Editing Clan Ross (section)

===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"/>