Editing Clan Ross (section)

==History==

===Origins===

The first recorded chief of the Clan Ross was [[Fearchar, Earl of Ross|"Fearcher Mac an t-Sagairt"]] which in English meant "son of the priest" alluding to his Ó Beólláin descent from the hereditary [[Abbot]]s of [[Applecross]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Ross">Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). pp. 308–309.</ref> Fearchar helped King [[Alexander II of Scotland]] (1214–1249) crush a rebellion by Donald Bane, a rival claimant to the Scottish throne.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Ross"/> Fearchar was [[knight]]ed by the king and by 1234 he was officially recognized with the title of [[Earl of Ross]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Ross"/>

The Earl's son, [[Uilleam I, Earl of Ross|William]] was abducted in about 1250 in a revolt against the Earl's rule.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Ross"/> However, he was rescued with help from the [[Clan Munro|Munros]] who were rewarded with lands and who became closely connected with their powerful benefactors.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Ross"/>

===Wars of Scottish Independence===

During the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]] the Clan Ross fought against the English at the [[Battle of Dunbar (1296)]] where their chief, the [[Earl of Ross]] was captured.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.8-11.">MacKinnon, Donald (1957). pp. 8–11.</ref> This meant that for a short time [[William II, Earl of Ross]] sided with the English but he later supported Robert the Bruce of Scotland.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.8-11."/> The Clan Ross fought alongside King [[Robert I of Scotland|Robert the Bruce]] when Earl Fearchar's grandson William led the clan against the English at the [[Battle of Bannockburn]] in 1314.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.8-11."/> [[Hugh, Earl of Ross]], was killed at the [[Battle of Halidon Hill]] in 1333.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.8-11."/>

===15th century and clan conflicts===
[[File:Ross (R. R. McIan).jpg|thumb|right|200px|A [[romanticism|romanticised]] [[Victorian-era]] illustration of a Ross clansman by [[R. R. McIan]] from ''The Clans of the Scottish Highlands'' published in 1845.]]
[[William III, Earl of Ross]] (6th Earl of Ross) died without male issue.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.11.">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 11.</ref> The earldom of Ross and the chiefship of Clan Ross were then separated.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.11."/> The chiefship of the Clan Ross passed to Earl William's brother Hugh Ross of Rariches (1st of Balnagown), who was granted a charter, in 1374, for the lands of Balnagowan.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.11."/> The earldom of Ross passed through a female line, and that later led to dispute between two rival claimants—the [[Lord of the Isles]] and the [[Duke of Albany]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.11."/> This resulted in the [[Battle of Harlaw]] in 1411 where the Clan Ross fought with the Highlanders in support of the Lord of the Isles against an army led by the Earl of Mar under the urging of Robert, Duke of Albany.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.11."/> They were successful in defeating Mar.<ref>Keith Norman Macdonald, M.D., in his book ''Macdonald Bards'', says Mar’s men were “cut to pieces”. The nearest contemporary record is found in the Irish Annals of Connacht where, under the year 1411, it states, “Mac Domnaill of Scotland won a great victory over the Galls of Scotland.”</ref> 

The Rosses took part in the [[Battle of Verneuil]] 1424, against the English in France.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.14.">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 14.</ref> On the death of the Earl of Buchan and Ross at that battle, James I claimed [[Earl of Ross|Earldom of Ross]] for himself though the rightful claim to the title was in Alexander of Islay, Lord of the Isles.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.14."/> [[James I of Scotland|James I]] eventually restored the earldom to the heiress of line, Mariota, Countess of Ross, the mother of Alexander of Islay, [[Lord of the Isles]] who became the Earl of Ross.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.14."/>

In the late 15th century the [[Clan Mackay]] and Clan Ross had long been at feud. This resulted in the [[Battle of Tarbat]] in 1486 where the Mackays were defeated by the Rosses and the Mackay chief was killed.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.16.">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 16.</ref> This was followed by the [[Battle of Aldy Charrish]] where the Rosses were defeated by the Mackays and the Ross chief was killed along with many of his clan.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.16."/><ref>Mackay, Robert. (1829). pp. 86. Quoting from: Gordon, Sir Robert. (1580–1656). ''A Geanealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland''.</ref> According to 17th-century historian [[Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet|Sir Robert Gordon]], who was a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, the Clan Sutherland joined the side of the Clan Mackay at this battle.<ref>Mackay, Robert, (1829). pp. 86. Quoting: [[Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet|Gordon, Sir Robert]] (1580–1656), ''A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland''.</ref> However 19th-century historian Angus Mackay disputes the Sutherland's presence at the battle stating that it would be unlikely that the Earl of Sutherland at the time would have assisted against the Rosses as he was married to a daughter of the Ross chief of Balnagowan, and also that the feudal superiority of the Sutherlands over the Mackays "nowhere existed save in his own fertile imagination".<ref>Mackay, Angus. (1906). pp. 70 – 71.</ref>

In 1496, the King summoned chiefs David Ross and Iye Roy Mackay. He ordered them to appear before the [[Earl of Argyll]] who was then the Lord High Chancellor of Scotland and make peace, on the understanding that should they not be peaceful that they would be fined 500 merks.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.16."/> The Mackays continued to raid the Rosses and it would appear the civil authority was too feeble to stop them. However the Mackays soon became involved in feuding with the [[Clan Sutherland]] and raids on the Rosses did not continue.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.16."/>

===16th century and Anglo-Scottish Wars===

''The Calendar of Fearn'' which is a manuscript of the Clan Ross records a Hugh Ross, some time [[Cadet branch|cadet]] of the Rosses of Balnagowan, who was killed at the [[Battle of Achnashellach]] in 1504/05. Contemporary documents, the ''Munro Writs'' show that he was a procurator for [[William Munro, 12th Baron of Foulis]] who led the royal forces at this battle.<ref name="Fearn.Battle">{{cite book |editor-last=Adam |editor-first=R. J |year=1991 |title=The Calendar of Fearn: text and additions, 1471-1667 |url=https://digital.nls.uk/scottish-history-society-publications/browse/archive/126160652#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=9&xywh=-314%2C-1%2C2354%2C2852 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Printed for the [[Scottish History Society]] by [[Pillans & Wilson]] |pages=[https://digital.nls.uk/scottish-history-society-publications/browse/archive/127352361#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=100&xywh=-344%2C-91%2C2615%2C3168 88] and [https://digital.nls.uk/scottish-history-society-publications/browse/archive/127352601#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=120&xywh=-455%2C429%2C2615%2C3168 108] |access-date=September 15, 2022}}</ref>

During the [[Anglo-Scottish Wars]], [[John Ross, 2nd Lord Ross]] of Halkhead, died when leading his forces against the English at the [[Battle of Flodden]] on 9 September 1513.

Chief Alexander Ross 9th of Balnagowan (d.1592) is recorded as being a man of violence, utterly unscrupulous, given to raiding lands and forcing his clansmen to draw out agreements in his favour with total disregard for the law.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.18.19">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 18–19.</ref> Soon he was imprisoned in [[Tantallon Castle]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.18.19"/> Later he was released on the condition that he would live peacefully but he did not.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.18.19"/> His own son George was given permission to use fire and sword against him but Alexander could not be brought in.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.18.19"/> Alexander died in 1592.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.18.19"/>

===17th century and Civil War===

George 10th of Balnagowan was educated at St Andrew's University, the first Ross chief to receive university education.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.19.20">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 19–20.</ref> However, he became as notorious as his father and died in 1615.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.19.20"/> His son David 11th of Balnagowan was a more peace- and law-abiding chief than his father and grandfather.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.19.20"/> David died in 1632 and his son, also called David, succeeded him.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.19.20"/>

David Ross 12th of Balnagowan signed the National Covenant at [[Inverness]] on 26 April 1638.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.20">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 20.</ref> He later joined the royalists for a short time only to become a covenanter again and was present at the defeat of [[James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose]] at the [[Battle of Carbisdale]] in 1650.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.20"/> The Clan Ross and [[Clan Munro]] fought on the side of the Scottish Government, then led by the Duke of Argyll. They  defeated the royalist army of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.20"/> David Ross, 12th of Balnagowan later led some of the clan at the [[Battle of Worcester]] on 3 September 1651 where he was captured and imprisoned at the [[Tower of London]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.22">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 22.</ref> He is said to have died there in 1653 and been buried in Westminster.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.22"/>

In 1689, 100 men of the Clan Ross occupied [[Castle Leod]] to watch for movements of the Jacobite Mackenzies.

===18th Century===

====Jacobite rising of 1715–1719====

In 1715, during the Jacobite rising, the Clan Ross along with their allies the [[Clan Munro]], [[Clan Mackay]] and [[Clan Sutherland]] were forced into a retreat by a larger force of Jacobites in what is known as the [[Skirmish of Alness]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.23">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 23.</ref> The Jacobites were led by [[William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth]], chief of the [[Clan Mackenzie]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.23"/>

The clan rivalries which had erupted in rebellion were finding an outlet in local politics. The Mackenzie's [[Earl of Seaforth]] title came to an end in 1716, and it seems to have been arranged that while the Clan Ross held the county seat the Munros would represent the Tain Burghs. To secure the burghs, control of three out of the five was necessary. The Ross ascendancy was secure in [[Tain]], and from 1716 to 1745 the Munros controlled [[Dingwall]]. In 1719 a company of men from the Clan Ross fought for the government at the [[Battle of Glen Shiel]] where the Jacobites, including the Mackenzies were defeated.<ref>Mackenzie, Alan. (2006). ''[http://www.electricscotland.com/mackenzie/images/CHAPT.11.pdf History of the Clan Mackenzie]''. Chapter 11. pp. 156.</ref>

In 1721, a small force of men from the Clan Ross, led by chief William Ross 6th of the Pitcalnie line and his brother Robert went on a rent collecting expedition into the lands of the Mackenzies.<ref name="Mackinnon.p.24">MacKinnon, Donald. (1957). pp. 24.</ref> They were defeated by a much larger force of Mackenzies at the [[Battle of Glen Affric]].<ref name="Mackinnon.p.24"/><ref>Mackenzie, Alan. (2006) ''[http://www.electricscotland.com/mackenzie/images/CHAPT.10.pdf History of the Clan Mackenzie]''. Chapter 10. pp. 142–143.</ref> [[General Wade]]'s report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the combined clan strength of the Rosses and Munros at 700 men.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnston |first1=Thomas Brumby |author-link1=Thomas Brumby Johnston |last2=Robertson |first2=James Alexander |last3=Dickson |first3=William Kirk |author-link3=William Kirk Dickson |year=1899 |chapter=General Wade's Report |title=Historical Geography of the Clans of Scotland |url=https://archive.org/details/historicalgeogra00john |location=[[Edinburgh]] and [[London]] |publisher=[[W. & A.K. Johnston]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/historicalgeogra00john/page/26 26] |access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>

====War in France====
[[File:Balnagown Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1102747.jpg|thumb|right|275px|[[Balnagown Castle]] once seat of the chiefs of Clan Ross. It is now owned by [[Mohammed Al-Fayed]].]] 
[[File:Arms of Ross-of-Bladensburg.png|thumb|right|200px|Ross of Bladensburg coat of arms]]
Col. Charles, 13th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 15th of Balnagowan, was killed in 1745 leading some members of the clan at the [[Battle of Fontenoy]] fighting against the French on 30 April 1745. Balnagowan passed to George, 13th Lord Ross, in 1745. William, 14th Lord Ross, died unmarried, and Balnagowan then passed to Sir James Lockhard, 2nd Baronet of Carstairs.

====Jacobite rising of 1745–1746====

During the [[Jacobite rising of 1745]], in the County of Ross, although from the Pitcalnie line, the nominal 18th Chief of Clan Ross was Alexander Ross of Pitcalnie. He was a staunch Protestant, somewhat more tolerant of Jacobites than his father but definitely pro-[[House of Hanover|Hanoverian]]. In addition, Alexander's uncle, Duncan [[Clan Forbes|Forbes]] of Culloden, was Lord President of the Court of Session for King [[George II of Great Britain]]'s government in London. Duncan Forbes and Alexander Ross the Pitcalnie chief raised an [[Independent Highland Companies|Independent Highland Company]] to garrison [[Inverness Castle]] against the Jacobites.<ref>Simpson. (1996). pp. 132.</ref>

The McFarquhars of [[Redcastle]] brought a strong Jacobite contingent from the [[Black Isle]] to join the forces of the [[Earl of Cromarty]] and a rebel, John Ross joined them. Forays were made before the Battle of Culloden and on the day before the battle, 15 April 1746, about 200 of the McFarquhar's Jacobite force were ambushed by pro-government Scots at the [[Battle of Littleferry]] near [[Golspie]]. At most, one-tenth survived; John Ross escaped to Sutherland but was first to be put on a list of rebels. However, apart from him the Clan Ross supported the government.

The chiefship of Clan Ross devolved upon Ross of Pitcalnie, heir of David who was the last of the direct line of Balnagowan. Sir John, the 5th baronet, assumed the name "Ross" and then, after Carstairs was sold in 1762, the designation "of Balnagowan."

The Balnagowan estate itself is no longer in Ross hands.  Its recent owner, Egyptian millionaire [[Mohammed Fayed]] (d. 2023), former owner of the [[Harrods]] department store, put a lot of money into improving the estate and restoring the castle.  The current Chief lives in [[Perthshire]]. His son, Hugh, and grandson, Calum, are both interested and involved in the Gaelic scene across Scotland.