Clan Munro

Clan Munro Crest badge Crest: An eagle perching Proper Motto: Dread God War cry: Caisteal Folais'n a Theine Profile Region Highland District Ross Plant badge Common club moss Pipe music Bealach na Broige Gaelic name Mac an Rothaich

Chief Hector William Munro of Foulis The Chief of Clan Munro Seat Foulis Castle

Clan Munro is a Highland Scottish clan.

History

Origins

The main theory as to the 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. The clan under chief Donald Munro, son of O'Ceann were granted lands in Rosshire and a seat at Foulis Castle as a reward for helping King Malcolm II of Scotland to defeat Viking invaders from Scandinavia.^[1]

The clan name, Munro which in Gaelic is Rothach, Roich, or Mac an Rothaich, means Ro - Man or Man from Ro. This supports the tradition that the clan was originally from the River Ro area in Ireland.^[2]

Traditionally, Donald's grandson Hugh Munro was the first Munro recorded to be authentically designated Baron of Foulis, he died in 1126. A reliable scholar, Alexander Nisbet stated that George Munro, 5th Baron of Foulis received a charter from the Earl of Sutherland during the reign of Alexander II of Scotland, but this charter can no longer be traced.^[1] It is also said that the Munros fought in support of Alexander III of Scotland against the Norwegian forces of Haakon IV of Norway at the Battle of Largs in 1263 and as a result had all their lands in Ross-shire confirmed to them by the King.^[3]

The clan soon spread into Sutherlandshire and were given a charter for land in Strathspey in 1309, and were granted more land in 1336 by the Earl of Ross. The Munro's lands lie on the north side of the Cromarty Firth and within their lands is the mountain Ben Wyvis and the Black Rock Gorge.

Wars of Scottish Independence

During the Wars of Scottish Independence chief Robert Munro, 6th Baron of Foulis led the clan in support of King Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Robert Munro survived the battle but his son George was killed. George however had a son of his own before he died also called George. This George Munro succeeded his grandfather Robert as chief and led the clan at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333 where he died.^[4]

Chief 'Robert de Munro' is the first chief of the clan to be recorded by contemporary evidence.^[5] He was married to the daughter of the Earl of Ross and had many charters confirmed to him under King David II of Scotland including one for the "Tower of Strathskehech" and "Estirfowlys" in 1350. Robert was killed in an obscure skirmish fighting in defence of Uilleam III, Earl of Ross in 1369. His son Hugh Munro was also granted many charters including one in respect of the "Tower of Strathschech" and "Wesstir Fowlys" from Euphemia I, Countess of Ross in 1394.^[4]

15th century and clan conflicts

The Eagle Stone, said to commemorate a Munro battle victory

• Battle of Harlaw, 1411, chief Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis supported Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles who later became the Earl of Ross through marriage. They fought in the Lord of the Isles 'host' against an army of Scottish Lowlanders led by the Duke of Albany.^[4][6]

• 1428, A group of Munros were granted remission by King James I for past offences when he came to Invernss to assert his authority in the Highlands.^[4]

• Battle of Bealach nam Broig, 1452, Fought north-west of Ben Wyvis between the a force of Munros and Dingwalls against a force of western tribes loyal to MacKenzie of Kintail who had taken hostage the Earl of Ross's son. The Munros and their allies rescued the Ross hostage and exterminated their enemies but with the loss of their chiefs, George Munro of Foulis and William Dingwell of Kildun.^[7]

• Battle of Clachnaharry, 1454, Fought between the Munros, led by John Munro, 1st of Milntown against the Clan Mackintosh.^[8]

• 1491, A document is signed and sealed by a MacKenzie, at Foulis Castle, reading in Gaelic: "caisteal biorach, nead na h-iolair" meaning "castle gaunt-peaked, the eagle's nest". In allusion to the chief's heraldic emblem.

• Battle of Drumchatt, 1497, In 1495 King James assembled an army at Glasgow and many of the Highland Chiefs made their submissions to him, including the MacKenzie and Munro chiefs. Soon after this Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and his clan rebelled against the King. He invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated in battle by the Munros and MacKenzies at a place called Drumchatt where he was driven out of Ross-shire.^[9][10]

16th century and clan conflicts

A Victorian era, romanticised depiction of a member of the clan by R. R. McIan, from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, published in 1845.

• 1500, the Munros of Milntown begin construction of Milntown Castle, although it was opposed by the Rosses for being to close to their Balnagowan Castle.^[11]

• Battle of Achnashellach, 1505, an obscure skirmish fought between the Clan Cameron and Clan MacKay, where chief William Munro of Foulis who was on the side of the MacKays was killed, acting on the King's business. William's eldest son, Hector Munro became chief and had extensive lands confirmed to him by King James V, was made constable of Strome Castle and was made the Royal Lieutenant of Western Ross-shire as his father was before him.^[12][13]

• 1527, 30 of April, A bond of friendship is signed at Inverness between: Chief Hector Munro of Foulis; John Campbell of Cawdor, the Knight of Calder; Hector Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Chief of Clan Mackintosh, captain of Clanchatten; Hugh Rose of Kilravock, Chief of Clan Rose; and "Donald Ilis of Sleat".^[14]

• 1529, A charter is signed between chief Hector Munro, 13th Baron of Foulis and Lord Fraser of Lovat to assist and defend each other.^{[citation needed]}

• 1544, Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis, signs a bond of kindess and alliance with the chief of Clan Ross of Balnagowan.^[15]

• Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, 1547, chief Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis died fighting at the last major battle between the Royal Scottish and Royal English armies.^[6]

• 1549, Donald Munro, or Monro, Dean of the Isles, visits Finlaggan Castle.^[16][17]

• Inverness Castle, 1562, Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis was a staunch supporter and faithful friend of Mary Queen of Scots and consequently was treated favourably by her son James VI. When Mary went to Inverness in 1562 the gates of the castle were shut against her. The Frasers and Munros, esteemed the most valiant clans in the north took the castle for the Queen.^[18]
• Fortrose 1569-73, Andrew Munro, 5th of Milntown defended and held, for three years, the Castle Chanonry of Ross, which he had received from the Regent Moray who died in 1569, against the Clan MacKenzie, at the expense of many lives on both sides. The feud was settled when the castle was handed over to the Mackenzies because they had obtained the right to own the castle.^[19][20]

• 1587, Foulis Castles', "tower and fortalice" are mentioned in a charter from the Crown.

• Battle of Logiebride, 1597, fought at a fair in logiebride between clansmen from the Clan Munro and Clan Bane against clansmen from the Clan Mackenzie.^[21]

17th Century

Thirty Years' War

• During the early 17th century the Munros continued their strong military traditions, fighting in the continental Thirty Years' War where Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis, known as the Black Baron and 700 members of Clan Munro joined the army of Gustavs Adolphus, in defence of Protestantism in Scandinavia along with many men from the Clan MacKay. Taking a more prominent role was the Black Baron's cousin, General Robert Monro from the Obsdale branch of the clan. Robert and his men served with distinction and received the name of the "Invincibles" in recognition of their prowess. There were twenty-seven field officers and eleven captains of the name of Munro in the Swedish army.^[22]

Bishops' Wars and Civil War

• During the Bishops' Wars General Robert Monro laid siege and took Spynie Palace, Drum Castle and Huntly Castle. From 1642 to 1648 he commanded the Scottish Covenanter army in Ireland.^[22][23]

• Battle of Stirling (1648), Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore who fought in Ireland as a covenanter later became a royalist after his uncle, Robert Monro was imprisoned by Cromwell in 1648. In September of that year George Munro and his men defeated the advance forces of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll. If not for Munro's initiative, quite a different battle may have been fought the following day.^[24][25]

• Inverness Castle, 1649, Colonel John Munro of Lemlair, Colonel Hugh Fraser, Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty and Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine were all opposed to the authority of the current parliament. They assaulted the town and took the castle. They then expelled the garrison and raised the fortifications. However, on the approach of the parlimentry forces led by General David Leslie all of the clans retreated back into Ross-shire.^[26]

• Battle of Carbisdale, 1650, On hearing of this rising against Leslie, James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, leader of royalist forces and his invading army of foreigners, mainly Germans and Danes landed in Ross-shire. He was opposed by the Munros, Rosses and Clan Sutherland who supported Leslie and the Scottish Argyll Covenanter Government. The Munros, led by John Munro of Lemlair and their allies completely defeated the invading army.^[23][27][28]

• Battle of Worcester, 1651, The Scottish Covenantor Government had become disillusioned with the English parliament and supported the royalists instead. William Munroe was one of four Munroes captured and transported to America.^[29] Sir Alexander Munro of Bearcrofts survived and escaped the battle at Worcester.^[25][30]

• The Restoration, 1660, the chief's brother, George Munro, 1st of Newmore later commanded the forces of King Charles II in Scotland from 1674 to 1677,^[31]

• Battle of Dunkeld, 1689,George Munro of Auchinbowie, son of Alexander Munro of Bearcrofts commanded royalist forces that defeated the Jacobites.^[30]

18th century

After Queen Elizabeth I of England died without an heir, King James VI of Scotland also became King of England in the Union of the Crowns in 1603. A century later in 1707 England and Scotland were officially united to form the the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Jacobite rising of 1715

William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth led a force of 3000 men including the Clan MacKenzie, Clan MacDonald, Clan MacKinnon, Clan MacRae and Clan Chisholm. He was opposed by Colonel Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet of Foulis who had formed a camp at the Bridge of Alness with 600 men which also included men from the Clan Ross. Munro had sent many of his own men south to protect the lands of the Clan Forbes of Culloden from the Jacobites. Munro was soon joined by the Earl of Sutherland and the chief of Clan MacKay who both brought with them only a portion of their clans and expected support from the Clan Grant did not arrive. Seaforth's forces advanced on the Sutherland's camp who made a quick retreat to avoid contact with their more powerful foe. Soon afterwards a council of war was held between the two sides and the Sutherlanders and MacKays peacefully moved back north to their own territory, while much of the Ross's lands were ravaged and the Munros returned to find their lands plundered.^[32][33]

The MacKenzie Jacobite garrison at Inverness surrendered to Simon Fraser of Lovat upon the very day when the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought and another Jacobite force was defeated at the Battle of Preston. After this Colonel Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet of Foulis marched into the town of Inverness with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. Government troops soon arrived in Inverness and for some months the process of disarming the rebels went on, helped by a Munro detachment under George Munro of Culcairn.^[17]

The clan rivalries which had erupted in rebellion were finding an outlet in local politics. MacKenzie's Earl of Seaforth title came to an end in 1716, and it was arranged that while the Clan Ross held the county seat the Munros would represent the Tain Burghs. Ross ascendancy was secure in Tain, and from 1716 to 1745 the Munros controlled Dingwall, with one of Robert Munro's brothers as provost, but not without two armed Munro "invasions" of the county town in 1721 and 1740, when opposing councillors were abducted to secure a favourable result (for the first incident Colonel Robert and his brother were fined £200 each, and after the second his parliamentary career came to an abrupt end with defeat at the 1741 election). Robert Munro, 5th Baronet's younger son, George Munro of Culcairn raised a detachment from his father's clan to fight at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719 where they defeated the Jacobites.^[30][34]

Black Watch

In 1725 six Independent Black Watch companies were formed. One of Munros, one of Frasers, one of Grants and three of Campbells. These companies were known by the name Am Freacadain Dubh, or Black Watch. By 1740 it had become the 43d Highland regiment and then the 42d Royal Highlanders. Sir Robert Munro was appointed lieutenant-colonel. Among the captains were his next brother, George Munro of Culcairn, and John Munro, 4th of Newmore promoted to be lieutenant-colonel in 1745. The surgeon of the regiment was Robert's younger brother, Dr Duncan Munro.^[17]

War against the French

The Munros fought for the British Army against the French. Their first action came on 11 May 1745, at the Battle of Fontenoy. Allowed "their own way of fighting", each time they received the French fire Col. Sir Robert Munro ordered his men to "clap to the ground" while he himself, because of his corpulence, stood alone with the colours behind him. For the first time in a European battle they introduced a system of infantry tactics (alternatively firing and taking cover) that was not superseded. Springing up and closing with the enemy, they several times drove them back, and finished with a successful rear-guard action against French cavalry.^[17][30][35]

Jacobite rising of 1745

In June 1745, a month after the battle of Fontenoy, Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet of Foulis was "rewarded" by an appointment to succeed General Ponsonby as Colonel of the English 37th Regiment of Foot. When the Jacobite Rising broke out, his friends in the Highlands hoped for his presence among them. One wrote that it would have been "the greatest service to His Majesty and the common cause", but it was not to be. The Munros supported the British government during the Jacobite uprisings.^[35]

In the northern shires the Earl of Sutherland was the King's Lieutenant, and the Clan Munro, Clan Sutherland, Clan MacKay, Clan Ross, Clan Gunn, Clan Campbell, and Clan Grant could be counted on to support the British Government, but the Clan MacDonald, Clan Mackenzie, Clan MacKintosh, Clan Menzies, Clan Cameron and Clan Chisholm were Jacobites, and the Clan Fraser was divided owing to a disputed chiefship but they later joined the Jacobites.

Chief Colonel Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet had been fighting at the second Battle of Falkirk (1746) when, by account of the rebels, the English 37th Regiment he was in command of ran away and he was surrounded and attacked by seven Cameron Jacobites, he killed at least two with his pike before being shot by a Jacobite commander with a pistol. The Jacobites wished to do special honour to their opponent: They buried Robert in the grave of Sir John de Graham who died at the first Battle of Falkirk (1298). The graves can be seen in Falkirk churchyard.^[17][35]

Robert's son Sir Harry Munro, 7th Baronet who served as an officer in Loudon's Highlanders had been captured at the Battle of Prestonpans in September 1745. He returned home to find Foulis Castle had been partially destroyed by Jacobites who set fire to it after the Battle of Falkirk. A few months after Falkirk the Jacobites were finally defeated at the Battle of Culloden by government forces. After the rising was suppressed a Munro Independent Company under Harry continued to police the Highlands and was disbanded in 1748. Harry set about rebuilding the castle as it is today incorporating what he could of the original building which now appears as a mansion house built in a formal Georgian style rather than the defensive fort it once was.^[34][35]

In 1754, Lieutenant Hector Munro, 8th of Novar was ordered to Badenoc to apprehend certain rebels in that district, with special instructions to apprehend John Dubh Cameron better known as "Sergent Mor" of Clan Cameron who Hector Munro successfully captured.^[36]

Castles

Foulis Castle

• Foulis Castle seat of the Munros of Foulis, the chiefs of the Clan Munro.
• Milntown Castle was the seat of the Munros of Milntown, the senior cadet branch of the Clan Munro.
• Newmore Castle was seat of the Munros of Newmore.
• Teaninich Castle was seat of the Munros of Teaninich.
• Balconie Castle was the seat of the Munros of Balconie.
• Novar House was seat of the Munros of Novar.
• Lemlair House was the seat of the Munros of Lemlair.
• Contullich Castle, owned by various branches of the Clan Munro.

Later clansmen

British Empire & Military

Sir Hector Munro, 8th of Novar (1726 - 1805) and Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet of Linderits (1761 to 1827) were Scottish Generals in the British Army who had great success fighting in India. James Munro (VC) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross during the Crimean War, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. During the First World War, Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Monro, 1st Baronet of Bearcrofts ordered the retreat from Gallipoli once in command of British Forces. He later became Governor of Gibralter.

Science & Medicine

Four direct generations, from the distinguished Auchinbowie-Bearcrofts branch of the clan, John Munro (surgeon), Alexander Monro (primus), Alexander Monro (secundus) and Alexander Monro (tertius) were professors of anatomy at Edinburgh University.^[37]

Mountaineering

Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet of Linderits (1856-1919) was a founding member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club and produced the first scientific list of all the mountains in Scotland over 3000ft.

Church & Music

The Munros made a significant early contribution to Scottish traditional arts in the fifteenth century with what is probably the earliest piece of pipe music written for the Pibroch. This piece, entitled Bealach na Broige has been attributed to one of the early Munro family and is the pipe music for the clan. The Munros were also prominent members of the Scottish clergy in the north of Scotland. Clansman John Munro of Tain is one example.

Chiefs

The succession of a Highland Chief has traditionally followed the principle of agnatic seniority or patrilineal seniority, whereby succession passes to the former Chief's closest male relative. The 11th Bt Foulis was succeeded by his edest daughter Eva Marion Munro as chief of the clan. Eva Marion Munro married Col C. H. Gascoigne, their son Patrick took the surname 'Munro' of his maternal grandfather to become clan chief.^[38] However was the Baronetcy of Foulis was succeeded to by Sir George Hamilton Munro, 12th Baronet (1864-1945). The current Baronet is Sir Ian Kenneth Munro, 17th Baronet of Foulis. See Main Article: Munro Baronets.

Authenticated chiefs

Traditional chiefs

The earliest ten chiefs of the Clan Munro cannot be confirmed by contemprary evidence. George Munro traditionaly the 7th Baron is recorded as the first chief in the Munro MS History written by George Martine between 1673 and 1697.^[5] George Munro traditionaly the 5th Baron is recorded by 18th century historian Alexander Nisbet as being on a charter of the early 13th century but this charter cannot be traced.^[5]

Clan Profile

Monrois tartan, as published in 1842 in Vestiarium Scoticum.

• Crest Badge: An eagle perching, proper.^[39]
• Motto: Dread God.
• Gaelic Name: Mac an Rothaich.
• Origin of Name: Gaelic Rothach (man from Ro).
• Plant Badge: Common club moss.
• War Cry: Caisteal Folais'n a Theine (Castle Foulis in flames).
• Pipe Music: Bealach na Broige.
• Hunting Tartan: 42nd Black Watch.

Septs

The Septs who lived within the territory of the Clan Munro included:

See also

• Munro Baronets
• Munro (disambiguation)
• Munroe (disambiguation)
• Monro (disambiguation)
• Monroe (disambiguation)
• Black Watch Military regiment originally formed from highland clans including Clan Munro.
• Munro Mountains in Scotland with height over 3000 ft.

Sources

External links

• www.clanmunro.org.uk - Official Website of the Clan Munro (Association) (Scotland)
• www.clanmunrousa.org - Clan Munro Association USA
• www.clanmunroassociation.ca - Clan Munro Association of Canada
• www.clanmunroaustralia.org - Clan Munro Association Australia