Organisations > Clan Donald roll of honour

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the Steward, he was induced to divorce his lawful wife, Amy MacRuari, and to
contract an alliance with Margaret, the daughter of Robert. No doubt John was
dazzled by the splendour of the alliance, and during the remainder of his life he
was in close relationship with the Crown and remained so until his death in 1380,
when he was buried with great pomp and splendour in Iona. The death of John of
Isla may be said to have completed a period in the annals of the Clan which it has
been found expedient to deal with as a whole rather than by dwelling at length
upon the achievements of individuals who gained reputations for military ability,
but the history of the Clan from then until the practical extinction of the Clan
system after the rising of 1745 is of such a nature that, in a sketch like this, it
must be subordinated to the personal history of some of the more prominent
members.
Donald, the eldest son of John of Isla by the marriage with Margaret Stewart,
succeeded his father in the chiefship of the Clan, with the acquiescence of his half
brothers, the sons of Amy MacRuari, and was " crowned " MacDonald and Lord
of the Isles in the Island of Eigg in the midst of a great gathering of the Clan and
the vassals of the Isles. His firm and generous rule made him popular among the
Clan and his dependents, and he was ever ready to assert and uphold the position
and independence of the Clan, owning no loyalty to the Scottish Crown. During
the years following his succession the relations between Scotland and England
were strained, and we find Donald and several of the more important of his relatives
frequent visitors at the English Court.
It is not necessary here to enlarge upon the causes which led the island chief
to lay claim to the Earldom of Ross and to enter upon the campaign which
culminated in the Battle of Harlaw, fought on the 26th June, 1411. The facts are
well recorded in history and are easily accessible to those interested. Suffice it to
say that the fiery cross was sent round, and the whole Clan with its vassals rallied
to the fight. The MacLeans and MacKinnons, Camerons and Macintoshes, and
MacLeods from Harris all hastened to the rendezvous at Ardtornish, and the army
of about 10,000 set sail for the west coast of Ross, where they disembarked at
Stromeferry. Marching through the glens to Dingwall, they were there opposed
by Angus Dubh MacKay, and a fierce engagement ensued. The MacKays fought
with all their accustomed bravery but were decisively routed, Angus himself being
taken prisoner, while his brother and many of their foremost men were killed.
MacDonald took possession of the Castle of Dingwall, garrisoned it, and resumed
his march, proceeding to Inverness by Beauly- Here he halted, and diverting his
line of march to Castle Dounie, administered a chastisement to Lovat and his
Frasers, who had opposed his claim to the Earldom of Ross. Having reached
Inverness he planted his standard there, and summoning all the fighting men of
Ross and the North to his banner, he prepared for his great campaign. Many
rallied to Donald's standard, the only chiefs of note standing out being MacKenzie
and Lovat. The former was of little account, but Lovat fought against Donald
at the Battle of Harlaw.
Donald was quite well aware that although in actual possession of the Earldom
of Ross he was not likely to remain undisturbed in his acquisition, and as he had
threatened in his quarrel with the Regent to burn Aberdeen, he proceeded through
Moray with the intention of carrying out his threat. But the gentlemen of Aberdeen
were not disposed to sit quietly under the threat, and with their armed retainers,
they assembled under the Earl of Mar.
Mar advanced by Inverury and came into contact with the Highland Army at
Harlaw. His force was much smaller than Donald's, but this disadvantage was