Red Hector of the Battles Maclean
Hector Roy Maclean | |
---|---|
6th Chief of Clan Maclean 2nd Laird of Duart | |
In office 1405-1411 (6 years) | |
Preceded by | Lachlan Lubanach Maclean, 5th Chief, father |
Succeeded by | Lachlan Bronneach Maclean, 7th Chief, son |
Personal details | |
Died | 1411 |
Parent | Lachlan Lubanach Maclean |
Red Hector of the Battles Maclean (?-1411), or Eachann Ruadh nan Cath in Scottish Gaelic, was the 6th Chief of Clan Maclean.
Biography
He was the son of Lachlan Lubanach Maclean, and he early distinguished himself by daring exploits, and was noted as being one of the best swordsmen of his time. He became so celebrated as a swordsman, that many knights who had gained for themselves renown came from distant parts to measure weapons with him. One of these was a renowned knight of Norway, who challenged Hector Roy to mortal combat. The challenge was accepted. They met at Salen, in Mull, where they fought, and where the Norwegian fell. A green mound and cairn on the sea-shore mark the spot where Hector had his antagonist buried.[1]
There was an old Gaelic poem, which affirmed that Hector commanded a great fleet to the coast of Ireland, and there defeated some of the ships of the King of England. He landed his troops; placed the city of Dublin under contribution; carried fire and sword into the country; destroyed many of his enemies, and burnt their houses. This must be the expedition hinted at in Raphael Holinshed's Chronicle of Ireland where it is recorded that "in the year 1400 at Whitesuntide, the first year of King Henry IV, the constable of Dublin, and divers others at Stanford in Ulster, fought by sea with the Scots, where many Englishmen were slain and drowned."[1]
Marriage and children
Hector Roy's marriage to a daughter of the Earl of Douglas (either Archibald the Third or Fourth Earl of Douglas) greatly enlarged his influence. That nobleman made many overtures to induce Hector to withdraw himself from his dangerous connection with his uncle Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross, now on the brink of open war with Robert, Duke of Albany and regent of the kingdom. Hector firmly withstood the blandishments of his father-in-law, for his duty as hereditary Lieutenant-General of the Isles was to his uncle Donald, and the approaching contest afforded a new field for the display of his valor.[1]
Death
While serving as a lieutenant-general under his uncle Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, Hector was killed by Sir Alexander Irvine, 3rd Chief of Clan Irvine and Laird of Drum Castle, in hand-to-hand combat, which was described as "a noble and notable single combat" where both men died of their injuries.[1]
Legacy
The 19th-century poet Iain mac Ailein, a major figure in both Scottish Gaelic literature and in that of Canadian Gaelic, was a descendant of Red Hector of the Battles.[2]
Ancestors
Eachuinn Ruadh nan cath Maclean | Father: Lachlan Lubanach Maclean of Duart | Paternal Grandfather: Iain Dubh mac Gilliemore Maclean | Paternal Great-Grandfather: Maolcaluim mac Giliosa Maclean |
Paternal Great-grandmother: Rioghnach of Carrick | |||
Paternal Grandmother: Daughter of Cumming, Lord of the Braes of Lochaber | Paternal Great-Grandfather: Cumming, Lord of the Braes of Lochaber | ||
Paternal Great-Grandmother: | |||
Mother: Mary Macdonald | Maternal Grandfather: John of Islay, Lord of the Isles | Maternal Great-Grandfather: Aonghus Óg Mac Domhnaill, Lord of Islay | |
Maternal Great-Grandmother: Áine Ní Chatháin | |||
Maternal Grandmother: Margaret Stewart | Maternal Great-grandfather: Robert II of Scotland | ||
Maternal Great-Grandmother: Elizabeth Mure |
References
This article incorporates text from A history of the clan Mac Lean 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, by John Patterson MacLean, a publication from 1889, now in the public domain in the United States.
- ^ a b c d 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. 40.
- ^ Natasha Sumner and Aidan Doyle (2020), North American Gaels: Speech, Song, and Story in the Diaspora, McGill-Queen's University Press. Pages 14-16.
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- Gillean of the Battle Axe (fl. 1250s) 1st Chief c.1250s
- Malise mac Gilleain (?–1300) 2nd Chief c.1260–1300
- Malcolm Maclean, 3rd Chief (fl. 1310s) 3rd Chief 1300–c.1350s
- John Dubh Maclean, 4th Chief (fl. 1350s) 4th Chief
- Lachlan Lubanach Maclean (c.1350–c.1405) 5th Chief flourished 1390s
- Red Hector of the Battles Maclean (c.1368–1411) 6th Chief c.1405–11
- Lachlan Bronneach Maclean (fl. 1470s) 7th Chief
- 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