Ewen Mor Cameron of Lochiel

Ewen Mór Cameron of Lochiel (died 1547), also called Ewen MacAllan (Scottish Gaelic: Eòghain Mac Aillean), was the 13th Chief of Clan Cameron in Lochaber.

Not to be confused with Ewen Cameron of Lochiel.

Biography

Ewen MacAllan Cameron of Lochiel was the son of Allan MacIldny Cameron, 12th Chief of Clan Cameron (died 1480) and his wife Marion MacDonald, daughter of the Chief of Clan MacDonald of Keppoch.[1]

In 1494, he submitted to James IV and was in "great favour" with the King. At court the following year, on 24 October 1495, Lochiel procured a conformation of the charters of Cameron lands in Lochaber and Ross.[2] He led the clan at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, only just managing to escape with a small band of his warriors back to Lochaber after the defeat.[3] The feud between Clan Cameron and Clan Mackintosh was particularly violent during this period.[2]

A border dispute between the Cameron territories in Lochaber and the Earl of Atholl's lands in Perthshire led to a famous incident. The fair Lochiel had set out for the rendezvous where he would meet the Earl of Atholl and come to terms.[4] However, on his way to Lord Atholl, he met the witch Gormshuil Mhòr na Maighe (Gormla of Moy). Gormshuil was famed for her supernatural powers and great beauty.[5] After being seduced by the witch, she informed him that he must not go to Lord Atholl because she had foreseen his treachery. Lochiel took her advice and went back to muster his best warriors, have them hidden and if needed, he was to turn his coat inside out. Though Lord Atholl too had men lying in wait to ambush, Lochiel was able to defeat them.[4] This led to the Clan Cameron war cry: Chlanna nan con thigibh a' so 's gheibh sibh feòil ("sons of the hounds, come hither and get flesh!").[6][7]

Lochiel married firstly the daughter of Celestine MacDonald of Lochalsh, son of Alexander of Islay, Lord of the Isles. With his first wife he had one son Donald who predeceased his father, but had two sons himself: Ewen Beag, 14th Chief and Donald Dubh, 15th Chief. He married secondly Marjory Mackintosh, daughter of the Mackintosh chief, as part of a peace treaty. He also had several illegitimate children, including Allan and a daughter, Evere.[4]

In 1547, Lochiel was executed by the Earl of Huntly for high treason for his part in the Battle of the Shirts, the raid of Urquahrt and being implicated in Lennox's revolt in 1546. He was succeeded in the chiefdom by his grandson.[4]

See also

References
  1. Mosley, Charles (2004). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (107th ed.). Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. p. 2473.
  2. Stewart of Ardvorlich, John (1974). The Camerons: A History of Clan Cameron (1st ed.). p. 19.
  3. "The Battle of Flodden". www.clan-cameron.org. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  4. Stewart of Ardvorlich, John (1974). The Camerons: A History of Clan Cameron (1st ed.). p. 20.
  5. The new biographical dictionary of Scottish women. Ewan, Elizabeth. Edinburgh. 15 October 2018. p. 168. ISBN 9781474436298. OCLC 1057237368.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. The Scottish clans and their tartans: with notes. Edinburgh : W. & A.K. Johnston. 1900.
  7. "The battle cries of the Highland clans". The Scotsman. 2016.
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