The Camerons were defeated but started a 350-year feud. The Battle of Invernahoven was fought in 1370 between the Clan Cameron and the Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh, Clan Macpherson and Clan Davidson. The Battle of the North Inch in 1396 was fought between the Chattan Confederation that was led by the Mackintoshes and the Clan Cameron, and was one of the most important battles between these two clans.
15th century and clan conflicts
The ninth chief of Clan Mackintosh, Ferquhar had to surrender the chiefship in favour of Malcolm Mackintosh, son by the second marriage of William Mackintosh the seventh chief. Malcolm Mackintosh was a strong leader who greatly extended the influence of his clan. He feuded with the Clan Comyn in a dispute that had its origins when the Comyns had feuded with Robert the Bruce. In 1424 the Comyns forcibly took possession of some of the Mackintosh lands at Meikle Geddes and Rait but Malcolm Mackintosh retaliated and put many of the Comyns to the sword. This was in turn retaliated by the Comyns who invaded the Mackintosh homeland of Moy and unsuccessfully tried to drown the Mackintoshes on their island of Moy. A feast of reconciliation was held at the Comyn's castle of Rait however here the Mackintoshes slaughtered their Comyn hosts.
The Mackintoshes fought at the Battle of Lochaber in 1429 which was between forces led by Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, 3rd Lord of the Isles and the royalist army of James I of Scotland. The Battle of Palm Sunday, 1429, was fought between the Clan Cameron against the Clan Mackintosh and the Chattan Confederation.
The Battle of Craig Cailloch was fought in 1441: the Clan Mackintosh, at the instigation of Alexander, Lord of the Isles, began to invade and raid the Clan Cameron lands. A battle took place at Craig Cailloch between the Camerons and the Mackintoshes in which Mackintosh's second son, Lachlann "Badenoch" was wounded and Gille Chaluim, his brother, killed.
The Battle of Clachnaharry, was fought in 1454 between the Clan Mackintosh and the Clan Munro led by John Munro of Milntown.
The Raid on Ross took place in 1491, in the Scottish Highlands, between the Clan Mackenzie against several other clans, including the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh, Clan MacDonald of Clanranald the Clan Cameron and the Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh. The victors then proceeded to Inverness where they stormed the Inverness Castle and Mackintosh placed a garrison in it.
16th century and clan conflicts
The Battle of Bun Garbhain was fought in 1570 between the Clan Cameron and Clan Mackintosh. Domhnall Dubh Camshròn, XV Chief of Clan Cameron, had died, leaving an infant son, Ailean, at the head of the clan. During the battle the chief of Mackintosh is believed to have been killed by Donald 'Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe' Cameron, (son of the XIV Chief of Clan Cameron), with a fearsome Lochaber axe.
The Battle of Glenlivet was fought in 1594 where the Clan Mackintosh and Chattan Confederation fought on the side of the Earl of Argyll along with Clan Campbell, Clan Stewart of Atholl and Clan Forbes. They were defeated by the Earl of Huntly's forces which consisted of Clan Gordon, Clan Comyn and Clan Cameron.
17th century and Civil War
During the Scottish Civil War the Mackintoshes fought for James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose throughout his campaign for Charles I of England.
The Stand-off at the Fords of Arkaig took place in 1665 between the Chattan Confederation led by the Clan Mackintosh against the Clan Cameron.
The Battle of Mulroy was fought in 1668. Clan Cameron and Clan Mackintosh were at peace and Cameron Chief Sir Eòbhann was responsible for keeping the peace between his men and their former enemies. However, when the Chief, Sir Eòbhann Camshròn, was away in London a feud broke out between Clan MacDonald of Keppoch and their enemies Clan Mackintosh and Clan Mackenzie. As the Cameron Chief was away he was not able to hold back his clan and the combined forces of Cameron and MacDonald defeated the Mackintoshes and Mackenzies.
Jacobite rising of 1715
During the Jacobite rising of 1715 the Mackintoshes remained loyal to the Stuart cause. Lachlan Mackintosh led eight hundred clansmen in support of the Jacobites, under his cousin, Mackintosh of Borlum. However they were defeated at the Battle of Preston (1715). After this many clansmen were transported to the Americas.
Jacobite rising of 1745
During the Jacobite rising of 1745, Angus Mackintosh, twenty-second chief of Clan Mackintosh was a captain in the British Black Watch regiment. However, in his absence, his wife, Lady Anne Farquharson-MacKintosh raised men to fight for the Jacobite Charles Edward Stuart. Command was given to MacGillivray of Dunmaglas, of the Clan MacGillivray. They contributed to the Jacobite victory at the Battle of Falkirk Muir in 1746. Following this victory Charles arrived at Moy on 16 February 1746 where he was received by Lady Mackintosh. The prince's bed is still at Moy Hall. An attempt was made by five hundred Government troops to capture Prince Charles at Moy, but they were deceived by just five of the Lady Mackintosh's retainers into believing that they had blundered into the entire Jacobite army and fled. This incident became known as the Rout of Moy. At the Battle of Culloden the Mackintoshes and their allies in the Chattan Confederation suffered heavy losses.
Chiefs
The present Chief is John Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh (born 1969), formally styled as The Mackintosh. He succeeded as Chief in 1995 and currently resides in Singapore. The Mackintosh is an IH and history teacher in the Humanities Faculty at Nanyang Girls' High School and married to a Language Arts teacher and academic, Miss Vanessa Heng in March 2014, after their engagement in 2013.
Castles
Castles held by the Clan Mackintosh have included: