Clan Campbell

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Clan Campbell is historically one of the largest Highland Scottish clans.

The Arms of the Chief of Clan Campbell

Origin of the name

• Caim Beul (Gaelic for "Crooked mouth")

History

The origins of the Campbells are uncertain, it is claimed that the name is derived from the French de Campo Bello, there are a number of competing theories including the theory that the name is from the Gaelic cam beul meaning "curved mouth". The dispute over the name is part of a wider disagreement on origins of the clan between those who point to a Britannic Celtic origin and those who claim Irish descent. The relatively new field of genetic genealogy seems to suggest however that the Campbells are neither - and indeed seem to share a common Scottish ancestor with many of their ancient Argyll foes.

The name begins to be established in Argyll at the end of the 13th century, as followers of the Earl of Lennox, with Campbells owning lands in Kintyre and the famous warrior Cailean Mór (Great Colin) knighted (1380) and established at Loch Awe. Cailein Mor's (Great Colin's) older brother established at Strachur forming the oldest branch of Clan Campbell, see Campbell of Strachur. The family of Colin went on to become firm supporters of Robert the Bruce and benefited from his successes with grants of lands, titles and good marriages.

The first Lord Campbell was created in 1445. It was from the 15th century that the Campbells came to take an increasingly prominent role, Colin Campbell was en-nobled as the Earl of Argyll in 1457 and later became Baron of Lorn and was also granted lands in Knapdale, signs that the Argylls were one of the major forces in Scotland. Over the centuries, various Campbell Clan Chiefs, including Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, and John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, have played key roles in Scottish and, indeed, British history.

Castle Campbell/Castle Gloom

The castle was originally a property of the Stewarts, but passed by marriage to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll, and Chancellor of Scotland. He had the name of the castle changed by an act of Parliament to Castle Campbell in 1489. The Marquis of Montrose tried to take the castle in 1645, but failed.

The Hall Range was constructed c.1500 and would have originally provided additional lodging and public reception. The tower house was built in the late fifteenth century and was called Castle Gloom until 1489 when it was renamed Castle Campbell.

Campbells' luck ran out when they were faced with the choice of King or Cromwell. Initially choosing the King, later the Marquis (8th Earl) of Argyll switched his allegiance to Cromwell. Cromwell's forces occupied the castle in 1653, and only part of the castle was restored after it was burned in 1654 by Scots in retaliation for Campbells support to Cromwell and its use as a residence ended. Just seven years later the 8th Earl of Argyll was executed for treason to the King.

Inveraray Castle

Argyll became the centre of the Clan and the castle of the Chief was established at Inveraray Castle. Other Campbell lands were scattered across Angus, Ayrshire (Loudoun), Clackmannan (Argyll), Nairnshire (Cawdor) Perthshire, Seahouses (Northumberland).

In 1948 Castle Campbell was given into the care of Historic Scotland and remains owned by the Government.

Wars of Scottish Independence

During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan Campbell fought alongside Robert the Bruce, against the English at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.

Clan Conflicts

• Battle of Red Ford, Lorn 1296; Battle between Clan Campbell & Clan MacDougall. This battle took place due to the feud over coastal lands between the two clans. In the late 13th century the rising force on Scotland's Western Seaboard was the MacDougalls. Controlling the Western mainland was MacDougall's castles, Dunollie and Dunstaffnage, near Oban in Argyllshire while their huge fleet of galleys commanded the seas. Many lives were lost on both sides at the Battle of Red Ford which takes its name from the Ford which ran red with blood where the battle took place. Also on the day one of Campbell's castles on loch Awe was seized by the MacDougalls. The Campbell Chief Cailean Mor Campbell was killed at the battle. His body was carried to the church of St. Peter the Deacon at Kilchrenan on Loch Awe side and buried there. Although the exact burial place is unknown, in 1816 the Duke of Argyll inserted in the gable of the present church, a 14th century gravestone in memory of his ancestor.[link]

• Battle of Flodden Field 1513, Clan Campbell fought on the side of the Scottish King James IV against an English Army. Many of the poweful Earls of Scotland participated in this battle which is sometimes referd to as the Charge of the Earls which included Campbell's Earl of Argyll.[link]

• Clan Campbell was among the Scottish forces who fought the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh on 10th September 1547. Due to the large number of Scottish lives lost at this battle the 10th of September is rememberd today in Scotland as Black Saturday. [link]

• Clan Campbell fought at the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594. Where the Earl of Argyll's forces were defeated by the forces of the Earl of Huntly. Argyll's forces consisted of Clan Campbell, Atholl, the Chattan Confederation of Clan MacKintosh and Clan Forbes and others. Huntly's forces consisted of Clan Gordon, Comyn/Cumming, Clan Cameron and others.[link]

• Battle of Inverlochy (1645), This battle was between the Scottish Argyll government forces of Clan Campbell led by Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll and the Royalist forces of the Marquess of Montrose mainly made up from Clan MacDonald, Clan MacLean and other MacDonalds and men from Ireland. Through cunning tactics the Royalist force of 1500 MacDonalds & MacLeans defeated the Argyll Campbell force of 3000.[link]

• 1645, The Clan Campbell, neighbours of the Clan Lamont had steadily enroached the Lamont's lands. After the Campbells were defeated by James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645 the Clan Lamont took the opportunity to lay waste to the Campbell's territory.

• 1646, Dunoon Massacre, However the following year in 1646 the powerful Clan Campbell army invaded the Clan Lamont taking their Castles Toward and Ascog. Sir James Lamont surrended after accepting fair terms for his people. However the Campbells then slaughterd over two hundred of Lamont's men, women and children. Elsewhere one tree was said to have carried thirty five bodies from its branches and another thirty six men were buried alive. The two Lamont castles were decimated and Sir James Lamont was thrown into a dungeon for five years. This became known as the Dunoon Massacre.

• 1647; Siege of Duart Castle; In 1647 Duart Castle was attacked and laid siege to by the Argyll government troops of Clan Campbell led by Stuart A Campbell, but they were defeated and driven off by the Royalist troops of Clan MacLean.[link]

• Battle of Stirling (1648), Campbells were among the forces of the Marquis of Argyll who was defeated at the Battle of Stirling in 1648 by the Earl of Lanerick's forces, commanded by Sir George Munro. Among Argyll's dead was William Campbell of Glenfalloch and Sir Colin Campbell of Ardkinglas killed in action.[link][link]

• Battle of Altimarlech 1678; A battle took place between Clan Campbell and Clan Sinclair. Legend has it that so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells were able to cross the river without getting their feet wet. Clearly, however, the Sinclairs had influence in high places as only a few years later, in 1681, they regained the earldom by an order of Parliament.[link][link]

• 1678; Archibald Campbell the 9th Earl, son of the Marquess of Argyll, invades the Clan MacLean lands on the Isle of Mull and garrisons Duart Castle.

• In 1692, 78 unarmed MacDonalds were murdered in the Massacre of Glencoe when a government initiative to suppress Jacobitism was entangled in the long running feud between Clan MacDonald and Clan Campbell. The slaughter of the MacDonalds at the hands of the soldiers, led by Captain Robert Campbell, after enjoying their hospitality for over a week was a major affront of Scottish Law and Highland tradition.[link]

• Battle of Sheriffmuir 1715; Here the British government forces of Clan Campbell fought against the Jacobites of Clan MacDonald who were under MacDonald of Keppoch. However there were in fact some Campbells who took the side of the Jacobites led by the son of Campbell of Glenlyon whose father had commanded the government troops at the Massacre of Glencoe 22 years earlier. The two young men "buried the hatchet" and swore to be brothers in arms, fighting side by side in the Battle of Sheriffmuir. The British government forces of Clan Campbell defeated the Jacobites.[link]

Jacobite Uprisings

The Clan Campbell supported the British Government and fought against the rebel Jacobites at the Battle of Falkirk (1746) and the Battle of Culloden 1746.

Gaelic names

• Caimbeul (Surname)
• Caimbeulach (Singular)
• O Duibne (Collective)

Motto & slogan

• Motto: Ne Obliviscaris (Do Not Forget)
• Slogan: "Cruachan!" (from the mountain north of Loch Awe, overlooking the bulk of the Campbell lands in Argyll)

Pipe music

• "Baile Inneraora" (The Campbell's Are Coming)

Tartans

Ancient Campbell, is also known as Black Watch, although generally in lighter shades. Each branch, Campbell of Breadalbane, Campbell of Loudoun, and Campbell of Cawdor, also have their own tartans which differ slightly.

Plant badge

• Bog Myrtle

Clan badge

• A snarling Boar's head (In heraldry, it may represent what are seen as the positive qualities of the boar, namely courage and fierceness in battle.)

Chief

• Torquhil Ian Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll

Branches

• Campbell of Argyll
• Campbell of Breadalbane
• Campbell of Craignish
• Campbell of Loudoun
• Campbell of Cawdor
• Campbell of Strachur

Septs of Clan Campbell

• Burns
• Dunoon
• Hastings
• Lorn(e)
• Loudo(u)n
• (Mac)Cowan
• MacDiarmaid
• (Mac)Gibbon
• MacIvor
• (Mac)Kellar
• McKelvie
• MacNocaird
• MacOran
• MacPhun
• MacTavish
• MacVicar
• Orr
• Pinkerton
• Tenhet

Other distinctions

Some sources credit a 19th-century Duke of Argyll (Chieftan of Clan Campbell) as an originator of the West Highland White Terrier breed.

External links

• [Clan Campbell Society (North america)]
• http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/atoc/campbel-a.html
• http://www.ccsna.org/septs.htm#A4
• http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Clans/Campbell.html
• http://chipdoc.tripod.com/Clan_Campbell.html
• [Campbell Clan @ MacBraveHeart]

 

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