Clan Skene facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Skene |
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| MacSgian | |||
| Motto | Virtutis regia merces (A palace the reward of bravery) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| District | Aberdeenshire | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Dugald Skene of Skene | |||
| Chief of the Name and Arms of Skene | |||
| Historic seat | Skene Castle | ||
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Clan Skene is a historic Scottish clan with a rich past. They are known for their bravery and their unique origin story. The clan's traditional lands are in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Contents
Exploring Clan Skene's History
How Clan Skene Began
The Legend of the Wolf
A long time ago, in the 11th century, there's a cool legend about how Clan Skene got its name. It's said that a young son of the chief of Clan Robertson saved the king's life! He bravely killed a fierce wolf using only his Sgian-dubh, a small Scottish knife.
Because of this brave act, the king gave him land in Aberdeenshire. He named these lands "Skene" after the weapon that brought him good luck. That's how the family started using the name Skene. You can still see this story on the clan chief's shield, which shows three wolf heads on daggers.
Early Records of the Clan
The first person recorded with the Skene name was John de Skeen. He lived during the time of Malcolm III of Scotland. After King Malcolm died, John de Skeen supported Donald Bane in a fight for the throne.
Because of this, John de Skeen lost his lands. But he got them back when the Skenes joined Alexander I of Scotland's army in 1118. John de Skene, a grandson of the first John, held the lands during the reign of Alexander III of Scotland.
Fighting for Scottish Freedom
Patrick, the son of John de Skene, signed the Ragman Rolls in 1296. This meant he agreed to be loyal to Edward I of England. However, the Skenes later became strong supporters of Robert the Bruce.
After Robert the Bruce's victory, the Skene lands were made into a special area called a barony. This showed their importance and loyalty to Scotland.
Important Moments in the 15th and 16th Centuries
The Skenes were involved in many important battles for Scotland. In 1411, Adam de Skene was killed at the Battle of Harlaw. Later, in 1513, Alexander Skene de Skene died at the Battle of Flodden. Another Skene laird (landowner) was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.
Other important parts of the Clan Skene family were the Skenes of Curriehill and Hallyards. John Skene, Lord Curriehill was a famous lawyer in the 16th century. He became a judge in 1594 and was knighted by James VI of Scotland. His son later became a Baronet of Nova Scotia.
The 17th Century and Beyond
The Skenes faced tough times when they supported Charles I of England. The clan chief had to leave Scotland and served in the Swedish army. He fought under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden during the Thirty Years' War.
In 1827, the direct line of the Skene chiefs ended. The family's estates then went to a nephew, James Duff, 4th Earl Fife.
The Skenes of Rubislaw were another notable branch of the clan. James Skene of Rubislaw was a close friend of the famous writer Walter Scott. James Skene even inspired some characters in Scott's books, Quentin Durward and Ivanhoe.
William Forbes Skene was a celebrated Scottish writer and historian. He was appointed the official historian for Scotland in 1881.
Clan Castle and Home
Skene Castle was the main home of the Clan Skene chiefs for many years. It remained their seat until 1827, when the main family line ended. After that, the castle passed to the Earl of Fife.
The Clan Chief Today
The chief is the recognized head of the clan. On February 17, 1994, Danus George Moncrieff Skene of Skene was officially recognized as the Chief of the Name and Arms of Skene. His son, Dugald, was named as the next in line.
Danus Skene was from the Skene of Halyards family line. This line was proven to be directly related to an earlier chief, James Skene, who died around 1604. When Alexander Skene died in 1827 without a male heir, the leadership passed to the next most senior family branch, the Skenes of Halyards. After Danus Skene passed away in 2016, his son Dugald became the current chief.
Clan Septs
A sept is a family name that is considered part of a larger clan. Some of the family names connected to Clan Skene include:
- Cariston
- Dyce
- Hallyard
- Carnie
See also
