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Clan Cameron

Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber[7] and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles.[8] The Chief of the clan is customarily referred to as simply "Lochiel".[9]

Clan Cameron

Aonaibh Ri Chèile (Let Us Unite).[2]

Chlanna nan con thigibh a' so 's gheibh sibh feòil (Sons of the Hounds, Come Hither And Get Flesh)[3]

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

The origins of Clan Cameron are uncertain and there are several theories.[9] Traditionally, it is believed that the Camerons of Lochiel were descended from Banquo, Thane of Lochaber.[10][11][12] The first chief, who in some accounts is asserted to have been an 8th century 'Danish prince',[9] may have been called Cameron from his crooked nose (Scottish Gaelic: cam-shròn, cf. Camshron); such nicknames were common in Highland Gaelic culture, and his descendants would have then adopted the name.[9][13]


Another possible origin is that Donald Dubh, the first authentic chief, was descended from the mediaeval family of Cameron of Ballegarno in Fife, related to the ancient Mormaers of Fife.[14] Moncreiffe of that Ilk corroborated this theory.[15]

Uniting the Mael-anfhaidh kindred[edit]

Whatever their origin, around the beginning of the 15th century (or possibly earlier), the Camerons established themselves as a Highland clan in the western end of the Great Glen in Lochaber.[15] It is likely they did so through the marriage of a local heiress of the Mael-anfhaidh kindred (Clan Mael-anfaidh, which Moncreiffe translates as "children of He who was Dedicated to the Storm").[15] The Collins Scottish Clan Encyclopedia states that the heiress was from the MacMartin of Letterfinlay family.[14]


By the 15th century, after the Mael-anfhaidh chiefship had passed into the Cameron family, the local families of MacMartin of Letterfinlay, MacGillonie of Strone and MacSorley of Glen Nevis were absorbed within the incoming Clan Cameron.[15] In consequence, the early chiefs of the Highland Camerons were sometimes styled "MacGillonay".[15] Studies of Manuscript 1467 have thrown closer light on the relationships between the Camerons, MacGillonies, MacMartins and others.[16][17][18] The MacMartins and MacMillians are also sometimes described as being related to the Old Clan Chattan[19][20]


Since the 15th century though, Clan Cameron chiefs have been more commonly styled Mac Dhomnuill Dubh, in reference to the first Cameron chief whom succession can be traced.[15] Donald Dubh was the first "authentic" chief or captain of this confederation of tribes which gradually became known as the Clan Cameron,[14] taking the name of their captain as the generic name of the whole, until the clan was first officially recognized by that name in a charter of 1472.[8][9]

Wars of Scottish Independence[edit]

According to tradition, during the Wars of Scottish Independence, the Clan Cameron fought for King Robert the Bruce, led by John de Cameron, VII Chief against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and later led by the VIII Chief John de Cameron at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.[9]

14th century and clan conflicts[edit]

It was in the time of chief Allan MacDonald Dubh Cameron, XII Chief of Clan Cameron that a feud began with the Clan Mackintosh and the larger Clan Chattan Confederation over disputed lands. The sept Macphail is found in both clans and relates to some members of this family migrating with Clan Chattan to the east whilst others remained and became part of Clan Cameron.[21] This feud would continue sporadically for about 300 years.[14]


The first recorded battle was the Battle of Drumlui in 1337 in which a dispute arose between the Clan Mackintosh and Clan Cameron over land at Glenlui and Loch Arkaig.[22]


This was followed by the Battle of Invernahoven in 1370, also against the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan.[9][23]


The Battle of the North Inch was fought in 1396 as a trial by combat, between thirty selected warriors on each side from the Clan Cameron and Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh.[9][24]

: Ewen Cameron, XIII Chief of Camerons, rebuilt "Tor Castle" in the early 15th century. It was abandoned (but not torn down) by his great-great-great-grandson Sir Ewen "Dubh" Cameron of Lochiel, XVII Chief of Camerons. Tor Castle was used by the Camerons as a refuge from attacks by the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch.[4]

Tor Castle

: Chief Sir Ewen wanted a more "convenient house" and built Achnacarry Castle circa 1655, which was burned to the ground by Hanoverian forces following the Battle of Culloden in 1746.[4] In 1802, Donald Cameron, XXII Chief, built a new mansion house at Achnacarry,[4] after repaying a huge fine to the British Government to regain the estates of his ancestors. The house remains, near the line of trees that Lochiel (the Gentle) planted on the day that he heard of the landing of Bonnie Prince Charlie. There is a museum in a cottage nearby, founded by Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel in 1989.[4]

Achnacarry Castle

The Camerons of Lochiel also had a castle on Eilean nan Craobh (Tree Island) in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.[52]

[4]

Basic Clan Cameron

[2]

Cameron of Lochiel

[2]

Hunting Cameron (of Lochiel)

[2]

There are several tartans of Clan Cameron.


Others include:

The MacMartins or Camerons of Letterfinlay;

The Camerons of Glen Nevis;

The Camerons of Callart and Lundavra;

The Camerons of Erracht and

The Camerons of Clunes.

[53]

There are two crests that can be worn, the original Dexter Arm crest and the Five Arrows crest representing the five united branches of the clan with a band under the overall leadership of the Camerons of Lochiel. The five branches are:

Cameron (disambiguation)

Battle of Culloden

Jacobite risings

Eilean Munde

Lochaber axe

Cateran

Raids of Urquhart

and the Loch of the Lost Sword.[54][55]

Rannoch Moor

Clan Cameron Museum

Clan Cameron Interactive Network

Archived 12 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Association Scotland

Clan Cameron Online

Clan Cameron Australia

Clan Cameron Association of New Zealand

Lochiel

Achnacarry

Clan Cameron Gathering Website

Cameron Tartans