Title Chief of Clan Maclean Grandchildren Lachlan Og Maclean | Parents Lachlan Lubanach Maclean Name Red of | |
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Other names Red Hector of the Battles (English)
Hector Rufus Bellicosus (Latin)
Eachann Ruadh nan Cath (Scottish Gaelic)
Hector Roy Maclean Predecessor Lachlan Lubanach Maclean, father Grandparents John Dubh Maclean, 4th Chief Great-grandparents Malcolm Maclean, 3rd Chief People also search for Lachlan Lubanach Maclean | ||
Children Lachlan Bronneach Maclean Great grandchildren Hector Odhar Maclean | ||
Red Hector of the Battles Maclean (?-1411), or Eachann Ruadh nan Cath in Scottish Gaelic, was the 6th Chief of Clan Maclean.
Contents
Biography
He was the son of Lachlan Lubanach Maclean, and he early distinguished himself by daring exploits, and was noted as being one of the best swordsmen of his time. He became so celebrated as a swordsman, that many knights who had gained for themselves renown came from distant parts to measure weapons with him. One of these was a renowned knight of Norway, who challenged Hector Roy to mortal combat. The challenge was accepted. They met at Saleu, in Mull, where they fought, and where the Norwegian fell. A green mound and cairn on the sea-shore mark the spot where Hector had his antagonist buried.
There was an old Gaelic poem, which affirmed that Hector commanded a great fleet to the coast of Ireland, and there defeated some of the ships of the King of England. He landed his troops; placed the city of Dublin under contribution; carried fire and sword into the country; destroyed many of his enemies, and burnt their houses. This must be the expedition hinted at in Raphael Holinshed's Chronicle of Ireland where it is recorded that "in the year 1400 at Whitesuntide, the first year of King Henry IV, the constable of Dublin, and divers others at Stanford in Ulster, fought by sea with the Scots, where many Englishmen were slain and drowned."
Marriage and children
Hector Roy's marriage to a daughter of the Earl of Douglas (either Archibald the Third or Fourth Earl of Douglas) greatly enlarged his influence. That nobleman made many overtures to induce Hector to withdraw himself from his dangerous connection with his uncle Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross, now on the brink of open war with Robert, Duke of Albany and regent of the kingdom. Hector firmly withstood the blandishments of his father-in-law, for his duty as hereditary Lieutenant-General of the Isles was to his uncle Donald, and the approaching contest afforded a new field for the display of his valor.
Death
While serving as lieutenant-general under his uncle Donald of Islay at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, Hector was killed by Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum in a ferocious hand-to-hand combat, which was described as 'a noble and notable single combat' and at which the end of, both men lay dead.