Red Hector of the Battles Maclean facts for kids

Red Hector of the Battles Maclean (died 1411), also known as Eachann Ruadh nan Cath in Scottish Gaelic, was an important leader. He was the 6th Chief of Clan Maclean.

Biography

Early Life and Skills

Hector Roy Maclean was the son of Lachlan Lubanach Maclean. From a young age, he showed great bravery. He was known as one of the best swordsmen of his time. Many famous knights traveled from far away to challenge him. They wanted to see who was the better fighter.

One of these challengers was a well-known knight from Norway. He challenged Hector Roy to a fight to the death. Hector accepted. They met at Salen on the Isle of Mull. Hector won the fight, and the Norwegian knight died. A green mound and a pile of stones on the seashore still mark the spot where Hector buried his opponent.

Sea Battles and Ireland

An old Scottish poem tells a story about Hector. It says he led a large fleet of ships to the coast of Ireland. There, he fought and defeated some ships belonging to the King of England. He landed his soldiers and took control of the city of Dublin. He also caused damage in the countryside. This event might be mentioned in Holinshed's Chronicle of Ireland. It records that in 1400, Scottish forces fought at sea near Stanford in Ulster. Many English soldiers were killed or drowned in that battle.

Family and Loyalty

Marriage and Influence

Hector Roy married a daughter of the Earl of Douglas. This marriage greatly increased his power and connections. The Earl of Douglas tried to convince Hector to leave his uncle, Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles. His uncle was close to starting a war with Robert, Duke of Albany, who was ruling the kingdom.

Standing by His Uncle

Even with his father-in-law's offers, Hector remained loyal. His duty was to his uncle Donald. Hector was the hereditary Lieutenant-General of the Isles. This meant he was a top military commander for the Lord of the Isles. The coming war gave him a chance to show his bravery again.

Death

In 1411, Hector was serving as a military leader for his uncle, Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles. They were fighting in the Battle of Harlaw. During this battle, Hector fought Sir Alexander Irvine. Sir Alexander was the 3rd Chief of Clan Irvine. They fought in a famous hand-to-hand combat. Both men were badly injured and died from their wounds.

Legacy

A poet from the 1800s, Iain mac Ailein, was a descendant of Red Hector of the Battles. Iain mac Ailein was an important figure in both Scottish Gaelic literature and Canadian Gaelic poetry.