Foreward

Introduction

MacAskills of Rudh an Dunain

Lieutenants of the Coast 1

Lieutenants of the Coast 2

Lieutenants of the Coast 3

Tacksmen 1

Tacksmen 2

Hard Times

Descendants 1

Descendants 2

Tales from Frances Tolmie

MacCaskills in Canada

Annex

Notes and References

Bibliography

"The first to come to prominence was William, who was 'seneschal' of Dunvegan. He lived during the chieftainship of Malcom, 3rd chief ( 1320-1370 ), whose foster brother he was, and had six brothers younger than himself."(ll)

The chief had stolen the wife of Hugh Fraser of Lovat and the Frasers raided Skye in revenge. Having defeated a body of MacLeods at Drynoch they ravaged Minguinish and Bracadale. Meanwhile

Dunvegan Castle is the ancestral home of the MacLeod of MacLeod, Chieftain of the MacLeod Clan. They have an ancient flag displayed there, which is said to be the magic "Land-Waster" once borne by King Harald Hardrada of Norway when he invaded England in 1066. It is said that it took a thousand Viking longboats to transport his troops. The gigantic Norseman intended to stay for he brought his wife (a Russian princess), his children, concubines and all his treasure, including a huge nugget of gold that needed 16 men to carry it. At the battle of Stamford Bridge, the vikings formed the traditional shield wall which made a full circle. Little could be seen of the men except their winged helmets and fierce eyes above the shields and the dread "Land-Waster" flying above them. Harold, King of England, was a much smaller man than his Norwegian rival for the throne, nevertheless he led the charge against the shield wall. Men fight hardest when they defend their native land. If the Norsemen won, they would ravage England from coast to coast. Nobody would be safe. Harald Hardrada, standing beneath Land-Waster, fought on long after the shield wall had been broken, but in the end he died his throat pierced by an arrow. A blood stained cloth was flung over his face so he could not witness the defeat of his army. The English were not victorious a few weeks later, when they had to meet the Normans at Hastings. But the Land-Waster, the terror inspiring black flag of the Vikings, vanished in this turmoil. Some say the MacLeod flag is that flag. Others say it was given to some ancient chieftain by his fairy wife. Two legends survive about it: whenever there is great danger to the MacLeods, they will overcome all difficulties if they fly the flag - but this protection will only work three times, and it has already been used successfully twice - at the Battles of Glendale (1490) and Trumpan (1580). The other legend is that every ten years at midnight on Midsummer, the king of the fairies and all his court come to view the flag, and woe-betide any mortal who spies on them during this visit.

William MacAskill, in the absence of his chief away in Harris, gathered a force at Dunvegan and ambushed the returning loot-Iaden Frasers at Broadford, killing most of the raiders including their leader, and recovering the loot.(ll)

This was the period when the clans of the Hebrides and much of the West Coast of Scotland were led by the Lords of the Isles in a form of federation, and central government in Edinburgh had little influence in the area. However during the 15th century the latter gradually asserted its authority and by 1493 had abolished the Lordship of the Isles. In the process the Western clans fought a series of battles against forces supporting the Crown. At one battle, Iverlochy, in 1431, the MacLeods of Dunvegan were led by Allan MacAskill.

During the period of the Lordship of the Isles the clans had been relatively at peace with each other, but in the break up and after they were at each other's throats with the Macdonalds attempting, with some success, to move into MacLeod territory. About 1400, at the time of William the 5th Chief, they had landed at Loch Eynort:

"Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, laid claim to part of MacLeod's lands in Skye but their claim William MacLeod, 5th chief, by no means acknowledged, so Macdonald invaded his territory. The Macdonalds were commanded by Alastair Caroch (brother of the Lord of the Isles) who was slain in this conflict by Tormod Caol MacLeod. Very few of the Macdonalds escaped, as their galleys were taken in Loch Eynort by MacAskill, who put every soul on board to death, and carried their heads to Dunvegan. These were numbered and delivered to the Chief's warder".(12)

This battle took place at Sligachen and the spoils were distributed in Glen Sligachen at a point ever since known as the "Bloody Stone". In another battle,probably in Duirnish near the Hamra River in 1490, the Macdonalds, under Donald Gruamach, were on the point of winning. However the legendary standard of the MacLeods, the Fairy Flag (13), was unfurled and the clan rallied:

"Murdo MacAskill cut down Donald Gruamach and raising his head on a spear, ordered the MacLeod pipers to play the Macdonald lament,(14) The Macdonalds were seized with panic at the sound of this ill-omened music, and gave way on all sides, Such was the slaughter, say the old seannachies, that the Ravens, which stood on Creggan nan Fitheach (the Rock of the Ravens) drank the blood and ate the flesh of the Macdonalds, who lay in heaps around, without descending from their lofty perch".

But the MacAskills did not get off lightly:

"Allan of Moidart engaged in single combat with MacAskill and his three brothers successively, and killed them all, and then, with the remnant of his followers, made good his retreat to Loch Eynort where the galleys awaited them."

In spite of these successes the Macdonalds succeeded in acquiring areas of Skye, Sleat in 1435 and Trotternish in 1482. This left the MacLeods of Dunvegan with Minguinish (including Rudh-an-Dunain), Bracadale, Duirnish, Vaternish and Lyndale. The remnants of the MacLeods of Lewis held Raasay and a bit of the main Island opposite.

Once the authority of the Lords of the Isles had ben broken and before the King's had been established near anarchy reigned in the Isles. Macdonald and MacLeod were continually at each other's throats and committed the utmost barbarities. In one incident, in about 1515, MacAskill of Talisker and a crew of thirty or forty, including a foster-brother of the chief's son, were driven by a storm on to the Island of Eigg. They had no provisions and the locals, Macdonalds, refused to sell them any so they purloined some cows. The locals overpowered the party, cut off MacAskill's ears and set him adrift in a boat without oars or sail with two companions. The remainder they killed in cold blood. However the three set adrift were rescued and taken to Dunvegan and a great force of MacLeods sailed for revenge under Alexander, the 8th chief and William his son. The Macdonalds of Eigg and the neighbouring islands took refuge in a cave, but they were discovered. Three hundred and ninety-five men, women and children were smoked to death.

The last great battle between the two clans was fought in 1601 at Corrie-na-Creich, under the Cuillins near Rudh-an-Dunain, the result of an insult to the Macleods by Macdonald of Sleat, The MacLeods were heavily defeated and the battle was called "Am Blilr Fuathasach" or "the Desperate Battle".

On to the Tacksmen.