Clan Chattan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Chattan |
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| Profile | |||
| Region | Highland | ||
| District | Inverness | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Malcolm Kenneth Mackintosh of Clan Chattan Torcastle (according to the most recent Clan Mackintosh history). | |||
| Historic seat | Tor Castle in Lochaber | ||
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Clan Chattan (which means Na Catanaich or Clann Chatain in Scottish Gaelic) is a special group of Highland clans. It's unique because it's not just one clan, but a team or "confederation" of twelve separate Scottish clans. Each of these clans has its own leader, called a clan chief. But they all agreed to be united under one main chief of the confederation. This was for their safety, support, and protection during the Middle Ages and early modern times in the Scottish Highlands.
Contents
Origins of Clan Chattan
People have different ideas about where the name Chattan came from.
- One idea is that it came from the Chatti, a tribe from Gauls who were pushed out by the Romans.
- Another idea is that the name comes from a place called Catav in Sutherland.
- The most popular idea is that the clan's ancestors came from Gillichattan Mor. He was believed to be a special servant of Saint Cathan. Gillichattan was likely in charge of the church lands of Ardchattan.
Around the time of Malcolm II of Scotland, Clan Chattan owned lands in Glen Loy and Loch Arkaig. Their chief's home was Tor Castle. We don't know much for sure about the clan's early history until the late 1200s. In 1291, Eva, the daughter of the 6th chief of Clan Chattan, married Angus Mackintosh. He was the 6th chief of Clan Mackintosh. This marriage made Angus Mackintosh the 7th chief of Clan Chattan.
They lived at Tor Castle for a while. But they had to move to Rothiemurchus because of problems with Aonghus Óg of Islay, the chief of Clan Donald. Because Clan Chattan moved, Clan Cameron took over their lands at Arkaig. Clan Cameron said the lands had been left empty. This started a long and difficult fight between Clan Chattan and Clan Cameron that lasted until 1666.
Clans in the Chattan Confederation
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Before the 1300s, Clan Chattan was a regular Scottish clan. But over time, it became an alliance or group of clans. This group included:
- First, the families who were part of the "blood" or original clan. These were Clan Cattanach, Clan MacPherson, Clan MacPhail, and Clan MacBean (or McBain).
- Second, the Clan Mackintosh and their related families. These included Clan Shaw, Clan Farquharson, the Ritchies, and Clan MacThomas.
- Third, families who were not originally related by blood. They joined for protection. These included Clan MacGillivray, Clan Davidson, the Macleans of Dochgarroch, the MacQueens of Strathdearn, the MacIntyres of Badenoch, and the MacAndrews.
Members Today
Today, the Clan Chattan Association helps connect members around the world. It includes these main clans:
- Clan Davidson
- Clan Farquharson
- Clan MacBean
- Clan MacGillivray
- Clan MacKintosh
- Clan MacPhail
- Clan MacPherson
- Clan MacQueen of Strathdearn
- Clan MacThomas
- Clan Shaw of Tordarroch
- MacIntyres in Badenoch
- Maclean of Dochgarroch (the Macleans of the North)
Clan Chiefs
For a long time, the Chief of Clan Mackintosh was also the Captain of Clan Chattan. But in 1942, the Court of the Lord Lyon (which deals with Scottish clans and coats of arms) decided to separate these two leadership roles. The leadership of Clan Chattan then passed to the Mackintosh of Torcastle family line.
The first known chief of Clan Chattan was Gillcarten Mor. Later, Eva, the daughter of the 6th chief, married Angus Mackintosh. This marriage created a new line of Mackintosh Captains (Chiefs) for Clan Chattan.
Today, Malcolm Mackintosh of Mackintosh-Torcastle is the 33rd Chief of Clan Chattan. He is also known as the Head of the hail kin of Clan Chattan.
Council of Clan Chattan
The Council of Clan Chattan is made up of eight chiefs. These chiefs represent all the different clans in the confederation. They serve as President and Vice Presidents:
- John Mackintosh of Mackintosh (President)
- Philip Farquharson (Vice President)
- James Brodie Macpherson of Cluny (Vice President)
- Iain Shaw of Tordarroch (Vice President)
- James McBain of McBain (Vice President)
- Grant Guthrie Davidson of Davidston (Vice President)
- Andrew MacThomas of Finegand (Vice President)
- The Very Reverend Allan MacLean of Dochgarroch (Vice President)
Some other clans in Clan Chattan have a clan Commander but no chief right now. For example, Clan MacGillivray has a Commander. Clan MacPhail's last chief died in Australia in the early 1900s. The main family line of Clan MacQueen moved to New Zealand, and while there are still descendants, no one has claimed the chiefship.
Clan Association Activities
The Clan Chattan Association helps keep the clan's traditions alive. The first association was started in 1727 to protect the clan's interests.
In the 1800s, many clan societies began. Their goal was to bring together people with the same clan name and share their clan's history. A second Clan Chattan Association was formed in Glasgow in 1893. It was popular at first, but it stopped around 1900. However, clan historians from that time wrote important books that are still used today.
In 1933, a third Clan Chattan Association was started in London. Now, it's based in Scotland and has members all over the world. The association organizes events, like the yearly gatherings in August at Moy Hall. Members receive an annual journal to stay updated on clan news.
400th Anniversary of the 1609 Band of Union
On August 6, 2009, the chiefs and members of Clan Chattan's clans met in Inverness. They celebrated the 400th anniversary of the 1609 Clan Chattan Band of Union. They also signed a new Band of Union to renew their historic connection. This showed their continued unity.
Clan Profile
- Plant badge: The Red Whortleberry (Latin: vaccinium vitis-idaea).
- Crest badge: A wildcat standing up.
- Clan's motto: Touch not the cat bot a glove. This old saying means "Don't touch the cat without a glove," which warns against bothering a wildcat unless you're prepared.
Tartan
Each clan within Clan Chattan has its own unique tartan pattern. However, there is also a special Clan Chattan tartan. It was once known as the Mackintosh Chief tartan and was officially recognized in 1938.
See also
Images for kids
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Panorama South from Clan Chattan monument to Sarah Justina Macpherson of Cluny at Creag Dhubh, Laggan, Scotland
