Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan.
Historically one of the larger of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the
chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.
History Origins
In traditional genealogies of the Clan Campbell, its origins are placed amongst the ancient
Britons of Strathclyde.
However the earliest Campbell in written records is Gillespie who is recorded in 1263.
Early grants to Gillespie and his relations were almost all in east-central Scotland.
However the family's connection with Argyll came some generations before when a Campbell
married the heiress of the O'Duines and she brought with her the Lordship of Loch Awe.
Because of this the early clan name was Clan O'Duine and this was later supplanted by the
style Clan Diarmid.
This name came from a fancied connection to Diarmid the Boar, a great hero from early
Celtic mythology.
The original seat of the Clan Campbell was either Innis Chonnell Castle on Loch Awe or
Caisteal na Nigheann Ruaidh on Loch Avich.
The clan's power soon spread throughout Argyll however at first the Campbells were under
the domination of the Lords of Lorne, chiefs of Clan MacDougall.
The MacDougalls killed the Campbell chief Cailean Mór in 1296..
All of the subsequent chiefs of Clan Campbell have taken MaCailein Mor as their Gaelic patronymic.
Between 1200 and 1500 the Campbells emerged as one of the most powerful families in Scotland,
dominant in Argyll and capable of wielding a wider influence and authority from Edinburgh
to the Hebrides and western Highlands.
Wars of Scottish Independence The family of Colin Campbell went on to become
firm supporters of King Robert the Bruce and benefited from his successes with grants of
lands, titles and good marriages.
During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Campbells fought for Scotland against the
English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
During the 14th century the Clan Campbell rapidly expanded its lands and power.
This is partly explained by the loyalty of Sir Neil Campbell,, to the cause of Robert
the Bruce – a loyalty which was rewarded with marriage to Bruce's sister Mary.
The family was also closely associated with the Stewarts as well as the Bruces in the
time of Cailean Mór.
Sir Neil, as a staunch ally of the Bruce was rewarded with extensive lands that had been
taken from the forfeited MacDougall, Lords of Lorne and other enemies of the Bruces in
Argyll.
15th century and royal relations
The Campbells gave support to the Crown throughout the 15th century.
By the end of the 15th century the power of the Lords of the Isles who were the Crown's
most powerful rivals had been broken leaving the Campbells as the main power in the area.
From this time onwards the Campbells acted as the main instrument of central authority
in the area and this could be the real cause of the ancient enmity between the Campbells
and the MacDonalds.
Descendants of Sir Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell and his wife Lady Marjorie Stewart
would be descendants of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland and Robert II Stewart, King
of Scotland.
Lady Marjorie Stewart, b.
1390 was the daughter of King Robert II's son, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany.
This would make all descendants of Sir Duncan Campbell and Lady Marjorie Stewart descendants
of Robert I Bruce and most of the early Kings of Scotland.
The first Lord Campbell was created in 1445.
It was from the 15th century that the Campbells came to take an increasingly prominent role.
The personal reign of James I of Scotland, saw that king launch a great political assault
on the Albany Stewarts and their allies in the west, however Duncan Campbell, 1st lord
Campbell, escaped the fate of his Albany kinsmen who were all either executed or exiled.
Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll 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.
In 1493 after the forfeiture of the MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, the Campbell lords may
well have viewed themselves as natural successors to the Clan Donald in terms of leadership
of the Gaels of the Hebrides and western Highlands.
The Campbell lordship thus remained one of the most significant bastions of Gaelic learning
and culture in late medieval and early modern Scotland.
In the Battle of Knockmary, 1490, men of the Clan Campbell and the Clan Drummond joined
forces to defeat the Clan Murray.
This also became known as the Massacre of Monzievaird.
16th century and clan conflicts In 1513 the 2nd Earl of Argyll was killed
along with many of his clan at the Battle of Flodden.
The Battle of Langside took place in 1568 where the chief of Clan Campbell, Archibald
Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, commanded the forces who fought for Mary, Queen of Scots.
In 1567, a conflict took place between the Clan Campbell and Clan Arthur.
Duncan MacArthur and his son of the Loch Awe MacArthur family, became the victims of their
own success when jealousy of their power drove neighbours to drown them in Loch Awe during
a skirmish with the Clan Campbell.
In the archives of Inveraray Castle a charter dated 1567 confirms that a pardon was granted
to the Campbells of Inverawe for the "drowning of Clan Arthur".
It is believed that the MacArthurs trying to defend themselves were driven into the
loch.
Centuries later in the 1970s an ancient sword was unearthed on the shore of the loch.
In 1594 Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll was granted a Royal Commission against the
Earl of Huntly but was defeated at the Battle of Glenlivet.
17th century and Civil War The support that the Campbells gave to the
central government brought them rewards: In 1607 Arhibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll
was granted the former MacDonald lands of Kintyre and in 1615 Campbell of Cawdor was
allowed to purchase the Isle of Islay which had previously belonged to the Macleans of
Duart.
At the Battle of Inverlochy, the Scottish Covenanter forces led by Archibald Campbell,
1st Marquess of Argyll were defeated by the Royalist forces of James Graham, 1st Marquess
of Montrose whose army was mainly made up from Scots of the Clan MacDonald, Clan MacLean
and others from Ireland.
After the Battle of Inverlochy, Montrose laid siege to Castle Campbell but was unable to
beat the Clan Campbell defenders and failed to take the castle.
In the wake of the Battle of Inverlochy the Clan Lamont took the opportunity to raid the
Campbell lands.
However in 1646 the Clan Campbell responded and massacred the Clan Lamont in what became
known as the Dunoon Massacre.
The vengeful Campbells also ravaged the lands of the Clan Maclean who had fought against
them at Inverlochy and in due course the Maclean's Duart Castle surrendered.
In 1648 at the Battle of Stirling the Covenanter forces of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess
of Argyll were defeated by the royalist Engager forces of Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore
who supported the Earl of Lanerick.
Among Argyll's dead was William Campbell of Glenfalloch killed in action.
In 1672 a feud took place between the Clan Campbell and Clan Sinclair.
Debt had forced George Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness to resign his titles and estates
in favour of Sir John Campbell.
Campbell took possession of the estates on Sinclair's death in May 1676, and was created
earl of Caithness in June the following year.
Sinclair's heir, George Sinclair of Keiss disputed the claim and seized the land in
1678.
This was followed by the Battle of Altimarlech, 13 July 1680, between the Clan Campbell and
the Clan Sinclair in which the Campbells were victorious.
Legend has it that so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells were able to cross
the river without getting their feet wet.
Having failed to regain his inheritance by force, Sinclair of Keiss then turned to the
law.
He took his place as Earl of Caithness on 15 July 1681, and his lands were restored
on 23 September.
Campbell was made Earl of Breadalbane by way of compensation.
In 1678 Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll led the Campbell of Argyll militia on an expedition
to the Isle of Mull and took Duart Castle of the Clan Maclean.
However Argyll was hanged on 30 June 1685 for his participation in the Monmouth Rebellion
to depose Catholic James II and place the Protestant James, Duke of Monmouth on the
throne.
Later in 1692 Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll again gained possession of the Maclean's
Duart Castle.
In 1692, 38 unarmed people of the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed 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
of Glenlyon, after enjoying their hospitality for over a week was a major affront of Scottish
Law and Highland tradition.
The majority of soldiers were not Campbells, but a roll call from a few months before included
six Campbells in addition to Cpt.
Robt. Campbell: Corporal Achibald Campbell, Private Archibald Campbell, Private Donald
Campbell, Private Archibald Campbell, Private James Campbell, Private Donald Campbell, and
Private Duncan Campbell.
See also: Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot. 18th century and Jacobite Uprisings
1715 to 1719 Jacobite Rising During the Jacobite risings of the 18th century
the Clan Campbell supported the British-Hanoverian Government.
On 23 October 1715, chief John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll learned that a detachment of
rebels was passing by Castle Campbell, towards Dunfermline.
He sent out a body of cavalry which attacked the rebel party and defeated it and took a
number of prisoners, taking only light casualties.
A month later the British government forces, including men from Clan Campbell, fought and
defeated the Jacobites at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715.
However there were in fact a small number of 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 against the MacDonalds 22 years earlier.
These two families then settled their differences and swore to be brothers in arms, fighting
side by side in the Sheriffmuir.
However the British government forces led by chief John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll
defeated the Jacobites.
The Black Watch In 1725, six Independent Highland Companies
were formed to support the Government: three from Clan Campbell, one from Clan Fraser,
one from Clan Munro and one from Clan Grant.
These companies were known by the name Reicudan Dhu, or Black Watch.
The Regiment of the Line was formed officially in 1739 as the 43rd Regiment of Foot and first
mustered in 1740, at Aberfeldy. 1745 to 1746 Jacobite Rising
Just before 1745 the strength of the Clan Campbell had been put at a total of five thousand
men.
During the Jacobite rising of 1745 the Clan Campbell continued their support for the British
Government.
They fought against the rebel Jacobites at the Battle of Falkirk where government forces
were defeated.
However shortly afterwards the Campbells held out during the Siege of Fort William where
the Jacobites were defeated.
At the Battle of Culloden in 1746 where the Jacobites were finally defeated, involved
in the fighting on the government side were four companies from the Campbell of Argyll
militia, three companies from Loudon's Highlanders who were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
John Campbell and one company from the 43rd Highlanders who were under the command of
Captain Dugald Campbell of Auchrossan.
Castles
Castles that have belonged to the Clan Campbell have included amongst many others:
Inveraray Castle in Argyll is the current seat of the Chief of Clan Campbell.
The present symmetrical mansion with towers and turrets was built in 1743 and replaced
an earlier 15th century castle.
It contains a "clan room" with information for members of Clan Campbell.
Castle Campbell, which was originally known as Castle Gloom, passed by marriage from the
Clan Stewart to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll who renamed it Castle Campbell.
During the Civil War it was burned by General Monk for Oliver Cromwell and the Clan Ogilvy
are also said to have torched it in revenge for the burning of Airlie Castle.
Innis Chonnell, possibly the earliest seat of Clan Campbell.
Kilchurn Castle was seat of the Campbells of Glenorchy.
The lands were originally held by the Clan MacGregor but they went to the Campbells of
Glenorchy who built or re-built the castle.
The castle was strengthened and improved after being damaged by the MacGregors at the end
of the sixteenth century.
Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy who was known as Black Duncan of the Seven Castles was responsible
for building castles at Kilchurn, Achallader, Loch Dochart, Finlairg, Balloch and Edinample.
In 1654 the Campbells withstood a two day siege in Kilchurn Castle by General Middleton
who retreated from Cromwell's forces.
Achallader Castle, was seat of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glen Orchy which he acquired in
1590.
Finlarig Castle, was another seat of the Campbell of Breadalbane branch of the clan.
Edinample Castle, was another seat of the Campbell of Glenorchy branch of the clan.
Taymouth Castle, originally built by Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy in around 1580 and known
as Balloch Castle, the current building was built between 1801 and 1842 and incorporates
the cellars of the original stronghold.
Saddell Castle was owned by the Campbells from the late 17th century onwards.
Torosay Castle, built by John Campbell of Possil in 1858.
Castle Sween was granted to Colin Campbell in 1481 when he became the first Earl of Argyll,
but it was captured by the MacDonalds in 1647.
Carnasserie Castle, has belonged to the Clan Campbell since the 16th century.
Kilmartin Castle, passed to the Campbells in 1674.
Ardkinglas Castle,.
Auchinbreck Castle, held by the Campbells but demolished by 1870.
Cawdor Castle, originally seat of the chiefs of Clan Calder, it later passed to the Clan
Campbell of Cawdor.
Loudoun Castle in Ayrshire, is a mansion dating from the early nineteenth century but includes
work from a fifteenth century castle which was originally held by the Clan Crawford,
but passed by marriage to the Campbells in the fourteenth century.
This branch of the Clan Campbell sprung from Donald Campbell, second son of Colin Campbell
of Lochaw.
John Campbell, from another branch of the clan was made Earl of Loudon in 1641.
In 1650 the castle was surrendered to General Monk for Cromwell after a siege in which the
castle was damaged.
The earl took part in Glencairn's rising in support of Charles II of England in 1653.
John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun fought for the British-Hanoverians during the Jacobite
risings.
Tartans Although mills produce many fabrics based
on the Campbell tartan, the Clan Chief recognizes only four:
Campbell: More commonly known as the Black Watch tartan or the Government Sett.
The Black Watch, first raised in 1695 to police the 'Black Trade' of cattle smuggling in the
Highlands, taking role later as a militia in 1725 by General Wade, become what was the
first Highland Regiment in the British Army.
All Campbell tartans are based upon the Black Watch tartan, as are many clan tartans.
The tartan was used, and is in current use, by several military units throughout the Commonwealth.
Campbell of Breadalbane: This tartan may be worn by Campbells of the Breadalbane, or Glenorchy
branches.
Campbell of Cawdor: This tartan may be worn by members of the Campbell of Cawdor branch.
Campbell of Loudoun: This tartan may be worn by members of the Campbell of Loudoun branch.
The Sixth Duke of Argyll added a white line to his tartan to distinguish himself as Clan
Chief.
He was the only member of the family to do so, but the tartan has persisted as "Campbell
of Argyll".
Campbell of Argyll, as with any other tartan not listed above, is not recognized as official.
Chief The most high, potent and noble prince, his
Grace Torquhil Ian Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll, Marquess of Kintyre and Lorne, Earl
of Argyll, Campbell and Cowal, Viscount Lochawe and Glenyla, Lord Campbell, Lorne, Kintyre,
Inveraray, Mull, Morven and Tyrie in the peerage of Scotland, Baron Sundbridge of Coombank
and Baron Hamilton of Hameldon in the peerage of Great Britain, 6th Duke of Argyll in the
peerage of the United Kingdom, Baronet of Nova Scotia, Hereditary Master of the Royal
Household in Scotland, Hereditary Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, Hereditary Keeper
of the royal castles of Dunoon, Carrick Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle and Tarbet, Admiral of
the Western coasts and isles, and Chief of the Honorable Clan Campbell; The chief's Gaelic
title is MacCailein Mor.
The Chief is also the hereditary High Sheriff of Argyllshire, Member Queen's Body Guard
for Scotland and Member Royal Company of Archers.
Branches Campbell of Aberuchill
Campbell of Ardkinglas Campbell of Argyll
Campbell of Auchinbreck Campbell of Barbreck
Campbell of Barcaldine Campbell of Breadalbane and Holland
Campbell of Carrick Bouy Campbell of Cawdor
Campbell of Craignish Campbell of Dunstaffnage
Campbell of Duntroon Campbell of Gartsford
Campbell of Glenorchy Campbell of Inverawe
Campbell of Inverneill Campbell of Kenmore and Melfort
Campbell of Lochnell Campbell of Loudoun
Campbell of Lundie Campbell of Marchmont
Campbell of Ormidale Campbell of Otter
Campbell of Possil Campbell of Skipness
Campbell of Strachur Campbell of Succoth
See also Duke of Argyll
The Campbells Are Coming Scottish clan
References Boardman, Steve, The Campbells 1250–1513.
Edinburgh: John Donald, 2006.
ISBN 0-85976-662-4.
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
External links The Clan Campbell Society
Clan Cambell@ElectricScotland Clan Cambell at MacBraveheart.co.uk
Clan Campbell Heraldry Campbell Tartans