Hector Roy Mackenzie facts for kids
Hector Roy Mackenzie was an important leader of the Clan Mackenzie in Scotland. He lived a long time ago, in the 1400s and early 1500s. Hector became very powerful and owned a lot of land, especially around a place called Gairloch in Wester Ross. He gained these lands by helping the Scottish King. He also had a big disagreement with his nephew about who should be the main leader of their clan.
Contents
Who Was Hector Roy Mackenzie?
Hector was the son of Alexander Mackenzie, who was the chief of the Clan Mackenzie. His mother was Margaret Macdonald, from the Clan Macdonald of Clanranald.
Hector as a Guardian
When Hector's father died in 1488, his half-brother Kenneth became the chief. But Kenneth died soon after, in 1491. Kenneth's young son, Kenneth Og, then became chief. Hector was chosen to be Kenneth Og's "Tutor," which meant he was like a guardian or a temporary leader because Kenneth Og was too young.
Kenneth Og probably died in 1497. After that, it was unclear who should be the next chief. Kenneth had another son named John, but some people thought John wasn't a rightful heir. Hector was asked to be John's guardian too. However, Hector had his own plans to become the clan's main leader.
How Hector Gained His Lands
Hector already had some land titles. In 1488, a group of powerful nobles fought against King James III. Hector's father sent Hector and his brother Kenneth with 500 men to support the King. But Kenneth went home when he heard their father had died. So, Hector led the clan to a battle called Battle of Sauchieburn, near Stirling.
The King's side lost the battle, and King James III died. Hector barely escaped. He went back to Ross-shire and captured Redcastle, which was held by the rebels. He then joined other northern clans who wanted to get revenge for the King's death. But the new young king, James IV, who had been on the rebel side, told everyone to stop fighting.
When Hector showed his loyalty to King James IV, the King was pleased. He gave Hector the lands of Gairloch as a reward. This was a special gift for his loyalty. He also received other important places like Brahan Castle, Moy, Glassletter, Castle Leod, Achterneed, Kinellan, Allan, Fairburn, Scatwells, Kinlochewe, and even half of Kintail.
Taking Gairloch from the Macleods
Gairloch had been given to another family, the Macleods, back in 1430. Even though Hector had royal papers for most of Gairloch, it was hard to take control from the Macleods. The Macleod leader, Allan MacRory, was married to Hector's sister. They had three sons.
Later, Allan MacRory married again. Two of his new wife's brothers wanted their nephew to inherit Gairloch. So, they sadly killed Allan and two of his sons by Hector's sister. Hector was very upset. He immediately went to the King in Edinburgh, carrying the bloody shirts of his nephews as proof.
The King was shocked by the crime. He gave Hector special permission to use force against the murderers. He also gave Hector a new royal paper for the lands of Gairloch in 1494. The killers were later found and killed near Port Henderson.
Hector's ownership of Gairloch was officially confirmed by a document from the Sheriff of Inverness in December 1494. His ownership of Brahan and Moy was also confirmed by the King in 1508.
Disagreement with the Clan Chief
Hector had a big disagreement with his nephew, John Mackenzie of Killin, who was supposed to be the new clan chief. This was partly about Hector's rights to the half of Kintail, which his father had left to him and his brother. Hector claimed John was not the rightful heir and took control of the clan's lands himself. The whole clan followed Hector for a while.
In 1499, the Earl of Huntly, who worked for the King, tried to stop the Clan Mackenzie because of some fighting and stealing they were involved in. But this order didn't seem to work very well.
Eventually, Hector and his nephew John made peace. Some stories say this happened after John surrounded and set fire to Hector's house in Fairburn.
Historians agree that Hector Roy was in charge of the clan after Kenneth Og died. He was supposed to be a guardian for young John. But Hector's actions caused problems with the government and other clans. He was eventually forced by law to give the clan's main estate and leadership back to John, the rightful heir.
Hector kept control of Eilean Donan Castle until 1511, when the King's council ordered him to give it to John. Records show that Hector collected rents from Kintail for many years without reporting them. He probably held the castle to make sure his nephew would agree to his rights to Kintail.
This idea is supported by the fact that John received a new royal paper for Kintail in 1508-9, the same year Hector got his lands of Brahan and Moy. This suggests they worked out a deal. Also, Hector didn't seem to lose the King's favor. Just two years after John took action against Hector, Hector received another new royal paper for Gairloch and other lands in 1513. After this, Hector and John seemed to be on friendly terms.
Later Life and Family
To show his thanks to the King, Hector gathered his followers. He joined his nephew John of Killin, and they fought together at the terrible Battle of Flodden. Both Hector and John barely survived, but many of their men were killed.
Hector Roy died in 1528. Records show that on September 8 of that year, the lands of Gairloch, which belonged to Hector, were given to Sir John Dingwall.
Hector Roy was supposed to marry a daughter of the Laird of Grant, but she died before the wedding. However, they had a son named Hector Cam, who was blind in one eye. Hector Roy gave him Achterneed and Castle Leod. Hector Cam had two sons, Alexander Roy and Murdo.
After the Grant's daughter died, Hector Roy married his cousin Anne Macdonald. Anne had been married before. Hector Roy and Anne had four sons: John "Glassich" (who inherited his lands), Kenneth, John "Tuach," and Dougal Roy. They also had three daughters who married into other important families.
The lands of Gairloch are still owned by Hector Roy's family today, more than 500 years after he first gained them.
See also
