Hector Odhar Maclean
Hector Odhar Maclean, 9th Chief | |
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9th Chief of Clan Maclean 5th Laird of Duart | |
In office c.1472 – 1496 | |
Preceded by | Lachlan Og Maclean, 8th Chief, father |
Succeeded by | Lachlan Maclean, 10th Clan Chief, son |
Hector Odhar Maclean (?–1496), or Eachann Odhar Maclean in Scottish Gaelic, or Hector Maclean the Swarthy, was the 9th Chief of Maclean. He succeeded his father Lachlan Og Maclean upon his death c. 1472. He died in 1496.
Biography
He was the son of Lachlan Og Maclean and has been called Hector Maclean the Swarthy, and sometimes Eachuinn ni num-bristion, on account of his brave and warlike disposition.[1]
Battle of Bloody Bay
The times were favorable for the display of his inclinations. Angus Og Macdonald, bastard son of the John of Islay, Earl of Ross, the Lord of the Isles, a man of great natural violence, succeeded in establishing a supremacy over his father, among the chiefs descended from the family of the Isles. These chiefs were easily drawn off, because John of Islay, Earl of Ross, in 1476, gave up the earldom of Ross and the lands of Kintyre and Knapdale, and had made improvident grants of lands to the MacLeans, MacLeods, MacNeills, and some smaller tribes.[1]
Angus placed himself at the head of the various branches of Clan Donald, and raised the standard of revolt against his father. John of Islay, Earl of Ross went to Stirling, and there, on account of his son's disobedience, resigned all his possessions to the king, except the Barony of Kinloss in Murray, of Kinnaird in Buchan, and of Cairndonald in the West, which he reserved to support his own grandeur during his lifetime. Angus determined not to surrender any of the hereditary possessions to the king, or even to his father himself. Several expeditions sent by the king against Angus proved unsuccessful. The first, under the Earl of Athole, assisted by the MacKenzies, MacKays, and Frasers, was defeated with great slaughter at Lagebread.[1]
The second expedition, under the Earl of Crawford and Earl of Huntly, made no impression. A third, under Argyle and Athol, accompanied by John, succeeded, through an accommodation, in persuading several tribes to join the royal forces. The two earls appeared to be afraid of attacking Angus, and this expedition resulted in failure. "John, the father, however, undismayed by their pusillanimity, proceeded onward through the Sound of Mull, accompanied by the MacLeans, MacLeods, MacNeills, and others, and having encountered Angus in a bay on the south side of the promontory of Ardnamurchan, a desperate combat ensued, in which Angus was again victorious." This place is near Tobermory, and has since been known as Badh-na-fola, and the conflict is known as the Battle of Bloody Bay.[1]
Hector Odhar not only headed his clan, but also took his hereditary post of lieutenant-general under the John of Islay, Earl of Ross. A naval engagement was fought with the most rancorous animosity, and prodigious slaughter was committed on both sides. Angus Og Macdonald succeeded in taking prisoner both his father and Hector Odhar Maclean. The result of this battle, fought in 1482, was to establish Angus completely in possession of the extensive territories of his clan.[1]
He died in 1496.
Children
- Lachlan Maclean, 10th Clan Chief. Lachlan was an illegitimate son who had the property of 9th Chief entailed to him 1496.[2]
MacLeans & Leans of Cornwall
In the late 15th century two legitimate sons of Hector Odhar, then Lord of Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull, and of the Kingdom of the Western Isles, fought against their father in battle and lost. It is said that Clan Law prescribed that these two must leave the Isles, and be denounced from the Clan. This involved the dropping of the "Mac" from their name (Meaning "son of") and getting as far away, from possible later retribution, as was possible. One son was supposed to have made his way to the East, i.e. Edinburgh or Glasgow, whilst the other was said to have "left a trail a mile wide" and traveled as far south as it was possible to go - to Cornwall.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d e This article contains text taken from the public domain source MacLean, John Patterson (1889). A History of the Clan MacLean from Its First Settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the Present Period: Including a Genealogical Account of Some of the Principal Families Together with Their Heraldry, Legends, Superstitions, etc. R. Clarke & Company. p. 224.
Laird of Brolas.
- ^ In Registrum Secrcti Sigilli, Volume I., folio 29, may be found the " legitimation to Lauchlane McGilleon son natural to Hector McGilleon of Doward. October 1496."
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- Malise mac Gilleain (?–1300) 2nd Chief c.1260–1300
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- John Dubh Maclean, 4th Chief (fl. 1350s) 4th Chief
- Lachlan Lubanach Maclean (c.1350–c.1405) 5th Chief flourished 1390s
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- Lachlan Og Maclean (c.1432–1484) 8th Chief flourished 1480s
- Hector Odhar Maclean (?–1513) 9th Chief flourished 1490s
- Lachlan Maclean, 10th Chief (fl. 1510's) 10th Chief
- Lachlan Cattanach Maclean, 11th Chief (c.1465–1523) 11th Chief 1515–1523
- Hector Mor Maclean, 12th Chief (c1500–1568) flourished 1530s
- Hector Og Maclean, 13th Chief flourished 1540s
- Lachlan Mor Maclean (1558–1598) 14th Chief ?–1598
- Sir Hector Og Maclean, 15th Chief (c.1575–1623) 15th Chief 1598–1623
- Hector Mor Maclean, 16th Chief (c.1600–1626) 16th Chief 1623–1626 *
- Sir Lachlan Maclean, 1st Baronet (c.1620–1649) 17th Chief 1626–1649
- Sir Hector Maclean, 2nd Baronet (?–1651) 18th Chief 1649–1651 *
- Sir Allan Maclean, 3rd Baronet (1645–1674) 19th Chief 1651–1674
- Sir John Maclean, 4th Baronet (1670–1716) 20th Chief 1674–1716 ^
- Sir Hector Maclean, 5th Baronet (c.1700–1750) 21st Chief 1716–1750 *
- Sir Allan Maclean, 6th Baronet (1710–1783) 22nd Chief 1750–1783 *
- Sir Hector Maclean, 7th Baronet (c.1750–1818) 23rd Chief 1783–1818 *
- Sir Fitzroy Maclean, 8th Baronet (c.1770–1847) 24th Chief 1818–1847
- Sir Charles Maclean, 9th Baronet (1798–1883) 25th Chief 1847–1883
- Sir Fitzroy Maclean, 10th Baronet (1835–1936) 26th Chief 1883–1936 *
- Sir Charles Hector Fitzroy Maclean, 11th Baronet (1916–1990) 27th Chief 1936–1990
- Sir Lachlan Maclean, 12th Baronet (1942– ) 28th Chief 1990–present