Manrent facts for kids

Manrent was a special kind of Scottish agreement from the 1400s to the early 1600s. It was usually about military help and involved different Scottish clans. A bond of manrent was a promise where a weaker person or clan agreed to serve a stronger lord or clan. In return, they received protection. It was a bit like becoming a vassal, where someone gives service to a powerful leader.

These agreements were a promise to "be friend to all his friends, and foe to all his foes." Some manrent agreements were called bonds of friendship. These happened between clans or people who had similar power. They were like treaties where both sides promised to help each other in fights.

Manrent agreements always made sure to put the King first. They would say things like: "…always excepting duty to our lord the king." This meant their loyalty to the King was more important than the manrent. If someone wasn't a clan chief but part of a smaller group, their loyalty to their own chief was also put first.

Smaller clans often made manrent agreements if they couldn't defend themselves. Clans that had lost their chiefs also did this. Through these agreements, smaller clans joined forces with bigger ones. They would join in fights, follow the bigger clans, and fight under their chiefs. However, they still fought in their own groups, led by their own smaller chiefs or leaders. Even though manrents often mentioned "our successors" or "perpetually," they usually lasted only for a specific reason, like a battle or a revenge mission.

Why Manrents Were Important

Bonds of manrent were a big part of how Scottish clans got along from the 1400s to the early 1600s. Clans often settled their disagreements through talks and agreements. To make a clan stronger against a rival, or to keep things balanced in an area, a clan might join a coalition with friendly neighbors.

Manrents helped protect smaller clans from being taken over by bigger ones. They also kept alive the fighting spirit that was common among all clans. Because of these agreements, the Scottish Highlands were often a place of small battles, much like bigger wars happening in Europe. The need for manrents showed that the Scottish government at the time was too weak. It could not protect people or stop fights between clans.

Manrents and Scottish Law

The Scottish Parliament tried to stop manrent agreements. In 1457 and again in 1491, laws were passed saying that people living in towns could not make manrent agreements. If they did, they could lose their goods and even their lives. However, these laws allowed manrents to the King, the King's officers, or to the lord of the same town.

Later, in 1555, another law said that all past manrent agreements were now invalid. This was because they were seen as going "against all law and obedience of subjects toward their princes." The only exception was for agreements made to settle old killings.

An Example of a Manrent Agreement

In 1588, William Macleod, the 13th chief of Clan Macleod, made a manrent agreement. He joined with Lachlan Mackintosh, the chief of the Clan Chattan, whose daughter he had married. Here is part of what the agreement said:

Some Manrent Agreements

See also

• Coalition
• Covenant (law)
• Homage (medieval)
• Scottish clan
• Treaty