Malcolm Beg Mackintosh, 10th of Mackintosh facts for kids
Malcolm Beg Mackintosh (died 1457) was an important leader, known as the tenth chief of the Clan Mackintosh. This was a famous Scottish clan from the Scottish Highlands. He was also the chief of a large group of clans called the Clan Chattan.
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Battles and Challenges
Malcolm Beg Mackintosh supported Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. This battle was fought against Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany over who should control the Earldom of Ross. Some old stories say that Malcolm Beg Mackintosh and Hector Maclean, chief of the Clan Maclean, fought each other in a duel and both died at Harlaw. A historian from the 1400s, Hector Boece, wrote about this.
However, a historian from the 1800s, Alexander Mackintosh-Shaw, found evidence that Malcolm Beg Mackintosh actually died much later, in 1457. This was 45 years after the Battle of Harlaw! He found old documents from 1443, 1447, and 1456 that mentioned Malcolm, proving he was still alive. The Mackintosh family's own history also supports this later date.
Royal Duties and Rebellions
In 1427–28, James I of Scotland visited Inverness to set up a special court. He made Malcolm Beg Mackintosh the Constable, or guardian, of Inverness Castle. In 1429, Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, rebelled against the king and burned Inverness. But he could not take the castle from Mackintosh.
The Clan Mackintosh and their allies, the Clan Chattan, then joined the king's army. They fought against Alexander of Islay at the Battle of Lochaber in 1429. After this, the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan fought their old rivals, the Clan Cameron, at the Battle of Palm Sunday. Many old books, like Scotichronicon by Walter Bower and History of Greater Britain by John Major, mention this battle.
Malcolm's men were sent away to Ardnamurchan to fight Dòmhnall Ballach Mac Dhòmhnaill of Clan Donald. Because of this, they were not at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1431.
Continuing Feuds
The fight over land with the Camerons continued. In 1441, the Mackintoshes fought them again at the Battle of Craig Cailloch. Malcolm Beg Mackintosh's second son, Lachlan, was hurt, and his fourth son, Gillichallum, was killed.
The Clan Mackintosh also had a long-standing feud with the Clan Comyn. Rait Castle once belonged to the Comyn family. In 1442, the castle passed to the Mackintoshes. A big feast was held at the castle between the two families. Sadly, this feast ended in a terrible fight where many Comyns were killed. It is said that the castle is haunted by the ghost of a girl who lost her hands trying to escape.
In 1452, Malcolm Beg Mackintosh was getting old and could not do public work anymore. He had become friends with the Earl of Ross. When James II of Scotland heard that the Earl of Ross was allied with the Earl of Douglas, he gave control of Inverness Castle to a man from Clan Crichton. Three years later, the Earl of Ross took the castle from Crichton.
The Battle of Clachnaharry
In 1454, the Battle of Clachnaharry happened. The Clan Munro was returning from stealing cattle. They passed by Mackintosh's home at Moyhall without paying him a share of their stolen goods or a "road callop" (a payment for passing through his land).
The earliest story of this battle, written by Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet in the 1600s, says the Mackintosh chief was killed. Many later stories repeat this. However, the Mackintosh family's own history, called the Kinrara manuscript, says something different. It says Malcolm Beg Mackintosh was not at the battle. Instead, one of his grandsons, also named Malcolm Mackintosh, chased the Munros. But this grandson was not actually involved in the fighting. He later married Janet Munro, who was the sister of John Munro of Milntown, the leader of the Munros on that trip.
According to Alexander Mackintosh-Shaw, Malcolm Beg Mackintosh died in 1457.
Family Life
Malcolm Beg Mackintosh, the 10th chief, married Mora. She was the daughter of MacDonald, 1st of Moydart. They had many children:
- Duncan Mackintosh, 11th of Mackintosh (who became the next chief).
- Lachlan, also called "Badenoch," who died in 1493. He had children, including William Mackintosh, 13th of Mackintosh and his brother Lachlan Beg Mackintosh, 14th of Mackintosh.
- Alan Mackintosh, who started the Mackintosh of Killachie family branch.
- Malcolm Mackintosh, also known as Gillichallum. He was killed at the Battle of Craig Cailloch in 1441. He had two sons: Malcolm Og Mackintosh (who chased the Munros before the Battle of Clachnaharry) and Dougal Mor.
- Muriel, who married Sir Duncan Grant of Freuchie.
- Mora, who married Hucheon Rose of Kilravock.
- Janet, who married Patrick Mac Ian Roy.
- Margaret, who married Hector Mac Tearlich, a leader of Clan Tearlach (the Macleans of Dochgarroch and Clan Chattan).
- Moniach, who married Alexander Fraser.
See also
