Torquil MacLeod (forfeited clan chief)
Encyclopedia
Torquil MacLeod was the chief
of Clan MacLeod of Lewis
in around 1500. He died before 1510. He was born in about 1460, and mentioned in 1498, and in 1506.
Torquil, the heir of Roderick MacLeod of Lewis
, was the principal supporter of Domhnall Dubh
, claimant to the Principality of the Isles, when Domhnall escaped from prison and raised the banner of insurrection in 1501, for the purpose of regaining the lordship of the Isles.
Torquil married (apparently as a later wife) the widowed Catriona inghen Cailein a Caimbeul, daughter of Cailean, the first Earl of Argyle
, and herself a sister of Donald dubh's mother Mairead.
In the end of the fifteenth century, king James IV of Scotland
was endeavouring to put an end to the constant clan troubles in the Hebrides, caused by the efforts to revive the broken power of the Lord of the Isles.
Torquil was the most notable of the chiefs who resisted the efforts of the king’s lieutenants, first his brother-in-law, Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll
, and afterwards Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
. It was only by the efforts of James IV himself that the Islesmen were finally brought to peaceful submission.
Torquil was the last of them all Islesmen who was subjugated. Torquil was Argyle’s brother-in-law.
After Torquil had been forfeited by command of Parliament, he retired to his stronghold of Stornoway
Castle. He had with him his kinsman, Domhnall Dubh, son of that Angus Oigh who had won the battle of the Bloody Bay.
But in the end Stornoway Castle was captured by the Earl of Huntly, Domhnall Dubh was driven to Ireland, and the insurrection of the Islesmen brought to an end.
James IV
forfeited all of Torquil's lands in 1506 because of the rebellion. When Torquil died (sometime before 1510), his heir was his son John
. In 1511, Malcolm, Torquil's younger brother, re-acquired the forfeited ancestral lands of Lewis.
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 Clan MacLeod of Lewis
Clan MacLeod of Lewis
Clan Macleod of The Lewes, commonly known as Clan MacLeod of Lewis, is a Highland Scottish clan, which at its height held extensive lands in the Western Isles and west coast of Scotland. From the 14th century up until the beginning of the 17th century there were two branches of Macleods: the...
in around 1500. He died before 1510. He was born in about 1460, and mentioned in 1498, and in 1506.
Torquil, the heir of Roderick MacLeod of Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
, was the principal supporter of Domhnall Dubh
Domhnall Dubh
Domhnall Dubh was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of Aonghas Óg, chief of Clan Donald , and claimant to the Lordship of the Isles, which had been held by his grandfather John of Islay, Earl of Ross ....
, claimant to the Principality of the Isles, when Domhnall escaped from prison and raised the banner of insurrection in 1501, for the purpose of regaining the lordship of the Isles.
Torquil married (apparently as a later wife) the widowed Catriona inghen Cailein a Caimbeul, daughter of Cailean, the first Earl of Argyle
Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll
Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman.-Biography:He was the son of Gillespic Campbell, Master of Campbell and Elizabeth Somerville. Elizabeth Somerville was the daughter of John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville and Helen Hepburn...
, and herself a sister of Donald dubh's mother Mairead.
In the end of the fifteenth century, king James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
was endeavouring to put an end to the constant clan troubles in the Hebrides, caused by the efforts to revive the broken power of the Lord of the Isles.
Torquil was the most notable of the chiefs who resisted the efforts of the king’s lieutenants, first his brother-in-law, Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll
Gillespie Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician.-Biography:Archibald was the eldest son of Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll and Isabel Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Lord Lorn. He was made Master of the Royal Household of James IV of Scotland on 24...
, and afterwards Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly was a Scottish nobleman and the 3rd Earl of Huntly. He was granted Strathavon in Banffshire and the Brae of Lochaber. He was a member of the Privy Council of Scotland.-Biography:...
. It was only by the efforts of James IV himself that the Islesmen were finally brought to peaceful submission.
Torquil was the last of them all Islesmen who was subjugated. Torquil was Argyle’s brother-in-law.
After Torquil had been forfeited by command of Parliament, he retired to his stronghold of Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
Castle. He had with him his kinsman, Domhnall Dubh, son of that Angus Oigh who had won the battle of the Bloody Bay.
But in the end Stornoway Castle was captured by the Earl of Huntly, Domhnall Dubh was driven to Ireland, and the insurrection of the Islesmen brought to an end.
James IV
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
forfeited all of Torquil's lands in 1506 because of the rebellion. When Torquil died (sometime before 1510), his heir was his son John
John MacLeod (son of Torquil MacLeod)
John MacLeod was chieftain of the island of Lewis in the 1520s and 1530s. He is mentioned in 1528.John was the son of Torquil MacLeod, the deposed chief of Clan MacLeod of Lewis, whom the king had forfeited in 1506. John's uncle Malcolm had managed to acquire the ancestral island back...
. In 1511, Malcolm, Torquil's younger brother, re-acquired the forfeited ancestral lands of Lewis.