9th Century AD
Chiefs were elected from among ruling families of each glen: Glen Lyon, Glen Lochy and Glen Strae. This was a period of anarchy in Scotland Picts seek help from Dalriadic Scots in face of horrific incursions by heathen Viking marauders.
The Picts lost control of Alba to Scots through intermarriages. King Cirig (Girig, Grig, Gregor), thought to be a Pict, and maternal nephew of Kenneth MacAlpin (who was half Pict) ruled Alba from 882 to 893. The Pict language and culture were overwhelmed by the Scots. Isolated Picts and Scots in western Perthshire glens came together to defend against encroaches by powerful expanding Dalriadic Scottish tribes from nearby Argyll, to the west.
10th Century AD
Chiefs were elected from among ruling families of each glen: Glenlyon, and Glenlochy.
Finghin was the Abbot of Glendochart in 966. He was said to be a man of action: he packed his bags and went to Rome for an audience with the Pope. Finghin's answer to the problem of getting Pictish successors to the Abthanerie in Glendochart and elsewhere was quite simple At the time he was titular Abbot of Iona. He would provide them himself, if he could get the Papal sanction to marry. This the Pope readily granted. The precedent was set for Pictic Abbots to marry and initiate their own clans.
In this way, arose the clan Finghin (MacKinnon), and MacNab (mac an abba, son of the abbot). There are many other clans, (Macpherson, MacAustillan, and MacVicar) that had Pictic churchmen as their founders. But the MacGregors were different: they always signed official documents as, for example Donaldus Gregorii signifying they were members of the Gregory group or clan, but not necessarily descendants by paternal bloodlines. There is a Gaelic tradition that Finghin was a grandson of King Girig, however there were several notable "Gregors" after his death, indicating that there was no stigma attached to the name. Some of the Glendochart or Strathearn people were known to be directly descended from Girig by other grandchildren.
However, in those early years, many of the Gregarach were not sure, and, the clan had, according to Pictic custom, assimilated everyone who lived in the area as full clan family members from both paternal and maternal family lines of descent. To properly include every man, it was agreed to drop 'Mac' from the proper name of the Clan. To this day MacGregors are referred to as Clan 'Gregor', not clan 'MacGregor', although in those early days were referred to as Clan Alpin.
Griogair of "Golden Bridles" the name-father and thus the first chief of the clan known as Clan Gregor, died 19 April 1390. He is buried on the north side of the high altar in Dysart near Dalmally, the old church in Glen Urquaidh (Orchy). This continued to be the burial place of Clan Gregor chiefs until 1528. A number of stone coffins together with foliated tomb slabs each showing in a panel the figure of an armed warrior with spear and two-handed sword, short tunic and high, conical, pointed helmet were found when the old church was demolished.
From Griogair sprang four principal Clan Gregor families: these were Glenstrae, Glencarnaig, Roro, and Glengyle. The Chiefs originally were of the Glenorchy branch, then the Glenstrae branch which died out as a result of long persecution. Leadership then often switched from one to the other of the remaining families, depending on which was perceived as the more capable of handling the position.
Clan Alpin expanded westward into Glenorchy, assimilated many Dalriadic Scots of eastern Argyll and in a few generation became the most aggressive of the clan families.
11th Century AD
According to Buchanan of Auchmar, Clan Gregor was located in Glenorchy before the reign of Malcolm Canmore (1057-1093). Hugh of Glenorchy appears to have been the first of the Chiefs who was so styled. Before this, the Clan system as we know it, did not exist. The Supreme Chief elected from among ruling families from each glen.
12th Century AD
In 1124 King David brought 1,000 Norman nobles into Scotland and granted them land seized from native clans, mostly in the lowlands in the south. He introduced the feudal system to consolidate control over a difficult mountainous country where only local Chiefs commanded obedience. The Lowlands quickly succumbed. The Highlands took much longer.
The Glenorchy family gained supreme hereditary chieftainship of the entire Clan Gregor. Clan Gregor begins transformation into a quasi-feudal clan under pressure of Kings in Edinburgh.
13th Century AD
In 1222 King Alexander II bestows Glenorchy to Clan Gregor for their help in conquering the Nordic/Scots in Argyll. (Bruce granted Loch Awe to Campbells, who also claimed Glenorchy.) In 1100 the family of Gregor, Clan Alpin, changed its name to Clan Gregor to consolidate control over all former Clan Alpin property, and to resist Campbell efforts to encroach on Clan Gregor territory.
However, Clan Gregor lost influence at the usurped Norman royal court. The Campbells were granted Loch Awe by the Bruce, then blockaded MacGregor glens by sea.
14th Century AD
The Campbells became most powerful clan in Argyll, encroached on Glenorchy, Glenstrae, Glenlyon and Glenlochy. The Campbells became the hereditary sheriffs, continued their land acquisitions with force of law. John of Bruckleg, second son of Iain cham MacGregor of Glenorchy and founder of the Brackley MacGregors of Glencarnaig, defeated the MacNabs at Crianlarich. Iain dubh MacGregor was the 3rd Chief (b. c1360, d Stronmelochan 1415) and was founder of the MacGregors of Glenstrae.
15th Century AD
Seat of the clan chief moved to Glenstrae. The MacGregors of Glenorchy became extinct. Lochaber of Glenlochy remained, while the Glenlyon branch also became extinct. Brackley Roro Dughaill ciar Gregor Aulin MacGregor, who was the 6th son of Iain cham, was the last MacGregor Laird of Glenorchy who died owning the ancestral lands there in free tenure, not as under-tenants of the Earls of Argyll. This loss of the family estates occurred about 1435.
Duncan beg MacGregor, died 17th February 1477, was chief, and eldest son of Gregor Aulin MacGregor, and ancestor of the MacGregors of Roro. The house of Roro inherited the representation of the extinct house of Glenlyon. Dughaill ciar MacGregor, born about 1416, was the youngest son of Gregor Aulin, ancestor of the Glengyle MacGregors. Dughaill ciar was so termed from a peculiar gray color of eyes and hair. He settled in the parish of Balquhidder in Perthshire, a few miles east of Glenorchy in Argylshire, the ancient home of his ancestors. He established a branch of the MacGregors which continued in Balquhidder for over three centuries.
By 1440 Clan Gregor lost all their Argyleshire lands. Colin Campbell became the first Campbell Earl of Glenorchy and began expelling MacGregors, Fletchers and MacGruders, replacing them with Campbells. Patrick of Glenstrae, the 5th chief, was faced with an ever-increasing encroachment of his territory by Sir Colin Campbell, whose father, the Clan Campbell chief, had granted him the superiority of Glenorchy in 1432. He died at his fortress of Stronmelochan 28 April 1461.
In 1488 Campbell and Stewart Lords were given Royal permits to exterminate the displaced Gregareach. Stewarts annihilated the Appin MacIvers, and then the MacLivers in Glenlyon, and later sold it to the Campbells. Clan Gregor retreated east into Perthshire.
16th Century AD
Glenstrae became the senior branch with hereditary right of Chieftainship Glenstrae Lochaber of Glenlochy, Brackley of Glencarnaig, and Roro representing Glenlyon. Dughaill ciar of Glengyle John dhu nan Lann, the last of the house of Glenlyon, died soon after 1500. The house of Roro inherited the representation of the extinct house of Glenlyon.
When Iain dubh II, of the house of Glendstrae, died in 1519 he left no heir. Passing over the senior houses of Brackley and Roro the MacGregors' landlords, the Campbells of Glenorchy, imposed the succession of Iain dubh MacGregor, chieftain of the line known as Clan Dughaill ciar, residing in Glengyle, as 7th Chief of MacGregor. This was because Iain had married to the daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy, who hoped to control the Gregareach through his son-in-law. These MacGregors proved the most unruly of all. In 1571, Grioghair ruadh of Glenstrae, 10th Clan Chief, was executed by Colin Campbell.
17th Century AD
The Campbells pursued and murdered the ruling family of Glenstrae until it was rendered ineffective Ladasach, formerly of Glenstrae, Glencarnaig Roro Glengyle, Balhaldie, and Lochaber, formerly of Glenlochy.
This was a period of anarchy in Scotland, and the MacGregors become landless. By April 1601, John Vallich, younger son of Gregor of Roro was residing at Strathallan, he prospered and founded the house of Balhaldie at Strathallan. In 1604, Grand Chief Alasdair ruadh MacGregor of Glenstrae sent out the "Fiery Cross" to gather Gregareach for retribution for the slaying of two MacGregors by Colquhouns. Robert aberach MacGregor, Chief of Lochaber MacGregors and a brilliant military strategist, planned the battle of Glenfruin. He was the eldest son of Duncan abrach.
1603 was a watershed year for Clan Gregor. Malcom oig MacGregor, Chief of the Glengyle MacGregors, led the Gregareach in their victory over a combined force of Colquhouns, Buchanans, Grahams, and a detachment of Dunbar militia at Glenfruin. In 1604, the 11th Clan Chief, Alasdair ruadh of Glenstrae, accepted responsibility for Glenfruin. He was subsequently betrayed in a promise of safe conduct by the Earl of Argyll, and finally executed nearly a year after Glenfruin, along with ten of his relatives, leaders at the Battle of Glenfruin.
Glenstrae and Glenlochy were seized by the Earl of Argyll. The disinherited line, the Glenstrae MacGregors, known in Gaelic as the 'Children of the Mist' (though some say the real name was the "Sons of the Wolf") carried on the resistance with some success, involving the usurping chiefs in their brigandage. The Campbells resorted to a campaign of treachery, murder, and annihilation of the Glenstrae line of chiefs. They concentrated on three generations, hunting down and murdering them. Duncan Ladassach, Lord MacGregor of Ardchoille, tutor of Glenstrae, and the rightful chief, was the leader of all the most recalcitrant Gregareach of his time.
After Glenstrae was lost to the clan, the Glenstrae line became known as the House of Ladassach. They continued as the grand chiefs of the clan, even though the family was severely weakened and rendered ineffective by Campbell predation. Their position was held simply through the utmost respect and admiration held by all Gregareach, who never forgot the sacrifices made by this, the bravest of all clan lines. Archibald of Ladassach was an ineffective Chief, so Donald glas MacGregor of Glenstrae, Lt. Col. in King James VII's (James II of England) Scottish army, assumed the responsibilities of defacto chief of the clan Gregor and financially supported the Clan Gregor apparatus.
Donald glas was imprisoned after the battle of Killiekrankie until October 1691 in Edinburgh's notorious Tolbooth. in 1693 he was released but sometime later died from injuries he received while being tortured in the Tolbooth.
18th Century AD
The Glenstrae-Ladasach line died out in 1714. Despite Ian og of the House of Glencarnaig being the next senior claimant, Alasdair of Balhaldie was elected Chief in 1714 by five ruling families. John Murray of Glencarnaig was elected Chief in 1774 by an assembly of over 800 Gregarach. Ladasach of Glenstrae, which became extinct in 1714; Glencarnaig, next in seniority, but passed by in 1714, became Chief 1774.
Roro, representing Glenlyon, abdicated 1760; Brackley of Lochaber scattered; Balhaldie, became the most wealthy; and Ciar mohr of Glengyle, the most powerful branch, was last in seniority; Archibald of Kilmonnan died in 1714, last of the Glenstrae line. In 1714 Alasdair MacGregor (aka William Drummond of Balhaldie), was elected as chief. He was succeeded by his son, Alexander, in the late 1760s. Part of the agreement to his succession was for him to allay the Queen's pension to him as chief and divide it among the major Houses of Glencarnaig, Roro, and Glengyle.
Gregor "ghlun dhu" of Glengyle, born in 1688, bought the lands of Glengyle in 1703. With MacGregor of Glencarnaig, he was joint Colonel of the Jacobite MacGregor regiment in 1745. In March of 1740 the Balhaldie line was recognized by James VIII as the superior house of Clan Gregor by the declaration of Alexander and his heirs as "Knights and Baronets of the Ancient realm of Scotland".
After Culloden (1746) the Clan system was abolished by the victorious Hanoverians
Also at point in history of repression of the Highlander, the "Black Watch" was initiated by the Hanoverian-supportive Campbells of Argyle and others. These government troops were chosen from those serving clan chiefs who had aligned with the Crown. Their mission was to "watch" the Highlanders and repress any groups and individuals bearing weapons and wearing the outlawed tartans and kilts.
On 1st April 1760, Duncan MacGregor, (alias Gordon) impoverished by being on the losing side of the rebellion of 1745, renunciated his claim to the Roro estate, causing the House of Roro to lose their voice in Clan Gregor affairs, and many descendants emigrated to Australia. In 1774, when the Act of Proscription was finally repealed, and there was another election by 800 of the Gregareach in attendance.
General John Murray MacGregor of Lanrick, descended from the Brackley Glen Carnaig line, became the new chief. He was elected while Alexander of Balhaldie was still alive and serving in the army in the West Indies. The Glencarnaig line, renamed Glencarnoch, provides current chiefs.
19th Century AD to Present
House of Lanrick/Glencarnoch Clan Gregor Society inc. In 1822 Sir Evan John MacGregor 1785-1841, 21st Chief, founded the Clan Gregor Society in 1822.
List of Chiefs since the clan's name was officially changed to Clan Gregor:
Griogair of the Golden Bridles, b~1300; d~1360
Eoin cam (Iain of the One-Eye), son of Griogair, .b~1325; obit.1390
Eoin dubh, son of Iain cam, b~1350; obit.1415
Gille-coluim (Malcolm "the lame lord"), son of Eoin dubh, b~1375; obit.1440
Padraig, son of Gille-coluim, b~1405; obit.1461
Eoin dubh, son of Padraig, b~1440 obit.1519 (his son Maol-coluim dsp 1498)
Eoin MacEoghan, gt-gt-gt-grandson of #3.
Eoin dubh, b~1480; obit 1528
Griogair ruadh of Glenstrae, son of Eoin MacEoghan, b~1515; obit 1547
Iain ruadh, son of Alasdair ruadh, b~1540; obit 1550
Griogair ruadh of Glenstrae, the "arrow of Glenlyon," brother of Iain ruadh, b~1541;
executed 1571
Alasdair ruadh of GlenStrae, son of Griogair ruadh, b~1569; executed 1604 (English names
are used from this point onwards)
Gregor, alias John Murray, nephew of Alasdair ruadh, b~1599; obit 1629, forced to sell Glenstrae to Glenorchy (Campbell) in 1624
Patrick Roy, brother of Gregor, b~1600; d~1650s
James, son of Patrick Roy d~1670s (?)
Gregor, son of Malcolm, grandson of Ewin the tutor, d~ 1680s
Archibald of Kilmanan, cousin of Gregor, d~1704 (last of the Glenstrae-Ladasach line) William MacGregor Drummond of Balhaldie - Roro - elected in 1714, died~1765
Alexander MacGregor Drummond of Balhaldie, b. 1758, succeeded 1765, died~1794.
He was not elected and was living outside Scotland. Had he been more dynamic
the opportunity for Sir John to campaign for the chiefship might not have arisen.
There were also disputes about the seniority and right of the original Balhaldie
in 1714. Alexander unsuccessfully sued Sir John Murray in 1795. Note the
numbering suggests that Sir John Murray did not accept the succession of
William in 1743.
Sir John Murray MacGregor of Lanrick 2nd Baronet, Glencarnaig branch, 1785-1841, elected in 1774.
Sir Evan John MacGregor 1785-1841, founder of the Clan Gregor Society in 1822.
Sir John Athole Bannatyne MacGregor 3rd Baronet. 1810-1851
Sir Malcolm Murray MacGregor of MacGregor 4th Baronet. b.1834, d.1879
Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, RN, 5th Baronet. b.1873
Brigadier Sir Gregor MacGregor of MacGregor, 6th Baronet. 1925-2003
Major Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, 7th Baronet. 2003~
Additional information regarding the History of Clan Gregor
'S rioghal mo dhream, i.e., "Royal is my race," is the proud boast of this indomitable clan, and the descent is traced to Griogar, third son of Alpin mac Achài', king of Scotland, commenced his reign in 787. Donngheal, the elder son, gave the patronymic MacGregor to his posterity, and his brother, Guarai, was founder of the clan, since distinguished as Mac Quarrie.
Malcolm, who died about the year 1164, appears to have been the first who is designated of Gleann Urchaidh (Glenorchy). Malcolm, who lived in the time of Bruce, supported his interest with the utmost power of the clan, and fought bravely at Bannockburn; he also accompanied Edward, the king's brother, in the invasion of Ireland, and having been severely wounded at Dundalk, he was afterwards alluded to as being am morear bacach, "the lame lord."
Campbell of Lochaw, in the fifteenth century, incited the MacNabs to quarrel with the Mac Gregors, who meeting their enemies in battle at Crianlarach, cut them off almost to a man. Lochaw thereupon received a commission to proceed by martial law against both, when they made common cause, but, after repeated skirmishes, with different success, they were forced about 1500 to obtain peace by ceding a considerable part of their lands to their too powerful neighbour.
The Battle of Glenfruin and the Proscription
Alastair of Glenstrae was celebrated for his martial prowess, and signally avenged a galling quarrel with the Colquhouns, who had attacked him by surprise, at the Battle of Glenfruin' "fruin" (froon) valley of sorrows in Gaelic, in 1603. The vanquished, excessively mortified, accused the MacGregors of having stained their laurels by the commission of acts of atrocious cruelty. Colquhoun endeavoured to "entrap and ensnare" the unfortunate victors "within compass of law," which he effectually did by a grievous complaint to the Lords of Council, when the whole clan were denounced rebels, and the Earl of Argyle was ordered to fall on them with fire and sword, a process by which, if successful, the MacGregor lands would be his reward; various collisions consequently took place.
Argyle at last succeeded in persuading the chief that he could procure his pardon if he would accompany him to the court in England, engaging to conduct MacGregor, who was outlawed, safely into that country. The latter part of the agreement he truly performed, for he conveyed his charge across the Tweed, but by an act of gross perfidy, he had old Alastair immediately seized and carried back to Edinburgh, where he was executed with thirty of his followers! On his death, without lawful issue, the clan, then in a state of disorder, elected a chief; but the head of the collateral branch reversed this arrangement very unceremoniously, by dragging the expectant of the honour from his inaugural chair in the kirk of Strath Fillan, and placing therein a more acceptable ruler in the person of Gregor, natural son of the late chief.
Terms Under the Proscription
The severity of the laws, under which the MacGregors were at this time suffering, is unparalleled:
- Those who might kill a MacGregor, were not only held "scaithless," but were actually rewarded by a free gift of their "haill moveable goods and gear"
- They were commanded to change their name under pain of death,
- Prohibited from carrying any arms, except a pointless knife to use at their meals,
- No greater number than four of the clan was permitted to meet together,
- Bloodhounds were employed to track them in their retreats,
- Their countrymen been as hostile as the law required,
- Clan Gregors had been speedily exterminated.
The Camerons, being stirred up to this service, agreed to attack the MacGregors, who, reinforced by a party of their friends, the Macphersons, marched northward, and gave battle in Brae Lochaber to their enemies, who met a signal defeat. The loyalty of this clan was remarkable, for, although suffering from a proscription so severe, they took the field under Montrose with their whole strength. That general did, indeed, assure them that when his majesty's affairs were settled, all their grievances should be redressed, and on the restoration, Charles II, in reward for their inflexible fidelity, annulled the statute which prohibited them from bearing the name MacGregor, and restored them to all rights and privileges, but the advantage of this act they unfortunately did not long enjoy, for it was insidiously rescinded by William III.
John, who was chief in 1715, adopted the name of Murray. Like his ancestors he maintained the claim of the Stewarts, but he did not deem it prudent to appear publicly in arms. The famous Rob Roy took the field, a hero of the Dugal Ciar branch of the clan, but he posted himself in sight of the field of battle at Dunblane, and, believing victory secure, he did not advance, remarking to a messenger sent from the Earl of Mar, with pressing orders to charge, that if he could not gain without the MacGregors, be could not gain with them. Robert, the succeeding chief, was so zealous a partizan of the exiled family, he mortgaged his whole estate to support it, and commmanded his clan in the Prince's army in 1745.
Culloden
When they were in the north, the Duke of Cumberland employed Mr. Gordon, of Alva, in Strathspey, to treat with them to lay down arms, offering restoration of their name, and other considerations, to which they replied that they could not desert the cause, but chose rather to risk all and die with the characters of honest men, than live in infamy, and disgrace their posterity. When the war was determined on the moor of Culloden, the clan marched off the field with banners flying, and dispersed in their own country, which was thoroughly ravaged by the victorious army.
The chief was long confined in Edinburgh Castle: and on his death, in 1758, the honour devolved on his brother Evan, who held a commission in the 41st regiment. John of Lanrick, who also bore the name of Murray, was created Baronet, in 1795. When the act which proscribed the MacGregors was repealed, he resumed the family name. On which occasion 826 clansmen of mature age, subscribed a judicial deed, acknowledging him to be chief, an honour which is disputed by MacGregor of Glengyle of the sliochd Gregor, a chroic, who are descended from the twelfth chief who died about 1413.
Sir John died in 1822, and was succeeded by the late distinguished officer and warm patriot, Sir Evan Murray MacGregor, who died in 1840, his successor Sir John Bannatyne MacGregor, who died in 1851. The military power of the MacGregors, in 1645, was 1000, and 700 when last mustered in their national independence, 1745. Colonel Alexander MacGregor Murray, in 1799, raised the first battalion of Clan Alpin Fencibles, 765 strong, and a second battalion was embodied making together 1230 men.
The Old Armorial Bearings:
arg. a sword in bend dexter, fir tree eradicated in bend sinister, proper, in chief a crown, gules.
Crest, a lion's head crowned with an antique diadem. The dexter supporter is a unicorn
denoting the royal descent, arg. crowned and horned, or; the sinister a
deer proper, tyned azure.
Motto: 'S Rioghal Mo Dhream (Royal Is My Race) and alternately E'en do bot spair nocht.
Suaicheantas or Badge of the Clan Alpin is Guithas (Scots pine), Pinus Sylvestris
Cath-Ghairm (war cry), Ard-choille ("the high wood")
Piobaireachdan, the Mac Gregor's piped salute, and The Battle of Glenfruin
The hereditary standard bearers were a family of the clan Mhurich, or Mac Phersons, and when the late Sir Evan mustered a body of his clansmen to swell the pomp of George the Fourth's visit to Edinburgh, the charge of the Brattach Griogaraich was assigned to two gentlemen of that name. The practice of swearing on the dirk, the most solemn oath of the Highlanders, is shown in this figure:
Above is said to be in the old kirkyard of Balquhidder, where, beside the tombstone of one of those murdered under the sanction of "Letters of fire and sword" the vengeful clansman vows unceasing enmity to the oppressors, the deceitful sons of Diarmid. He wears the short jacket and long waistcoat, woollen shirt, belted plaid, ca' da' hose and cuarrans. The sporan is from a rare specimen in Mr. Mac Ian's possession, and is curious from showing the primitive use of the thongs and tassels for closing the purse; on his bonnet is placed the clan badge.
James Mac Gregor, the son of the famous Rob, who served a major in the Highland army, escaped to France, where his urgent applications to Prince Charles and his chief being unavailing, he was reduced to extreme destitution. An offer of pardon was made to him by government, and a lucrative situation provided if he would secure Allan breac Stewart who had murdered Campbell, of Glenure factor over the confiscated estate of Ardsheil.
This he willingly undertook to do for his pardon, but respectfully declined the appointment, as he was born in the character of a gentleman, and never intended to accept of that which would be a disgrace to his family a well as a scourge to his country." In this he affords an example of that honour and independence which so strongly characterised the old Highlanders, and we regret that men of such high principle should have been subjected to a fate so hard. Shortly afterwards this unhappy member of a proscribed clan died at Paris in utter want.
The practice of levying "Black mail," a tribute exacted for protection afforded by the Highlanders, has been repeatedly denounced as a most tyrannous and oppressive exaction, but when the unwarlike inhabitants of open districts found that they could not defend themselves, the assistance of the Highlanders was solicited, and bonds of agreement were entered into between the parties. Thus to protect the city of Aberdeen from landward assaults, the magistrates engaged the chief of the Farquharsons who agreed to keep 300 men arms for that purpose.
The lawfulness of this obligation to the MacGregors was acknowledged by an act of council in 1658, charging the inhabitants of several parishes to pay up arrears, and holding them bound in future, except they should give regular intimation that they no longer required protection. The cruel treatment which this loyal clan so long experience aroused a feeling of respect and sympathy throughout the Highlands, and, to this day, Clann na Griogar is frequently given as a spontaneous and cordially received toast.
Extracts from James Logan's Clans of the Scottish Highlands, ClanGregor.org, History of Clan Gregor by A.G.M. MacGregor.