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Campbell's of Breadalbane
Gaelic Name: "Caimbeul"
Motto: "Follow Me"
Badge: "Bog Myrtle"
Crest Badge: "Boar's head"
Clan Slogan:"CRUACHAN"(pronounced CROO A HN)from the hosting ground across Loch Awe, overlooking the lands of the
Campbell's of Argyll.
The origin of the name comes from the Gaelic "CAM"
(wry) and "BEUL" (mouth), wry-mouth, or curved mouth, the
nickname of Sir Colin Campbell's grandfather.
The origin of the Clan Campbell can be traced back
eight centuries and the Clan originated on Loch Awe "Argyll" Western
Highlands.
No Highland family has been so prolific
in cadet branches of distinction as the great race of the Campbell's.
From the earliest date at which authentic history dawns upon their race
they are found multiplying and establishing new houses throughout the
land. The steps in the growth of this great house are in every
generation full of interest, and involve in their narration no small
part of the romance of Scottish history.
Massacre at Glencoe
The Campbell's are still
remembered for the massacre of 38 MacDonald's in Glencoe
on 12 February 1692, in an act of treachery. The government
troops who carried out the orders were led by a Captain Robert Campbell
but the orders were signed by the Secretary of State, Sir John
Dalrymple, Earl of Stair.
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The final chapter in this tragedy began on 27th August 1691,
when King William III offered a pardon to all Highland
clans who had fought against him or raided their neighbours. But
it was on the condition that they took the oath of allegiance
before a magistrate by 1st January 1692. The alternative for
not comply was death. MacDonald Clan Chief, MacIain of
Glencoe, reluctantly agreed to take the oath, but mistakenly went
to Inverlochy in Fort William instead of Inveraray near Oban. He
finally reached Inveraray on January 6th, well after the deadline.
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MacDonald believed that, despite this delay in taking
the oath, he and his clan were now safe. But unknown to him, a
force had already been assembled at Inveraray and given orders to
exterminate the whole clan. The force left for Glencoe on 1st
February, led by Captain Robert Campbell , a man with
a grudge against the MacDonald's. Campbell asked for quarters for
his 130 soldiers and, unaware of what was planned, the MacDonald's entertained them for 10 days. |
On the night of the 12th
February, Campbell received orders to kill all MacDonald's under seventy
years of age at 5 in the next morning. In the early hours of a cold
winter's morning the soldiers rose from their beds and set about the
massacre of their hosts, with whom they had been living on friendly
terms. It was this act of treachery in response to hospitality that
makes this massacre such a heinous crime. Although only forty were
killed, many more escaped to the hills only to die of hunger and
exposure.
Curiously enough as a result of the massacre Highland superstition has
associated a curse with the house both of the prime mover Breadalbane
and with that of his agent, Glenlyon. Sir Walter Scott tells the story
of how at a later day a Campbell of Glenlyon was the officer in command
of a firing party entrusted with the carrying out of the death sentence
of a court martial. The intention was to reprieve the culprit, but the
reprieve was not to be made known to the latter till the very moment of
execution. Glenlyon had arranged that the signal to fire should be his
drawing his white handkerchief from his pocket. When all was ready, and
the firing party was in position, he put his hand into his pocket to
produce the reprieve. Unfortunately his handkerchief came with it. This
was taken by the soldiers as the signal, and the prisoner fell,
dead.
Campbell's were noted as staunch supporters of the government both
in the early years when they opposed the MacDonald Lordship of the
Isles and later opposed the Jacobite uprising. They were well rewarded
for their loyalty - and also married shrewdly to extend their lands and
power. By the 19th century they owned 40 estates covering almost 1.25
million acres, most of it owned by the Duke of Argyll. Castles with
Campbell connections are Dunstaffnage near Oban, Cawdor near Inverness
and Inveraray in Argyll (the latter is the seat of the current clan
chief).
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