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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