Patrick Maclellan of Bombie facts for kids
Patrick Maclellan of Bombie (died around 1452) was the leader of his family, the Clan MacLellan. He was also the Sheriff of Galloway. Patrick was very loyal to the young King James II of Scotland.
He was invited to join a powerful group of noblemen. This group included William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, and the Earls of Ross, Crawford, and Ormond. Their goal was to challenge King James II. However, Patrick Maclellan refused to join them.
William Douglas was a member of the 'Black Douglas' family. He became very powerful through his marriage to his cousin, Margaret Douglas. She was the daughter of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas. This marriage made William Douglas the most powerful nobleman in Scotland. His alliance with the Earls of Ross and Crawford made him even stronger. It seemed clear they were planning to take over the king's power.
A Nobleman's Refusal
The main reason for the conflict was Patrick Maclellan's refusal to join the powerful alliance. The Earl of Douglas was very angry about this. He saw it as opposition to his plans.
Douglas then attacked Raeberry Castle, also known as MacLellan's Castle. He captured Sir Patrick Maclellan there. Maclellan was then taken as a prisoner to Threave Castle.
The King's Request
Lord Andrew Gray was Patrick Maclellan's uncle. His son, Sir Patrick Gray, held an important position at the King's Court. Lord Andrew Gray managed to get a letter from King James. This letter asked the Earl of Douglas to release Patrick Maclellan.
Sir Patrick Gray personally delivered the king's letter. William Douglas suspected what the letter said. He refused to open it until after Sir Patrick Gray had finished dinner. However, Douglas had a dishonest plan. Knowing Gray's intentions, the Earl ordered Maclellan to be killed right away.
A Tragic End
After Maclellan was killed, Douglas led Sir Patrick Gray to the castle courtyard. There, Sir Patrick Maclellan's body lay without its head. Gray quickly left the castle, which was almost certainly Threave Castle. He managed to escape capture because he was a skilled horseman.
Later, King James invited Douglas to dine at Stirling Castle. During this meeting, Douglas still refused to end his alliance. King James then stabbed Douglas in the neck. The king's attendants, including Sir Patrick Gray, finished the attack. They threw the Earl of Douglas's body from a window.
Family Legacy
Patrick Maclellan's son was William Maclellan. William Maclellan is known for killing a famous bandit named Black Morrow.
