Malcolm Maclean, 3rd Chief facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maolcaluim mac Giliosa Maclean, 3rd Chief
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| 3rd Chief of Clan Maclean | |
| In office 1300-circa 1320 (20 years) |
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| Preceded by | Malise mac Gilleain, 2nd Chief, father |
| Succeeded by | John Dubh Maclean, 4th Chief, youngest son |
| Personal details | |
| Spouses | Rioghnach of Carrick, daughter of Gamail of Carrick |
| Children | John Dubh Maclean, 4th Clan Chief |
| Parent | Malise mac Gilleain |
| Relatives | Gilleain na Tuaighe, grandfather |
| Known for | Battle of Bannockburn |
Malcolm Maclean, also known by his Scottish Gaelic name Maolcaluim mac Giliosa, was an important leader. He was the 3rd Chief of Clan Maclean, a powerful Scottish clan. His name, Maol-Calum or Gille-Calum, means "Servant of Columba." Malcolm became the clan chief in 1300 after his father passed away. He led the clan until about 1320.
Malcolm lived during a time when the rules for who inherited leadership were changing. In many clans, the oldest son would take over. However, this rule, called primogeniture, was not always followed yet. Malcolm was succeeded by his youngest son, John Dubh Maclean, 4th Clan Chief.
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Family Life
Malcolm Maclean was married to Rioghnach of Carrick. She was the daughter of Gamail, Lord of Carrick. Together, they had several children.
Malcolm's Children
- Donald Maclean: He had four sons.
- Neil Maclean: He had three sons.
- John Dubh Maclean, 4th Clan Chief: He was the youngest son. John Dubh became the next chief of Clan Maclean. This happened because the rule of primogeniture, where the oldest son inherits, was not strictly in place yet.
Battle of Bannockburn
Malcolm Maclean led his clan in a very important battle. This was the Battle of Bannockburn, which took place on June 24, 1314. This battle was a major part of the First War of Scottish Independence.
Fighting for Scotland's Freedom
The Battle of Bannockburn was a huge victory for Scotland. It helped Scotland gain its independence from England. The Scottish army, led by King Robert the Bruce, had about 30,000 soldiers. The English army, led by King Edward II, was much larger, with over 100,000 soldiers.
The battle began with English archers firing arrows. The Scottish army was organized into three main groups. King Robert the Bruce kept a special group of soldiers, including 5,000 Highlanders, in reserve. These Highlanders were led by Angus Og MacDonald.
Highland Clans in Battle
Many Scottish clans fought bravely at Bannockburn. These included the Stewart, MacDonald, MacKay, Maclntosh, MacPherson, Cameron, Sinclair, Drummond, Campbell, Menzies, MacLean, Sutherland, Robertson, Grant, Fraser, MacFarlane, Ross, MacGregor, Munro, MacKenzie, and MacQuarrie clans. Each clan was led by its own chief.
Some clans, like the Cumming, MacDougall of Lorn, and MacNab, fought on the English side.
The Turning Point
The battle was fierce and noisy. Swords clashed, knights shouted, and arrows flew. The ground became muddy and covered with broken weapons. Slowly, the Scottish army began to push forward.
At a key moment, people who had been following the Scottish army appeared over a hill. The English soldiers mistook them for more Scottish reinforcements. This caused panic among the English. Seeing this, the Scots attacked even harder. The English army broke apart and fled.
The Highland clans, including Clan Maclean, fought with great strength. They used their battle-axes effectively. King Robert the Bruce noticed their bravery. To show his thanks, he gave Angus Og MacDonald and his family a special honor. They were given the important position of fighting on the right side of the royal army forever.
