Sir William Munro of Foulis (died 1505) was a Scottish

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...

 Knight

Knight

A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....

 and Scottish clan chief

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...

. He is by tradition the 12th Baron of Foulis and 15th overall chief of the clan. However he is actually only the 5th chief of the Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence.

Early life

Sir William Munro was the king’s Lieutenant and Justicary of Inverness and the Earldom Ross. He was the eldest son of John Munro, 11th Baron of Foulis

John Munro, 11th Baron of Foulis

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...

, a Crown Chamberlain. William Munro as heir to his father was given sasine of his lands in 1491 as recorded by contemporary documents, the Munro Writs of Foulis. William is said to have been knighted by 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...

 and appears in a document as "Sir" William in 1503.

Clan battles

There are two traditional stories of clan battles involving the Clan Munro during William's chieftaincy. Both are called the Battle of Drumchatt

Battle of Drumchatt

The Battle of Drumchatt was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1497. The Clan Mackenzie and the Clan Munro defeated the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh at Drumchatt or "the Cat's Back", a ridge to the southeast of Strathpeffer.- Background :...

 but there does not appear to be any contemporary evidence for either of the battles.

The first is said to have taken place in 1497 when Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh rebelled against the king. He invaded Rosshire and was defeated in battle at Drumchatt by the Munros and Mackenzies

Clan 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...

, who were the king's allies. This version of events is recorded by early 19th century historian Donald Gregory

Donald Gregory

Donald Gregory was a Scottish historian and antiquarian, who published a valuable history of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland.-Origins:...

 and seems to be accepted by modern historians. However late 19th century historian Alexander Mackenzie disputes the Munro’s presence at the battle.

The second battle at Drumchatt is said to have taken place in 1501 and was fought between the Munros and Mackenzies. According to Alexander Mackenzie

Alexander Mackenzie (historian)

Alexander Mackenzie, FSA Scot was a Scottish historian, author, magazine editor and politician. He was born on a croft, in Gairloch. In 1869 he settled in Inverness, where he later became an editor and publisher of the Celtic Magazine, and the Scottish Highlander. Mackenzie wrote numerous clan...

, Sir William Munro led a force of 900 men to attack the Mackenzies but were defeated by just 140 Mackenzies, suffering losses of 800 men. However there is no historical evidence for this story.

Rebellion of Donald Dubh

In the early 16th century Donald Dubh, 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...

 rebelled against the king. The Clan Donald chiefs were no longer Earls 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:...

 or Lords 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...

. Sir William Munro of Foulis was commissioned to let the King's lands of Lochaber

Lochaber

District of Lochaber 1975 to 1996Highland council area shown as one of the council areas of ScotlandLochaber is one of the 16 ward management areas of the Highland Council of Scotland and one of eight former local government districts of the two-tier Highland region...

 and Mamore

Mamores

The Mamores are a group of mountains in the Lochaber area of the Grampian Mountains in the Scottish Highlands. They form an east-west ridge approximately fifteen kilometres in length lying between Glen Nevis to the north and Loch Leven to the south....

 to "true men," as recorded in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, 21 March 1501/02. The Earl of Huntly, chief of Clan Gordon

Clan Gordon

Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a Scottish clan. The chief of the clan was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.-Origins:...

 and Lord Lovat

Lord Lovat

Lord Lovat is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1458 for Hugh Fraser. The title descended in a direct line for nine sequential generations until the death of the ninth Lord in 1696. He was succeeded by his great-uncle, the tenth Lord...

, chief of Clan Fraser

Clan Fraser

Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of French origin. The Clan has been strongly associated with Inverness and the surrounding area since the Clan's founder gained lands there in the 13th century. Since its founding, the Clan has dominated local politics and been active in every major military conflict...

 were also ordered to proceed against the rebels. Cameron of Lochiel, chief of Clan Cameron

Clan Cameron

Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands is the mountain Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The chief of the clan is customarily referred to as...

 supported the rebel Donald Dubh. Sir William Munro was slain by Cameron of Lochiel at Achnashellach in 1505. Clan Cameron tradition is that they defeated a joint force from the Clan Munro and Clan Mackay

Clan MacKay

Clan Mackay is an ancient and once powerful Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old kingdom of Moray. They were a powerful force in politics beginning in the 14th century, supporting Robert the Bruce. In the centuries that followed they were...

 at the Battle of Achnashellach

Battle of Achnashellach

The Battle of Achnashellach was a Scottish clan battle said to have taken place in the year 1505, in the Scottish Highlands at Achnashellach. It was fought by the Clan Cameron against the Clan Mackay and the Clan Munro.-Contemporary evidence:...

.

One 17th century account states that William was killed by treachery: William Munro of Foulis, a knight most valiant for leading an army at the command of the King against certain factious northern men, he perished by treachery.

Another historian from the early 18th century states that Munro was killed by Cameron, adding that: "the house was surrounded and refused to surrender".

Family

Sir William Munro of Foulis had married Anne, daughter of Lachlan Og Maclean of Duart Castle

Duart Castle

Duart Castle or Caisteal Dhubhairt in Scottish Gaelic is a castle on the Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland, within the council area of Argyll and Bute...

, chief of Clan Maclean

Clan MacLean

Clan Maclean is a Highland Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early MacLeans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in many clan skirmishes with...

. They had three children:

1. Hector Munro, 13th Baron of Foulis
   Hector Munro, 13th Baron of Foulis
   Hector Munro, 13th Baron of Foulis was a Scottish clan chief of the highland Clan Munro in Rosshire. He is by tradition 13th Baron of Foulis and 16th overall chief of the clan. He is however only the 6th chief of the Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence.-Lands and charters:Hector...
   
   (heir and successor as chief of the Clan Munro).
2. William Munro, Vicar of Dingwall.
3. Margaret Munro.