User:Trident13/ALISDAIR MÓR
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ALISDAIR MÓR
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Yet the details of his life remain a mystery. There are only a few, tantalizing fragments of information regarding this medieval Celtic prince:
· He was the son of Donald of Islay, forefather of Clan Donald, and great-grandson of Somerled, King of the Isles. · In 1253, he witnessed a charter granted by his brother, Angus Mór, to the Monastery of Paisley. · He is described by the Irish Annalist as being "of Antrim" along the coast of Northeast Ireland later a stronghold of Clan Donald power. · The Annals further state that he was "the most distinguished of his name either in Ireland or in Scotland for hospitality and feats of arms". · He was slain "along with many of his people," by Alisdair MacDugall in 1299. · He had five sons, the eldest of whom is closely associated with Robert the Bruce.
From this, however, along with a (blessedly) more detailed knowledge of his family's activities and an awareness of the world in which he lived, the image of Alisdair may begin to take shape.
The Kingdom of the Isles: For many generations, the Western Isles of Scotland, including the rich peninsula of Kintyre, had been under the control of the King of Norway. His Viking marauders had settled in the Gaelic Isles, maintaining coastal settlements and using these as a base for incursions onto the mainland and into Ireland. The Celts regained control of the Isles in the 12th century under the forceful leadership of the grant Somerled, half-Norse himself, who styled himself King of the Isles. Despite this reconquest, there remained a Norse influence in the Isles, both culturally and politically. Yet, while the Norse continued to claim over-lordship, the Isles were ruled as a virtually independent realm by Somerled's descendants. Somerled divided his lands among his sons, Ranald, Dugall, and Angus. Ranald received Islay and Kintyre (the center of power in their "Kingdom") and the southern Isles. Ranald and Dugall, however, disagreed over the Island of Mull and this dispute was to lead to bitter relations between the "MacDugalls" and Ranald's family "of the Isles". While Ranald was, by most accounts, a religious and peaceful man, his sons Donald and Rauri inherited the warlike attributes of their grandfather. As early as 1211 they led a raiding party of 76 galleys to plunder the Irish town of Derry. Donald had at least two sons, Angus Mór and Alisdair Mór and, according to one source, a "natural" son, Murchad. These children would have grown up in Donald's household and an understanding of his "Kingdom" is a useful window into the early life of Alisdair. Donald had inherited more than vast landholdings. He had become the leader of one of the few remaining Gaelic realms, albeit one with a strong Viking infusion. The lowlands (and the Scottish Crown) were becoming increasingly "Anglicized" as Norman barons were handed vast estates and the Celtic Highlands began to see them as "sassenach" outsiders. As a result, Somerled and his descendants were perpetual enemies of the Kings of Scotland (one notable exception being Angus Og's support of the Bruce). This Celtic-Norse realm was ruled most often from Finlaggen on the island of Islay, and it is here that Alisdair may have spent much of his childhood. This administrative center was placed on a small island on a Loch surrounded by moorland. While fortified, it was not chosen for it's defensive location and would hardly be considered a "castle" by most standards. The buildings were mostly wooden and included a Great Hall, the Lord's apartments, guest accommodations, storerooms and servant's quarters. There was a small stone chapel and a wooden bridge led out to the smaller Council Isle, so named because the Council of the Isles met around a great stone table.
The Upbringing of a Gaelic Prince: Alisdair, we may assume, was raised as any other child of a celtic noble house. He would have received extensive training in arms and possibly been tutored by some of his father's retainers of the "professional" classes: the bard, the historian (seneachie), the harper and the experts in Brehon law. While it has often been said that the Highland Gaels scorned reading and writing as inferior to their bardic transference of oral knowledge, we usually find that the "nobility", at least, could sign their name. Another strong possibility which must be considered is whether Alisdair was "fostered" with another noble family. This was a very common practice among the Gael. A child would be sent to live with another family to be raised much as their own, serving the same practical "bonding" function as a political marriage. This may have been even more likely for a younger son. While there is no indication whether or not this occurred in Alisdair's case, it would answer some questions we will consider in the next installment.
Donald of Islay: As Alisdair grew older, he would have become aware of his father's military and political maneuvering. He would have heard about his father's trip to Norway to obtain confirmation of his right to rule the Isles -- probably a result of the Scottish Crown's growing desire to obtain control of Donald's realm. Alexander II sent his envoy, Sir William Rolloc, to Kintyre to meet with Donald and demand that he repudiate the King of Norway and acknowledge the sovereignty of the Scottish Crown. Donald refused and, when pressed, stated that since the Isles had been taken by conquest, he technically owed allegiance to none. For some unknown reason, other than "being advised by wicked counsellors," he attacked Sir William the next day at dawn, killing the envoy and most of his men. This did not endear him to the Scottish King. Donald's own interfamily disputes were no less violent. His uncle Dugall continued to assert a claim to Mull and it is probably for this reason that, according to the seneachies, "Donald and Dugall became enemies." Being a man of violent action, it is not surprising that "at last Donald was forced to kill Dugall." The enmity between the families was now a true blood feud. Some time around 1249, Donald either died or retired from active life, leaving the rule of the Isles to his eldest son, Angus Mór. It would have been at this time that Alisdair would also have received his inheritance, but there is no mention of what land he received. The possibility that he received land in Ireland will be discussed in the next issue. Toward the end of his life, Donald journeyed to Rome to obtain remission of his numerous sins. It has also been said he took the opportunity to have the Pope affirm his rights to the lands he possessed. Upon his return, he became a generous benefactor to the Monasteries of Saddell and Iona. It seems that Alisdair's famous father, after an eventful and violent life, was attempting to make some amends and end his days on a peaceful note. [1]
Angus Mór--the older brother: By now, Alisdair would have probably been in his twenties or thirties, and should have been actively involved in the great events of the day. But other than the rather uneventful role as witness to a grant of land from his brother to the Monastery of Paisley, we have no record of his activities. It was in the 1260s that the final showdown over the Isles occurred between the Norse and Scottish Kings. Angus Mór's involvement is well documented. He reluctantly supported Halcon of Norway, who was defeated by Alexander III at the Battle of Largs, yet he was later confirmed in his existing possessions by the Scottish King. But what of Alisdair? Any active involvement by the bother of the "Rex Insularum" would, most likely, have been documented. Alisdair, however, is conspicuous by his absence.
Of Antrim: Where was Alisdair? The solution may not be difficult to find. The Irish Annalist refers to him as "of Antrim". The Glens of Antrim are located along the extreme northeast coast of Ireland, in Ulster, just a few miles from the Mull of Kintyre. The annalist also discusses his reputation in both Ireland and Scotland. Donald J. MacDonald, in his Clan Donald, states that this "suggests that Alisdair Mór had a territorial interest in that region ..." This would also explain why there is no record of Alisdair receiving an inheritance of land in the Isles. But why would Alisdair be in Ireland? The Celtic Societies of the Western Isles and Northern Ireland had remained closely connected through intermarriage and common language, customs and interests. These remaining outposts of Gaeldom were holding out against the "sassenach" powers. Just as the Scottish Kings sought to gain control over the Western Isles, the English Kings were attempting to subjugate Ireland. The Irish, however warlike, were no match for the invading English. As one contemporary wrote, the Irish were "clad in fine linen garments, the foreigners in one mass of iron." After a devastating defeat in 1260, at the Battle of Downpatrick, the Irish sought aid from their northern cousins. These mercenary forces, called Galloglach, or galloglass, revolutionized the Irish military structure. As one writer describes it: "from the Western Isles of Scotland were invited the heavy-armed, mail-clad, battle-axe-bearing gallo-glach to aid in the cause. These stalwarts were the descendants of the Ulster Gaels who had migrated there and intermarried with the Norse. Like their forbears they, too, were great scorners of death." The effect was dramatic and the English expansion was halted. The evidence that Alisdair was a leader of galloglass forces is persuasive. In addition to the reference to Alisdair in the Irish Annals, it seems that Alisdair's older brother was leading troops into Ireland. Henry III of England passed a decree that Angus Mór should not be allowed to enter Ireland.
It is very possible that, as Angus became more involved in the Isles, his younger brother took over the family affairs in Ireland. If the family had land holdings in Antrim, it would not have purely been mercenary, either. It is hardly conceivable that Alisdair would have received no land inheritance, yet there is no mention of any such land being provided in the Isles. A provision of land in Antrim would explain a great deal. Another piece of evidence is that the Chief of Clan Alisdair is found leading galloglass forces for the O'Niell in Ulster in 1360. Lastly, the MacAlisters were recognized as one of the leading galloglass clans during the 16th century, which implies some continued connection. It would not be unreasonable to assert, then, that during much of his adult life, Alisdair was leading galloglass troops in Ulster.
Galloglass Warrior: So, the image of Alisdair develops. As a Galloglass commander, he would have worn knee-length chain mail over a quilted tunic, with a conical helmet, as is seen in many West Highland effigies of the time. His weapon would have been the massive claymore and a long-handled battle axe. He would have crossed and recrossed the short distance between Antrim and Kintyre or Islay in galleys with a markedly Viking influence. Unlike most other Gaelic lands, the region of Antrim may have included one or more stone castles. The Norman Earl of Ulster, had occupied Antrim for some time before being driven out. He, undoubtedly, would have fortified his foothold with castles in the Anglo-Norman manner. Unfortunately for the prior Irish landowners, when the Anglo-Norman invaders were forced to retreat, the conquering Galloglass force usually claimed the entire area. Thus, Alisdair's conquests would have remained his own. While possibly owing allegiance either to his brother or his nominal Irish overlord, he would have governed his own lands as a virtually autonomous ruler.
Affairs in the Isles--The Bruce, MacDougall and the Wars of Independence: Even if he had an Irish "career", Alisdair would have remained somewhat involved in affairs in the Isles. This probably increased as things became complicated in the 1280s and 1290s. With Alexander III dead and the succession in dispute, the entire family became drawn in. In 1284, just prior to Alexander's death, Angus Mór and Alexander MacDougall represented the Western Isles at the Parliament which met at Scone to regulate the succession. In 1291, Alisdair 's eldest son, Donald, and his grandson, Alexander, (along with Angus Mór) sworn an oath to Edward I when that English King had been asked to determine the succession. While there is no space to chronicle the complicated political maneuverings leading up to the Wars of Independence, suffice it to say that the MacDougalls, being closely tied to the Comyns, became bitter enemies of the Bruce. (Note: There is a handy geneology chart which was attached to prior articles, we will try to have this on the site soon) Angus Mór and his eldest son, Alisdair Og, had supported the Bruce family, but Alisdair Og married Julianna MacDougall, sister of Alexander MacDougall of Lorne, and switched his allegiance. His younger bother, Angus Og, while as equivocal as Bruce himself for a few years, ended by becoming one of the Bruce's most important supports. Meanwhile, he was continuing to feud with Alexander MacDougall of Lorne over the Island of Mull. The violent clashes between the families, therefore, served a dual purpose. It was during one of these clashes, that Alisdair Mór, now an old man, was slain by Alexander MacDougall, "along with many of his people". How and where this confrontation occurred is unknown. The fact that he was killed along with "his people" suggests two things. First, that this may have been a clash of arms, most likely part of the raid and counter-raid typical of the time. yet Alisdair would have been an old man, in his 70s or 80s. The fact that he would still be the victim of such a violent death is telling of his character. Second, it shows that he had his own "people". While these may have simply been followers of the family of the Isles, it is also possible that these were retainers from his lands in Antrim, providing support for the family cause in the Isles. While his death at the hands of Bruce's most ardent enemy does not conclusively prove Alisdair was actively involved in the Patriotic cause, it at least indicates he was not in the opposition. The role of his son Donald, however, is another puzzle to be unravelled in another article.
Alisdair Mór Remembered: Despite our best efforts, the image of the man will remain obscured by the mists of time. Much of his life and character will continue to be a mystery. Yet through a careful review of the evidence at hand and some cautious "educated" speculation, some conclusions may be reached. The Irish Annalist left us a glowing epitaph which, while these are often exaggerated, cannot be ignored. He had some reputation, obviously, as a warrior and for that quality most important in Celtic cultures: hospitality. He could not have received these accolades if he was not greatly respected in his own time. Since he spent much of his time in Antrim, out of the direct path of "Great Events", however, we have little more than his reputation to remember him by. There is one more tribute to his character we must recognize. The existence of the Clan Alisdair. His descendants were identified by his name and not simply as members of the great Clan Donald. This carried enough weight to eventually form a distinct clan. All of us, therefore, who bear his name, or some variation of it, continue to be a reminder of the progenitor of Clan Alisdair [2]
Glenbarr Abbey was formally presented to Clan Macalister in September, 1984 by its owner and present occupant, Angus C. Macalister, 5th Laird of Glenbarr as the Clan Centre. This marvelous Gothic structure is located on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula, south of Tarbert in Scotland. Few other clans are fortunate enough to have clan centres and it is hoped that all clan members will visit Glenbarr Abbey. The centre is open from April through October. The ancestor to this earliest offshoot from the great Clan Donald was Alister (or Alexander), eldest son of Angus, Lord of the Isles and Kintyre. Through joining the MacDougals against Robert Bruce, Alister forfeited his succession to that lordship. His descendants, inhabiting a tract of Knapdale and North Kintyre grew strong enough to extend into Arran and Bute. They became an independent clan when the Lords of the Isles were suppressed in 1493. Their first Knapdale stronghold of Castle Sweyn was assaulted by Robert Bruce, whereafter the chief's seat became Ardpatrick, and finally Loup in Kintyre. Though having lost much of its strength and territory to the Campbells, as did many other clans in that preiod, the clan appeared in the royalist ranks with Montrose, and again at Killiecrankie [3]
Alisdair Mor: progenitor of the "Clan Alisdair", was the younger son of Donald, forefather of Clan Donald, thus making the MacAlisters the senior cadet branch. Alisdair, who was killed in 1299 by Alexander MacDougall, was described as "the most distinguished of his name either in Ireland or in Scotland for his hospitality and feats of arms." His son, "Donald de Yle" was, according to tradition, chosen by his cousin Angus Og, head of Clan Donald, to command the Highlanders protecting the Bruce when he returned from Rathlin Island in 1307. This tradition is given support by the fact that "Donald de Yle" was present at the Bruce's first parliament. Whether Donald and his brothers fought alongside Angus Og at Bannockburn is debatable and will need to be the subject of further research. In any case, thus began a standard of trust and support between the two clans which continued for centuries. Little is heard of the MacAlisters, other than their galloglass fighting in Ireland, for the next century. When they do reenter the written history, they are once again fighting for the MacDonalds, raiding Arran during the rebellion of 1450-1. The clan prospered and, by 1481, Charles MacAlister (son of the Chief) was named Steward of Kintyre, a position also held by his son into the 1500s. The Chiefs of Clan MacAlister, given the title "of Loup" for the shape of the shoreline in their traditional Kintyre lands, did not let the MacDonald forfeiture of the Lordship of the Isles, or their own official position, hinder their clan support. When the MacDonald rights in Kintyre and other lands were revoked in the 1520s, the MacAlister Chief, Alexander of Loup, joined the MacDonalds in invading Campbell lands in protest. When Alexander was put "on the horn" by the Scottish Crown, the Lord of Dunnyveg repaid the MacAlisters for their support by providing his son as security for their future behavior. The MacDonald cause in Ireland received McAlister support as well. Fighting as galloglass warriors for The McDonnell Earl of Antrim, they were rewarded with the Castle of Kenbane. The descendants of this branch of the family still live in County Antrim. They fought strenuously for Sorley Boy MacDonnell and, in 1572, the "Lord of Loup" was killed in battle. This Owen (or John) MacAlister was described as "one amongst them more esteemed than Sorley Buy". Back in the Western Isles soon after this tragedy, the MacAlisters joined Angus MacDonald in his bitter feud with the McLeans of Duart over lands in Islay. The closeness between the two clans was dramatically highlighted in a tragic incident in 1598. The young Chief, Godfrey MacAlister, had a dispute with Charles McAlister, who had been his guardian during his minority. One version states that Godfrey had fallen in love with a young lady of great property and that Charles had prevented their union and contrived to get her married to one of his own sons. When this dispute resulted in Charles' death, his sons fled to Askomull House, the home of Angus MacDonald, Lord of Dunnyveg. Since Angus and his son, Sir James, were then at odds, Godfrey went to Sir James for support. Together they surrounded Askomull with several hundred armed men. When Angus and the others refused to come out, the house was set on fire. While Angus received minor injuries, it seems none were killed. With the rise of Campbell power, the MacAlisters were placed in the unenviable position of holding their land of Argyll. Being vassals of Argyll, they were thrust into close contact with the Campbells for many generations, often intermarrying (as did many MacDonalds) and occasionally collaborating in a raid on Arran. They maintained, however, their MacDonald allegiance by entering into bonds of support with the Lord of Dunnyveg and later MacDonald of Clanranald. Throughout the late 16th and 17th centuries, the MacAlisters held prominent positions in the area of Kintyre, including Constable of Tarbert Castle, Admiral of the Western Seas, Commissioners of Argyll and Justices of the Peace, etc. Yet, as shown in 1614 with their defense of Dunnyveg Castle, when such duties conflicted with their MacDonald allegiance, clan ties prevailed. This loyalty was displayed again in the 1640s when the Clan MacAlister was one of the strongest supporters of Alasdair McColla, the great Clan Donald hero, in the wars of Montrose. Hector MacAlister, 6th of Loup, had stood security for the good behavior of Colkitto, Alasdair's father, along with Alexander MacDonald of Largie. In fact, the dashing Alasdair married the Chief of Loup's daughter, reportedly to the great dismay of many hopeful maidens of the day. When the Campbells overran Kintyre and Alasdair was forced to flee, numerous MacAlisters were hanged for their McDonald support, including Hector and two of his sons. Unfortunately, one story has it that the invasion was made possible because the MacAlisters, who were given the task of guarding the isthmus, were busy besieging Skipness Castle instead. Once again, in 1690, the MacAlisters joined the MacDonalds in fighting for James VII, when Alexander, 8th Chief of Loup, fought under the Viscount Dundee at the Battle of Killikrankie. When the Highland Clans were summoned Alexander, described as a grim-faced man with auburn hair, brought not only his MacAlister forces, but the MacLachans from Morvern and Ardgour as well. Little is known, however, of the MacAlister involvement in the uprisings of 1715 and 1745. A traditional story among the MacAlisters and MacDonalds relates the involvement of some MacAlisters in the battle of Culloden. It seems that these MacAlisters were forcibly recruited into a Campbell regiment fighting for King George. While they did accompany the regiment, the night before the battle they purposefully got the Campbells so inebriated (probably not a difficult task) that they were unable to fight the next day. We can assume that the MacAlisters were equally incapacitated. While the MacAlisters were never a very large clan, numerically, they provided loyal and often distinguished support to the Clan Donald throughout the centuries. Although they often held important official positions, they seemed willing to defy the government when it threatened their clan rights and privileges. This mutual family support was the foundation of the clan system and both MacAlisters and MacDonalds should be proud of their shared history [4]
[edit] Septs of the Mac Alister Clan
- Alastair
- Alexander
- Alison
- Alistair
- Allison
- Allister
- MacAlasdair
- MacAlaster
- MacAlester
- MacAlister
- MacAllister
- MacAllister
- McAlister
- McAlester
- McAllister
- McCallister
- McCollister
- McLister
- Sanders
- Saunders
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://members.aol.com/macaliste2/article1.htm
- ^ http://members.aol.com/macaliste2/article2.htm
- ^ http://www.clanmcalister.org/glenbarr.html
- ^ http://members.aol.com/macaliste2/article4.htm
