John Munro, 11th Baron of Foulis
Encyclopedia
John Munro of Foulis was a Scottish clan chief
of the highland Clan Munro
in Rosshire, Scotland
. He is by tradition the 11th Baron of Foulis and 14th overall chief of the clan . However, he is actually only the 4th chief of the Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence.
who had been killed in 1452 at the Battle of Bealach nam Broig
. According to tradition the chieftainship was then left to a baby lying in a cradle. If the tradition is true then John Munro would be this baby. While in minority his uncle John Munro, 1st of Milntown was "Tutor of Foulis" and in 1454 he went on a private raid into Perthshire
which resulted in the Battle of Clachnaharry
.
(who was also Lord of the Isles
and chief of Clan Donald
). The Earldom of Ross
was forfeited in 1476 and John Munro of Foulis was made Crown Chamberlain of the confiscated estates. A crown charter regranted to John the lands of Findon in the Earldom of Ormond in 1478. In October 1487 John Munro is designated "Lord of Fowlis".
Different sources give different dates of John Munro's death. The Martine MS written by George Martine in the late 17th century gives the date as 1490. The Munro Tree of 1734 gives the year as 1496. However contemporary documents, the Munro Writs of Foulis gives the date as 5 June 1491.
, also Crown Chamberlain "beyond the spey". John Munro and Finvola had two sons:
Scottish clan chief
The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a clan takes its name. The clan chief is the representative of this founder, and...
of the highland 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...
in Rosshire, 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...
. He is by tradition the 11th Baron of Foulis and 14th overall chief of the clan . However, he is actually only the 4th chief of the Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence.
Lineage
John Munro of Foulis was the son of George Munro, 10th Baron of FoulisGeorge Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis
George Munro of Foulis is traditionally the 10th Baron and 13th successive chief of the Clan Munro. However he is only the third successive chief of the clan who can be proved by contemporary evidence...
who had been killed in 1452 at the Battle of Bealach nam Broig
Battle of Bealach nam Broig
The Battle of Bealach nam Broig was a battle fought between Scottish clans from the lands of north-west Ross, against north-eastern clans of Ross who supported the Earl of Ross...
. According to tradition the chieftainship was then left to a baby lying in a cradle. If the tradition is true then John Munro would be this baby. While in minority his uncle John Munro, 1st of Milntown was "Tutor of Foulis" and in 1454 he went on a private raid into Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
which resulted in the Battle of Clachnaharry
Battle of Clachnaharry
The Battle of Clachnaharry was a Scottish clan battle that took place in the year 1454. It was fought between the Clan Munro and the Clan Mackintosh on the south bank of the Beauly Firth at Clachnaharry, on the outskirts of Inverness....
.
Lands and charters
In 1453 John Munro of Foulis had sasine of his late father's lands on precept by John of Islay, Earl of RossJohn of Islay, Earl of Ross
John of Islay was a late medieval Scottish magnate. He was Earl of Ross and last Lord of the Isles as well as being Mac Domhnaill, chief of Clan Donald....
(who was also Lord of the Isles
Lord of the Isles
The designation Lord of the Isles is today a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It emerged from a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of...
and chief of Clan Donald
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
). The Earldom of Ross
Earl of Ross
The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
was forfeited in 1476 and John Munro of Foulis was made Crown Chamberlain of the confiscated estates. A crown charter regranted to John the lands of Findon in the Earldom of Ormond in 1478. In October 1487 John Munro is designated "Lord of Fowlis".
Different sources give different dates of John Munro's death. The Martine MS written by George Martine in the late 17th century gives the date as 1490. The Munro Tree of 1734 gives the year as 1496. However contemporary documents, the Munro Writs of Foulis gives the date as 5 June 1491.
Family
John married Finvola, daughter of William Calder, Thane of Cawdor and chief of Clan CalderClan Calder
Clan Calder is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan does not currently have a chief therefore it is considered an Armigerous clan.-Origins of the Clan:...
, also Crown Chamberlain "beyond the spey". John Munro and Finvola had two sons:
- William Munro, 12th Baron of FoulisWilliam Munro, 12th Baron of FoulisSir William Munro of Foulis was a Scottish Knight and Scottish clan chief of the highland Clan Munro. He is by tradition the 12th Baron of Foulis and 15th overall chief of the clan...
. (heir and chief of the Clan Munro). - Thomas Munro, described in a document dated 20 June 1499 but there is no further trace of him, according to historian Alexander Mackenzie. Historian RW Munro states that statements that John had a second son called Thomas are based on a Dunbar/Mackintosh agreement.