The Highland ClansThe Highland clans of Scotland are famous, the names celebrated, and the deeds heroic. Having clung to ancient traditions of family, loyalty, and valor for centuries, the clans met the beginning of their end at the fateful battle at Culloden in 1746. The great emigrations to North America and elsewhere began, and clansmen and women disappeared into the streets of the world's cities. Alistair Moffat traces the history of the clans from their Celtic origins to the coming of the Romans; from Somerled the Viking to Robert the Bruce; from the great battles of Bannockburn and Flodden to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Risings; and from the Clearances to the present day. These are the stories of great leaders and famous battles. They are also the stories of an extraordinary people, shaped by the unique traditions and landscape of the Highlands of Scotland. Moffat is an adept guide to the world of the clans, a world dominated by lineage, land, and community. Names were crucially important in this world: more than mere labels, names were also addresses, linking people to the map of northern Scotland. Even today the power of the ancient clan names persists, drawing many of the children of the scattered diaspora back to this rugged corner of the world. Special features include a clan map and a list of clan names. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
19th century Alasdair MacColla ancient Argyll Atholl battle became began birlinns Braes British broadswords Caledonian Castle cattle Celtic Cenél charge Chief of Clan Clan Cameron Clan Campbell Clan Chattan clan chiefs clan lands Clan Ranald clan society clansmen Culloden descended Donald Duke Earl Edinburgh emigration English famous fight Firth force fought Fraser Gaelic Glen Glencoe Glengarry Gregor held land Highland clans Highland Land League Inverlochy Inverness Ireland Irish island Islay Isles Jacobite army Jacobite rebellions James VIII John of Moidart Keppoch killed Killiecrankie kilt kindreds king kingdom known Lewis Loch Lochaber Locheil London Lord George lordship Lowlands MacColla MacDonald MacGregor Mackenzie Mackintosh MacLean MacLeod Moidart Montrose Moray mountains muster Norse clan numbers Old Welsh Perth Perthshire Prince Charles redcoats regiment Rob Roy Rob Roy MacGregor Robert the Bruce royal Scotland Scottish sea-lochs ships Skye soldiers Somerled Stewart Stuart tacksmen tartan took warriors