Clan Fraser of Lovat is a Highland Scottish clan and is a branch of the Clan Fraser. Scottish clans (from Scottish Gaelic clann, "children" give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations Clan Fraser (Clann Frisealach Clan Frasier is a Scottish clan of French origin The Frasers of Lovat are descendants from a younger brother of Sir Alexander Fraser. It is Sir Alexander Fraser descendants whom are the chief line of the Fraser clan. The current chief of the clan is Simon Fraser, 16th Lord Lovat. This article is about the current Lord Lovat For other Simon Frasers please see Simon Fraser. [1]
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History
For the history of the Clan before the Scottish Wars of Independence, see Clan Fraser
Clan Fraser of Lovat traces its heritage from Sir Simon Fraser, brother of Sir Alexander Fraser, Robert the Bruce's Chamberlain, whom Clan Fraser traces from. Clan Fraser (Clann Frisealach Clan Frasier is a Scottish clan of French origin Robert I King of Scots ( 11 July, 1274 &ndash 7 June, 1329) usually known in modern English as Robert the Bruce ( Clan Fraser (Clann Frisealach Clan Frasier is a Scottish clan of French origin Sir Simon acquired the Bisset Lands around Beauly when he won the hand of its heiress, and these lands became the family home. Beauly (pronounced Bewley; a corruption of Beaulieu) is a town of the Scottish county of Highland, on the River Beauly
A record from 1367 describes Hugh Fraser as ‘Lord of Lovat and portioner of Ard’, the first known connection the Frasers had with Lovat land. By 1422 the Frasers of Lovat had extended their lands to include Stratherrick by Loch Ness, together with part of Glenelg. Loch Ness ( Scottish Gaelic: Loch Nis) is a large deep freshwater Loch in the Scottish Highlands ( extending for approximately 37 km (23 miles Glenelg ( Gleann Eilg in Gaelic) is a quiet Village in Skye and Lochalsh, Highland, in western Scotland.
Around 1422, the Frasers acquired lands at Stratherrick by Loch Ness, together with part of Glenelg. Loch Ness ( Scottish Gaelic: Loch Nis) is a large deep freshwater Loch in the Scottish Highlands ( extending for approximately 37 km (23 miles (For other meanings of Glenelg see Glenelg (disambiguation) Glenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide Although the exact date of creation is uncertain, some time between 1456 and 1464, Hugh Fraser was raised to the peerage as Lord Lovat or Lord Fraser of Lovat. Lord Lovat is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1458 for Hugh Fraser. Around 1511, the 5th Lord Hugh Fraser of Lovat established his seat at Castle Fraser, which is now owned by Historic Scotland since 1971. Castle Fraser is the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland and one of the grandest 'Castles of Mar' The Castle stands in its old glory today.
Around the middle of the 18th century, Sir Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord Lovat was the third son of the seventh Lord Lovat. He captured and married the widow of the 10th Lord Lovat by drowning her squeels and screams by way of pipers. It is for this reason he was known as the Fox. Castle Fraser was therefore left abandon with no male heir for nearly two centuries until l962 when a rightful heir could be located through a proper search. During the Spring of 1962, Clan Fraser made a last minue attempt to keep Castle Fraser in Fraser hands, but the plan failed as the heir refused Castle Fraser, as he was an American citizen. In the early part of the nineteenth century Beauly Castle was constructed as the new seat of Lord Lovat for descendants of the 11th Lord Lovat. Beauly Castle is no longer owned by Clan Fraser, however it still stands in all it's original glory.
Battle of the Shirts
The Frasers fought a great clan battle against the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald in 1544, Blar-ne-Léine, the Battle of the Shirts, over the disputed chieftainship of Clan Ranald. The Battle of Kinloch-Lochy, also known as the Battle of the Shirts or Blar na Léine, was a 1544 battle in Scotland fought between branches of the The Frasers backed a son of the 5th Chief, Ranald Gallda (the Stranger), which the MacDonalds found unacceptable. Prevented from battle by the Earl of Argyll, the Frasers were ambushed on their march home by 500 MacDonalds. Gillespie Roy Archibald Campbell 4th Earl of Argyll (c 1507 &ndash 1558 was a Scottish Nobleman and Politician. Only five Frasers and eight MacDonalds are said to have survived the bloody engagement. Both the Lovat Chief, Lord Lovat and his son and heir were amongst the dead and were buried at Beauly Priory. Despite these atrocities, the Frasers were stronger than ever before within a hundred years.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Robert Mor Munro, 15th chief of Clan Munro , was a staunch supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, and he consequently was treated favourably by her son, James VI. Clan Munro is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan name Munro or Rothach, Roich, or Mac an Rothaich in Gaelic means Ro - Man James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James Robert was also a faithful friend of Mary. Buchanan states, when the unfortunate princess went to Inverness in 1562, that: "as soon as they heard of their sovereign's danger, a great number of the most eminent Scots poured in around her, especially the Frasers and Munros, who were esteemed the most 'valiant of the clans inhabiting those countries in the north. Inverness (Inbhir Nis iɲɪɾʲˈniʃ is a city in northern Scotland. ' " These two clans took Inverness Castle for the Queen, which had refused her admission. Inverness Castle sits on a cliff overlooking the River Ness, in Inverness, Scotland. The Queen later hanged the governor, a Gordon who had refused her admission. Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a traditional Scottish clan name and it is now a common forename [1]
Clan Conflicts
In 1571 the Clan Fraser joined forces with the Clan Forbes in their feud against the Clan Gordon. Clan Forbes is a Lowland Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a traditional Scottish clan name and it is now a common forename The Forbes were also joined by Clan Keith and Clan Crichton. Clan Keith is a Scottish clan associated with lands in northeastern and northwestern Scotland. Clan Crichton is a Lowland Scottish clan. Clan history The lands of Kreitton formed one of the earliest baronies around Edinburgh The Gordons were also joined by Clan Leslie, Clan Irvine and Clan Seton. Clan Leslie is a Lowland Scottish clan. History Origins The family name comes from the Leslie lands of Aberdeenshire and was to become famous Clan Irvine is a Lowland Scottish clan. History Origins of the clan The names Erewine and Erwinne are Old English Clan Seton is a Scottish clan which does not currently have a chief therefore it is considered an Armigerous clan. The feud between the Gordons and Forbes which had gone on for centuries culminated in two full scale battles: The Battle of Tillieangus and the Battle of Craibstone. It was at the Battle of Tillieangus that the 6th Lord Forbes's youngest son known as Black Aurther Forbes was killed. Legend has it that "he stooped down to quench his thirst and one of the Gordons gave him his death blow through an open joint in his armour".
A battle took place between the Clan Fraser and Clan Logan at Kessock where Gilligorm the Chief of Clan Logan was killed. Clan Logan is a both a Highland and Lowland Scottish clan. The clan does not have a Chief recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms, and
The Civil War
In 1649, during the Civil War the Clan Munro and Clan Fraser again took Inverness Castle. Clan Munro is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan name Munro or Rothach, Roich, or Mac an Rothaich in Gaelic means Ro - Man This time they were also joined by Clan Urquhart and Clan MacKenzie who they had recently made peace with. Urquhart is a Highland Scottish clan. They traditionally occupied the lands in the district and town of Cromarty, a former Royal Burgh with an excellent Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire. They were all opposed to the authority of the current parliament. They assaulted the town and took the castle. They then expelled the garrison and raised the fortifications. However on the approach of the parlimentry forces led by General Leslie all of the clans retreated back into Ross-shire. During that year several skirmishes took place between these parties.
18th Century & Jacobite Risings
1715 to 1719
During the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 to 1716 the Clan Fraser supported the British government. In Inverness in 1715 Simon Fraser of Lovat (who had been outlawed and in exile), put pressure on the Jacobite garrison in Inverness, which was delivered upon the very day when the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought and another Jacobite force was defeated at the Battle of Preston. Inverness (Inbhir Nis iɲɪɾʲˈniʃ is a city in northern Scotland. The Battle of Sheriffmuir ( Scottish Gaelic:) was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rebellion in England and Soon after this 31 year old Chief Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis marched into the town of Inverness with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. A number of Frasers also helped to defeat the Jacobites at the Battle of Glenshiel in 1719. The Battle of Glen Shiel ( Scottish Gaelic:) was a battle in Glen Shiel, in the West Highlands of Scotland on 10 June 1719
1745 to 1746
However the infamous Simon the Fox was also chief during The '45, and supported the Jacobites and Charles Edward Stuart, contrary to his action during The Fifteen (though, his clan did indeed rally for Jamie). Simon Fraser Lord Lovat (c 1667 &ndash April 9, 1747, London) Scottish Jacobite, chief of Clan Fraser, was famous for his The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings rebellions and wars in the kingdoms of England, Kingdom of Scotland (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain For the US politician see Charles E Stuart For "Betty Burke" see The 'Forty-Five' below The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings rebellions and wars in the kingdoms of England, Kingdom of Scotland (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain Prince James Prince of Wales (James Francis Edward Stuart " The Old Pretender " or " The Old Chevalier " 10 June 1688 – 1 January 1766 was the Frasers were on the front lines of the Jacobite army at the Battle of Falkirk (1746), and the Battle of Culloden in 1746. During the Second Jacobite Rising, the Battle of Falkirk Muir ( Scottish Gaelic:) was the last noteworthy Jacobite success The Battle of Culloden (Blàr Chùil Lodair (16 April 1746 was the final clash between the French-supported Jacobites and the Hanoverian
See also
References
- ^ LOVAT, CHIEF OF FRASER OF LOVAT Retrieved on 2009-01-09
- Neil Grant. Clan Fraser (Clann Frisealach Clan Frasier is a Scottish clan of French origin This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Scottish Clans and Tartans. Crescent Books, New York, 1987 ISBN 0-517-49901-0.
- Further Reading*: Diana Gabaldon's saga of huge volumes that centre around the Fraser Clan commencing around the Jacobite Rising: "Cross Stich" (USA = Outlander), "Dragonfly in Amber", "Voyager", "Drums of Autumn", "The Fiery Cross", "A Breath of Snow and Ashes". Diana Jean Gabaldon Watkins (b January 11, 1952 in Arizona) is an American Author of Mexican-American and English
Weblink: http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~gatti/gabaldon/gabaldon.html
External links
- Website of the Clan Fraser Society Scotland & UK
- Frasers of Lovat from Baronage Press
- The Frasers, an extensive site dedicated to all Frasers of Lovat and Scotland
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