An estimated 30 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by government forces, allegedly for failing to pledge allegiance to the new monarchs, William III of Scotland and Mary II. Tattie Scones. [10] His approval was sent on 12 December, and received by Glengarry on the 23rd, who did not share it until the 28th. He first went to nearby Fort William, which at that time was a government military base. Massacre of Glencoe, (February 13, 1692), in Scottish history, the treacherous slaughter of members of the MacDonald clan of Glencoe by soldiers under Archibald Campbell, 10th earl of Argyll. By The Newsroom. [11], As a result, MacIain of Glencoe only left for Fort William on 30 December to take the Oath from the governor, Lieutenant Colonel John Hill. Two rival dynasties vied for the throne in far off London; but the fighting, the repercussions and the bloodshed would be felt most in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The actual massacre itself was a direct order from the Master of Stair, Joint-Secretary of State for Scotland for the new King, William of Orange.Thirty-eight MacDonalds from the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by the Campbells, (the guests who had accepted thei… [52] Work in the summer of 2019 focused on the settlement of Achtriachtan, at the extreme end of the glen; home to an estimated 50 people, excavations show it was rebuilt after 1692 and still occupied in the mid-18th century. Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. By The Newsroom. [20], Highland regiments were formed by first appointing Captains, each responsible for recruiting sixty men from his own estates. This was the treacherous and cold-blooded order ruthlessly carried out on 13 February 1692, when the Campbells slaughtered their hosts the MacDonalds at the Massacre of Glencoe. '[24] Recent estimates put total deaths resulting from the Massacre as 'around 30', while claims others died of exposure have not been substantiated. Le massacre de Glencoe (écossais : Mort Ghlinne Comhann) s'est déroulé dans la vallée de Glen Coe en Écosse, tôt dans la matinée du 13 février 1692, à l'époque de la Glorieuse Révolution et du jacobitisme. He argued lawlessness was deliberately encouraged by leaders like Glengarry, while ‘the midle sort of Gentrey and Commons....never got anything but hurt’ from it. [50], Examples in literature include "The Masks of Purpose" by Eric Linklater, and the novels Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies, Corrag (known as Witch Light in paperback) by Susan Fletcher and Lady of the Glen by Jennifer Roberson. [40], Victorian Scotland developed values that were pro-Union and pro-Empire, while also being uniquely Scottish. He is known as the 'Curse of Scotland' for his role in the Glencoe Massacre, the government minister whose exploits went largely unpunished following the infamous murders which took place 325 years ago this week. “You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and put all to the sword under seventy. Glencoe was a popular topic with 19th-century poets, the best-known work being Sir Walter Scott's "Massacre of Glencoe". With this sanguinary order in his pocket, and with his mind made up unhesitatingly and rigorously to execute it, he did not hesitate to spend the evening of the massacre playing at cards with John and Alexander Macdonald, the sons of the chief, to wish them good night at parting, and to accept an invitation from Glencoe himself to dine with him the following day. But it wasn’t long before he was back in government. It is unlikely that Glenlyon knew at this point what he would be ordered to do next. [17], In the debate that followed, Colonel Hill claimed most Highlanders were peaceful, and even in Lochaber, a single person may travell safley where he will witout harme. This was the treacherous and cold-blooded order ruthlessly carried out on 13 February 1692, when the Campbells slaughtered their hosts the MacDonalds at the Massacre of Glencoe. The handwritten order for the Massacre of Glencoe is the centrepiece of a National Library of Scotland exhibition. Signed by Major Robert Duncanson, the orders stated, "You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and put all to the sword under seventy. In March 1690, the Secretary of State, Lord Stair, offered a total of £12,000 for swearing allegiance to William. 1692 - Order for the Massacre of Glencoe This is the original order sent to Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, instructing him to kill the MacDonalds of Glencoe. [28] Despite criticism of the government, there was little sympathy for the MacDonalds; the military commander in Scotland, Viscount Teviot wrote that 'it's not that anyone thinks the thieving tribe did not deserve to be destroyed but that it should have been done by those quartered amongst them makes a great noise. He was to spare none below the age of seventy. [45], Its continuing emotional power was demonstrated in 1998, when a plaque was installed at a granite boulder south of Carnach. [31], A Commission was set up to determine whether there was a case to answer under 'Slaughter under trust', a 1587 law intended to reduce endemic feuding. As per John Prebble's account 'Glencoe; the Story of the Massacre,' this was John MacDonald, who served in the Jacobite force under Thomas Buchan scattered at Cromdale in May 1690. Mistakenly, he went to Fort William and then was sent on to Inverary, a Campbell stronghold three days away ,to pledge his allegiance to the King via the sheriff. He is known as the 'Curse of Scotland' for his role in the Glencoe Massacre, the government minister whose exploits went largely unpunished following the infamous murders which took place 325 years ago this week. Glenlyon died in Bruges in August 1696, Duncanson was killed in Spain in May 1705, Drummond survived to take part in another famous Scottish disaster of the period, the Darien Scheme. [13], Stair's letter of 2 December to Breadalbane shows the intention of making an example was taken well before the deadline for the Oath but as a much bigger operation; ...the clan Donell must be rooted out and Lochiel. It was Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, a desperate man who had lost his all through gambling, who carried out Stair’s final order, 'to put all to the sword under seventy'. [8] Stair's letters increasingly focused on enforcement, reflecting his belief forged or not, none of the signatories intended to keep their word. In addition, links between Irish and Scottish branches of the MacDonalds, as well as Scots and Irish Presbyterians, meant unrest in one country often spilled into the other. You are to secure … The Massacre of Glencoe came against the backdrop of civil war in the British Isles. Duncanson was two hours late, only joining Glenlyon at the southern end at 7:00 am, after which they advanced up the glen burning houses and removing livestock. The exception was Lochaber, persistently identified as a refuge for cattle raiders and thieves by government officials, other chiefs and even Gaelic poets. In 1691 all Highland Clan Chiefs were required to swear and sign an oath of loyalty to the new, protestant King William III by no later than 1 January 1692. In order to continue read the entire music sheet of The Massacre Of Glencoe Mort Ghlinne Comhainn you need to signup, download music sheet notes in pdf format also available for offline reading. Rebel clan chiefs were called to a summit at the ruins of Achallader Castle in June 1691 with the Earl of Breadlebane, Lord Treasurer of Scotland, who was also a member of Clan Campbell, leading negotiations. In 1691 all Highland Clan Chiefs were required to swear and sign an oath of loyalty to the new, protestant King William III by no later than 1 January 1692. This was the treacherous and cold-blooded order ruthlessly carried out on 13 February 1692, when the Campbells slaughtered their hosts the MacDonalds at the Massacre of Glencoe. However, Dalrymple took issue with the pace of progress and King William issued a proclamation to the clan leaders - pledge your allegiance or be answerable at your “highest peril”. [a] Campbell carried orders for 'free quarter', an established alternative to paying taxes in what was a largely non-cash society. It’s known for its magical landscape, which has made it a popular filming location for movies such as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Rob Roy, and Highlander.But Glencoe is also remembered for a story of clan betrayal that led to a tragic and bloody Glencoe Massacre in 1692. This is the original order sent to Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, instructing him to kill the MacDonalds of Glencoe. Stair persuaded King William that the order was designed to root out a den of thieves in the Valley of Glencoe. You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the McDonalds of Glencoe, and put all to the sword under seventy. The massacre of Glencoe Nevertheless in one case the submission came too late. This you are to putt in execution att fyve of the clock precisely; and by that time, or very shortly after it, I’ll strive to be att you with a stronger party: if I doe not come to you att fyve, you are not to tarry for me, but to fall on. In late January 1692, two companies or approximately 120 men from the Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot arrived in Glencoe from Invergarry. In preparation to carrying out the massacre, two companies of Argyle’s regiment, a total of about 120 men, under the command of Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, were ordered to proceed to Glencoe by the beginning of February, and under pretext, to remain there and await further orders. The massacre of the MacDonald’s of Glencoe is one of the most notorious acts of infamy in Scottish history and is remembered even now with bitter distaste by many of that clan. It was deemed an outrageous affront to both the rule of law as well as the Highland code of hospitality and caused uproar across the country. It was from around that time, that people started to refer to a new name for the nine of diamonds. '[43], After the study of Scottish history re-emerged in the 1950s, Leslie's perspectives continued to shape views of William's reign as particularly disastrous for Scotland. William Croft Dickinson references Glencoe in his 1963 short story "The Return of the Native". Instructing that the attack be carried out at 5am, the order added: “This is by the Kings special command, for the good & safety of the Country, that these miscreants be cutt off root and branch”. [33], As both a capital offence and treason, it was an awkward weapon with which to attack Stair, as William himself signed the orders and the intent was widely known in government circles. Who Ordered the Massacre of Glencoe - He is known as the “Curse of Scotland” for his role in the Glencoe Massacre, the government minister whose exploits went largely unpunished following the infamous murders which took place 325 years ago this week. It was used as a subject by Thomas Campbell and George Gilfillan, whose main claim to modern literary fame is his sponsorship of William McGonagall , allegedly the worst poet in … The first historical figure connected with Glencoe was Fingal, one of the greatest Celtic heroes and leader of the Feinn, warriors of Gaelic mythology.The glen was his legendary home and his memory is preserved in a number of place names, for … The handwritten order for the Glencoe massacre goes on display at a National Library of Scotland exhibition in Edinburgh. [38] It was referenced by Whig historian, Thomas Macaulay, in his 1859 History. The order to slaughter the MacDonalds came from London at the urging of the Secretary of State for Scotland, John Dalrymple. A Song of Ice and Fire author, George R. R. Martin, cites the Glencoe Massacre as one of two historical influences on the infamous "Red Wedding" in his 2000 book A Storm of Swords. The Keppoch MacDonalds were outlawed first in 1688 for attacking government troops, then again in 1689 for supporting the Jacobites. Dalrymple was not a fan of the Jacobite cause, Highland culture, or the MacDonalds themselves. The order for the massacre of the MacDonalds at Glencoe, 1692. But accounts exist that a number of Campbell’s tried to warn the MacDonald’s of an impending horror and urged them to flee. In 1691, King William the Third, recognising the resurgence of the Jacobite cause, ordered all the clan chiefs to sign an oath of allegiance by 1st January 1692. [9], In early October, the chiefs asked James for permission to take the Oath unless he could mount an invasion before the deadline, a condition they knew to be impossible. The Campbell’s have long been vilified for their role in the massacre. Dalrymple was appointed Secretary of State of Scotland during the reign of William II and had virtual control of his affairs north of the border. He added in to the letter he had been writing at the time: “Just now, my Lord Argyll tells me that Glencoe hath not taken the oaths, at which I rejoice. The Massacre of Glencoe. At this time the MacDonalds of Glencoe, a minor branch of the mighty clan, were headed by Alasdair who set off on December 30th 1691 to swear allegiance. In 1692, government troops, loyal to King William, killed 38 MacDonalds, after having accepted the hospitality of the men they would murder. It is unlikely that Glenlyon knew at this point what he would be ordered to do next. No Scottish breakfast is complete without tattie scones (tattie is a familiar term for potatoes). Who Ordered the Massacre of Glencoe - He is known as the “Curse of Scotland” for his role in the Glencoe Massacre, the government minister whose exploits went largely unpunished following the infamous murders which took place 325 years ago this week. Fugitives were helped at Castle Stalker, a safe place for Clan Campbell, according to tradition. Muster rolls also show that Campbells made up a minority the government-backed troops dispatched to Glencoe. Dalrymple, of Ayrshire, a former Lord Advocate, quickly acted upon his disdain for the Highland clans who broadly retained support for deposed James VII, the brother-in-law of the new king. The Massacre of Glencoe is one of the darkest chapters in Scottish history which saw the treacherous slaughter of members of the MacDonald clan over 400 years ago. The Massacre of Glencoe. This was because MacIain, leaving it to the last minute, had travelled to Fort William instead of Inveraray to swear the oath. Whoever was pulling the strings, Dalrymple had found his target - and could barely contain his delight. ©JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. At 5 am on the morning of 13 February 1692 the killing began. Write a review. [12] Glengarry did not swear until 4 February, with others doing so by proxy, but only MacIain was excluded from the indemnity issued by the Scottish Privy Council. He was to spare none below the age of seventy. Primarily directed against areas in Cowal and Kintyre settled by Lowland migrants, it destabilised large parts of the central and southern Highlands, and the government of James II had to use military force to restore order. This was the treacherous and cold-blooded order ruthlessly carried out on 13 February 1692, when the Campbells slaughtered their hosts the MacDonalds at the Massacre of Glencoe. [44] It is still commemorated in an annual ceremony by the Clan Donald Society; initiated in 1930, this is held at the Upper Carnoch memorial, a tapering Celtic cross installed in 1883 at the eastern end of Glencoe village. The killing of 38 members of the MacDonald clan on February 13 1692 by Campbell-led government troops is one of the darkest … You are to have a special care that the old Fox and his sons do upon no account escape your hands, you are to secure all the avenues that no man escape.” Glencoe Massacre Memorial Inscription (Photo credit: Kim Traynor) The massacre began at 5am the next morning. Two days later, secret articles appeared, cancelling the agreement in the event of a Jacobite invasion and signed by all the attendees, including Breadalbane, who claimed they had been manufactured by Glengarry, the MacDonald chief. Retrouvez Order for the Massacre of Glencoe et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. It applied only to murder committed in 'cold-blood', for example when articles of surrender had been agreed, or hospitality accepted, and was subject to interpretation. The Massacre was ordered by Sir John Dalrymple, Secretary of State of Scotland, as punishment for the MacDonald’s chief, MacIain, not swearing the oath of loyalty to the new king, William of Orange, before the deadline of 31st December 1691. '[29] The impetus behind an inquiry was political; as a former member of James' administration, who then became a supporter of the new regime, Stair was unpopular with both sides. The regiment remained here until the Nine Years' War ended in 1697; it was disbanded, and no action taken against those involved. The massacre . The Commission therefore focused on whether participants exceeded their orders, not their legality; it concluded Stair and Hamilton had a case to answer but left the decision to William. Written by Jim McLean and published by Duart Music, 1963, "Massacre Of Glencoe", "The Massacre Of Glencoe" or simply "Glencoe" is not the first song to be written about this infamous, shameful and senseless act of what would today be called ethnic cleansing in the Scottish Highlands. This differs from their testimony to the Commission and is unlikely, since they arrived hours after the killings, which were carried out at the opposite end of the glen. The massacre was launched on February 13 1692 after the King ordered Captain Robert Campbell of Glen Lyon to attack his hosts and “put all to the sword under seventy”. Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon was given the command of two companies of about 120 men in total. It was used as a subject by Thomas Campbell and George Gilfillan, whose main claim to modern literary fame is his sponsorship of William McGonagall , allegedly the worst poet in … [39] He sought to exonerate William from every charge made by Leslie, including the Massacre, which he claimed was part of a Campbell–MacDonald clan feud. The role of John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair, a shrewd political operator who helped secure King William II and his wife Mary on the throne, went largely unpunished. [46] Originally known as the 'Soldier's Stone', [47] in the late 19th century, it was renamed Clach Eanruig, or 'Henry's Stone'; it is currently named the Henderson Stone, after the family reputed to be pipers to MacIain. Sir John Dalrymple, the Master of Stair (that is the heir-apparent of the Earl of Stair), one of William's principal advisers with regard to Scottish affairs, found an opportunity for destroying the small clan of the Macdonalds of Glencoe. So while the massacre was carried out by … Massacre at Glencoe The massacre was an act of official policy, conceived by Dalrymple, executed by a Scottish commander-in-chief, approved by the King and carried out by a regiment in the British Army. They’re sometimes called potato scones, and you may also hear them called fadge or potato bread in Ireland. Other examples include James MacDonald, who locked his parents inside their house, then set fire to it in 1597, and the killing of prisoners following the 1647 Battle of Dunaverty. The resulting massacre is remembered not just for its premeditated brutality but for its violation of an unwritten code of conduct: the perpetrators of the deed had enjoyed the hospitality of … Who ordered the Glencoe Massacre - and why? While the Maclain of Glencoe was promised safety, Dalrymple saw an opportunity to make an example of the King’s strength. On December 30, Alistair McIain of Glencoe - head of a sept of Clan Donald - was crossing the north in deep wintry conditions in order to sign the pledge. Hamilton was not in position at Kinlochleven until 11:00; his detachment included two lieutenants, Francis Farquhar and Gilbert Kennedy who often appear in anecdotes claiming they 'broke their swords rather than carry out their orders.' This correlates with evidence from James Campbell, one of Glenlyon's company, stating they had no knowledge of the plan until the morning of 13 February. [27], The killings first came to public attention when a copy of Glenlyon's orders was apparently left in an Edinburgh coffee house, then smuggled to France and published in the Paris Gazette of 12 April 1692. The order was then passed on to Sir Thomas Livingstone, commander of the forces in Scotland. 'You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and to put all to the sword under seventy.' 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