Clan Macnachtan
Clan
Macnachtan Association Worldwide
History
The Macnaghtens are one of the clans who
claimed descent from the great Pictish rulers of Moray. The
name Nechtan, which may mean "pure" or "clear," was popular
in at least one branch of the Pictish royal line. In the
thirteenth century there are records of three brothers,
Gilchrist, Athe and Gilbert, the sons of Malcolm
Macnachten. Gilchrist received from Alexander III a charter
in 1267 granting him the keepership of a castle warding the
narrow Pass of Brander, the gateway to the west.
Strathmore Tartan
By coming to Loch Awe, the Macnachtens became
neighbours of the powerful and acquisitive Campbells. When
Robert the Bruce set out to gain the throne, the Campbells
were quick to come to his support while the Macnachtens,
under the influence of Macdougalls, opposed him.
Macnachtens formed part of the Macdougall host that fought
against Bruce's army at the Pass of Brander in 1306, and
later at Dalrigh near Tyndrum. The Macnachtens appear to
have changed their allegiance and a Baron Macnachten,
possibly Alexander of that Ilk, is recorded fighting at
Bannockburn in 1314. The Macnachtens gained little from
their late change of heart, and from that point on the
Campbells dominated Loch Awe. Alexander, the chief who may
have fought at Bannockburn, took for his second wife
Christina Campbell. When she was widowed in 1361, Christina
granted to her cousin, Sir Colin Campbell of Lochow, her
marriage portion of one third of the Macnachten lands.
Alexander's son, Duncan, succeeded to the remaining lands.
He made his seat at Dunderave, which was thereafter the
territorial designation of the chiefs. In 1478, Duncan's
heir, Alexander, acknowledged the Campbell Earls of Argyll
as feudal superiors and accepted a charter to his lands
from the earl's hands. His grandson, yet another Alexander,
was knighted by James IV and followed the king to Flodden
in 1513, where he was one of the few survivors. He died two
years later. He had married twice and had six sons, the
eldest of whom succeeded his grandfather in 1527. The
second son, Ian, acted as tutor to his nephew and was the
father of Ian, or John, Dhu, who may be the "Shane Dhu"
credited with founding the Irish branch of the family.
Dress Tartan
In 1548 Gilbert Macnachten succeeded as chief. When
he died without issue, the succession devolved upon his
younger brother, Alexander. He started the rebuilding of
Dunderave Castle on Loch Fyne and it was completed by his
son, lain, in 1596. In 1627 the Macnachten chiefs raised a
force of bow-men to go to the siege of La Rochelle to
assist the French Huguenot rebels in their fight against
Cardinal Richelieu, effective ruler of France. The chief
was in high favour at the court of Charles I, and served as
a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. However, the expense of
the French expedition and the extravagance demanded by
living at court forced Macnachten to mortgage his lands.
Ancient Tartan
Muted Tartan
Weathered Tartan
Alexander died in 1630, followed shortly afterwards
by his childless heir, leaving Dunderave in the hands of
Alexander's brother, Malcolm of Killearn. Malcolm's son,
Alexander, was a fervent royalist, and when he succeeded to
the chiefship he called out his clansmen, accompanied by
Argyll's son, for the abortive rising against the
Cromwellian occupation led by the EarI of Glencairn in
1653. The expedition was sheer folly, and earned Macnachten
the enmity of Argyll. He was knighted after the Restoration
in 1660, but through Argyll's influence he was later
denounced as an outlaw. The lands were almost entirely lost
through debt, and lain, the next chief, who succeeded in
1685, inherited little more than an empty title. He joined
the forces of Graham of Claverhouse, the "Bonnie" Viscount
Dundee, fighting for James VII at Killiecrankie in 1689. He
was denounced as a Jacobite rebel, and his remaining lands
were forfeited. His younger son, John, was the last chief
of this line. He was forced to make a formal disposition of
the remainder of the estate in 1710 to Sir James Campbell
of Ardkinglas. He died leaving no legitimate heir.
John Macnaughten, known as "Shane Dhu," appeared in Ireland
as secretary to his kinsman, the Earl of Antrim, in 1580.
On the extinction of the Dunderave line his greatgrandson,
Edmond, was pressed to become chief. He declined, but his
son, Edmund Alexander, was recognised as chief in 1818.
When he died in 1832 he was succeeded by his brother,
Francis, who was a judge in Madras and Calcutta. He was
created a baronet in 1836. Sir Edward, fourth Baronet, was
a distinguished lawyer who became a Lord of Appeal in 1887
with the life peerage of "Baron Macnaghten of Runkerry." He
was succeeded by his son, Sir Edward, whose sons both
succeeded to the title, but were killed in the First World
War. Sir Francis, eighth Baronet, succeeded his nephews,
and is the father of the present chief.
Modern Tartan
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