Castle Chanonry of Ross
Encyclopedia
Castle Chanonry of Ross, also known as Seaforth Castle, was located in the town of Fortrose
, to the north-east of Inverness
, Highland
, Scotland
. Nothing now remains of the castle. The castle was also known as Canonry or Chanonrie of Ross
, the former county
.
between 1497 and 1507.
and Clan Munro
, who were among the most powerful clans in Ross-shire
. The trouble started when John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, made over to his cousin Leslie, the Laird of Balquhair, the right and title to the castle at Chanonry together with the castle lands.
Bishop Leslie had been secretary to the deposed Mary, Queen of Scots and there was strong feeling against episcopacy in Scotland. He therefore felt it best to get the church property under his bishopric passed into his family's hands to preserve some of the important privileges that came with being a bishop. Notwithstanding this grant the Regent Moray (James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
), acting in the name of the infant King James VI of Scotland gave the custody of the castle to Andrew Munro, 5th of Milntown
.
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, who was the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland
, promised Bishop Leslie that in return for ceding the castle and lands he would give him some of the lands of the barony of Fintry in Buchan. This scheme was interrupted when, in January 1570, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (Regent Moray) was shot dead, preventing Andrew Munro of Milntown from obtaining the title to the castle and lands of Chanonry, but that did not deter Munro from occupying the castle.
The Mackenzies were not pleased to see their powerful neighbours, the Munros, in possession of this castle and recognizing the inherent weakness in Munro's title, or lack of it, they purchased from Leslie the legal title and rights and proceeded to demand possession of their rightful property from Munro. However Munro would not cede.
Munro decided to stay put and made a new approach to the new regent, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
who seeing the justice of the situation supported Munro. The situation became even more complex when the unfortunate Earl of Lennox was also shot and killed in September 1571. The next regent, John Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar
, subsequently also gave his approval to Andrew Munro to retain possession of the castle.
The Mackenzies regarded the Munros as wrongful possessors of their property which they had legally purchased from Leslie. They therefore laid siege to the castle. The Munros defended the castle for three years with the loss of many lives on both sides. Finally in 1573 the Munros peacefully passed the castle to the Mackenzies under an Act of Pacification, in the terms of which Munro was awarded compensation for his expenses in occupying the castle.
The Munros defended and keipt the Castle for the space of thrie yeirs, with great slaughter on either syd, vntill it was delyvered to the Clanchenzie, by the Act of Pacification. And this wes the ground beginning of the feud and hartburning, which to this day, remaynes between the Clanchenzie and Munrois
who garrisoned Fortrose Cathedral
and laid siege to the castle. Mackenzie claims that an attempted sortie by the Munros for fish at a nearby loch was foiled and as a result the Mackenzies took control of the castle. Although it is recorded by Sir Robert Gordon's earlier account to have been handed over peacfully under King James VI. This affair was probably part of wider political intrigue and the rival claims of the King's and Queen's parties which ended with the 'pacification' of Perth in 1573.
. However in 1646 the leader of the royalist army, James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
laid siege to the castle and took it from the Mackenzies after a siege of four days.
In 1649, after the Siege of Inverness (1649)
, David Leslie, Lord Newark who was the leader of the Scottish Parliament's army left a garrison in the Castle Chanonry of Ross. However soon after the Mackenzies retook the castle from the Parliamentary forces. However the Parliamentary forces soon after took the Mackenzie's 'Red Castle' and hanged the garrison.
At this period of time the people of the district became firm adherents of the King's party.
A 17th century poem, written by Brahan Seer
, concerning the Castle Chanonry of Ross predicted that: "The day will come when, full of the Mackenzies, it will fall with a fearful crash. This may come to pass in several ways. The Canonry is the principle burying-place of the Clan, and it may fall when full of dead Mackenzies, or when a large concourse of the Clan is present at the funeral of a great chief".
Interestingly the castle was reduced to rubble during the Jacobite Uprisings in the 18th century. Although it is not known who was responsible for this.
(1633–1651). It is possible that this stone is the only surviving relic of the castle.
Fortrose
Fortrose is a burgh in the Scottish Highlands, located on the Moray Firth, approximately ten kilometres north east of Inverness. The town is known for its ruined 13th century cathedral, and as the home of the Brahan Seer. In the Middle Ages it was the seat of the bishopric of Ross...
, to the north-east of Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Highland
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Nothing now remains of the castle. The castle was also known as Canonry or Chanonrie of Ross
Ross
Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...
, the former county
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
.
Construction
The Castle no longer stands however it is known that it was a rectangular tower house built by the Bishop FraserJohn Fraser (bishop)
John Fraser [also, more commonly then, Frisel or Frisell] was a late medieval Scottish prelate. Born about 1429 or 1430 if later tradition can be believed, with strong connections to the burgh of Linlithgow, Fraser held a variety of high-level ecclesiastical positions in Scotland, including being...
between 1497 and 1507.
Munro-Mackenzie feud
In 1569 a feud arose between the Clan MackenzieClan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
and Clan Munro
Clan Munro
-Origins:The main traditional origin of the clan is that the Munros came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th century and that they fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross who defeated Viking invaders in Rosshire...
, who were among the most powerful clans in Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
. The trouble started when John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, made over to his cousin Leslie, the Laird of Balquhair, the right and title to the castle at Chanonry together with the castle lands.
Bishop Leslie had been secretary to the deposed Mary, Queen of Scots and there was strong feeling against episcopacy in Scotland. He therefore felt it best to get the church property under his bishopric passed into his family's hands to preserve some of the important privileges that came with being a bishop. Notwithstanding this grant the Regent Moray (James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray , a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V, was Regent of Scotland for his nephew, the infant King James VI of Scotland, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570...
), acting in the name of the infant King James VI of Scotland gave the custody of the castle to Andrew Munro, 5th of Milntown
Munros of Milntown
The Munros of Milntown were a family cadet branch of the Highland Clan Munro. They were the 'senior' cadet branch of the clan and spawned many cadet branches. They were frequently recorded as 'Monro' as well as Munro...
.
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, who was the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
, promised Bishop Leslie that in return for ceding the castle and lands he would give him some of the lands of the barony of Fintry in Buchan. This scheme was interrupted when, in January 1570, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (Regent Moray) was shot dead, preventing Andrew Munro of Milntown from obtaining the title to the castle and lands of Chanonry, but that did not deter Munro from occupying the castle.
The Mackenzies were not pleased to see their powerful neighbours, the Munros, in possession of this castle and recognizing the inherent weakness in Munro's title, or lack of it, they purchased from Leslie the legal title and rights and proceeded to demand possession of their rightful property from Munro. However Munro would not cede.
Munro decided to stay put and made a new approach to the new regent, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox was the 4th Earl of Lennox, and leader of the Catholic nobility in Scotland. He was the son of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox. His grandson was James VI of Scotland....
who seeing the justice of the situation supported Munro. The situation became even more complex when the unfortunate Earl of Lennox was also shot and killed in September 1571. The next regent, John Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar
John Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar
John Erskine, 2nd Earl of Mar was a Scottish politician, the only son of John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar. Together with King James VI of Scotland he was educated by George Buchanan...
, subsequently also gave his approval to Andrew Munro to retain possession of the castle.
The Mackenzies regarded the Munros as wrongful possessors of their property which they had legally purchased from Leslie. They therefore laid siege to the castle. The Munros defended the castle for three years with the loss of many lives on both sides. Finally in 1573 the Munros peacefully passed the castle to the Mackenzies under an Act of Pacification, in the terms of which Munro was awarded compensation for his expenses in occupying the castle.
Sir Robert Gordon
Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656) writes of the feud between the Munros and Mackenzies in his book "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland":The Munros defended and keipt the Castle for the space of thrie yeirs, with great slaughter on either syd, vntill it was delyvered to the Clanchenzie, by the Act of Pacification. And this wes the ground beginning of the feud and hartburning, which to this day, remaynes between the Clanchenzie and Munrois
Alexander Mackenzie
According to Alexander Mackenzie's book The History of the Mackenzies, published in 1899, the Mackenzie's were supported by the Clan MackintoshClan MacKintosh
Clan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness with strong Jacobite ties. The Mackintoshes were also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
who garrisoned Fortrose Cathedral
Fortrose Cathedral
Fortrose Cathedral was the episcopal seat of the medieval Scottish diocese of Ross. It is probable that the original site of the diocese was at Rosemarkie, but by the 13th century the canons had relocated a short distance to the south-west to the site known as Fortrose or Chanonry...
and laid siege to the castle. Mackenzie claims that an attempted sortie by the Munros for fish at a nearby loch was foiled and as a result the Mackenzies took control of the castle. Although it is recorded by Sir Robert Gordon's earlier account to have been handed over peacfully under King James VI. This affair was probably part of wider political intrigue and the rival claims of the King's and Queen's parties which ended with the 'pacification' of Perth in 1573.
Civil War
Later during the 17th century, during the Civil War the Clan Mackenzie chief who was still in possession of the castle was now known as the Earl of SeaforthEarl of Seaforth
Earl of Seaforth was a title in the Peerage of Scotland and Peerage of Great Britain. It was held by the family of Mackenzie from 1623 to 1716, and again from 1771 to 1781....
. However in 1646 the leader of the royalist army, James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
laid siege to the castle and took it from the Mackenzies after a siege of four days.
In 1649, after the Siege of Inverness (1649)
Siege of Inverness (1649)
The siege of Inverness that took place in 1649 was part of the 17th century Scottish Civil War that was in itself part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms....
, David Leslie, Lord Newark who was the leader of the Scottish Parliament's army left a garrison in the Castle Chanonry of Ross. However soon after the Mackenzies retook the castle from the Parliamentary forces. However the Parliamentary forces soon after took the Mackenzie's 'Red Castle' and hanged the garrison.
At this period of time the people of the district became firm adherents of the King's party.
A 17th century poem, written by Brahan Seer
Brahan Seer
The Brahan Seer, known in his native Scottish Gaelic as Coinneach Odhar. Some have questioned whether he really existed at all. He is thought to have come from Uig on lands owned by the Seaforths, and to have been a Mackenzie, although both these details are in themselves questioned...
, concerning the Castle Chanonry of Ross predicted that: "The day will come when, full of the Mackenzies, it will fall with a fearful crash. This may come to pass in several ways. The Canonry is the principle burying-place of the Clan, and it may fall when full of dead Mackenzies, or when a large concourse of the Clan is present at the funeral of a great chief".
Interestingly the castle was reduced to rubble during the Jacobite Uprisings in the 18th century. Although it is not known who was responsible for this.
In modern times
The castle itself no longer stands. However, the street it was on is now known as Castle Street. Nearby, built into the outside wall of an extremely old house is a stone known as a 'Dormer Pediment'. The stone consists of a coat of arms and some initials. The initials read CBS which stand for 'Countess Barbara of Seaforth'. Barbara was the wife of George MacKenzie, second Earl of SeaforthEarl of Seaforth
Earl of Seaforth was a title in the Peerage of Scotland and Peerage of Great Britain. It was held by the family of Mackenzie from 1623 to 1716, and again from 1771 to 1781....
(1633–1651). It is possible that this stone is the only surviving relic of the castle.