History of Clan MacDonald of Sleat
The Royal History of Clan MacDonald of Sleat
Clan MacDonald of Sleat is the premier branch of the great Clan Donald, often styled as "Clan Donald North." They descend from Hugh (Gaelic: Uisdean), the third son of Alexander, 3rd Lord of the Isles. When the Lordship of the Isles was forfeited in the 15th century, Hugh secured a royal charter for his own lands on the Isle of Skye, establishing a powerful dynasty that survives to this day.
A Legacy of Blood and Betrayal The early history of the clan was marred by a violent internal struggle known as the era of "Black Archibald." After the death of the second chief, his sons engaged in a brutal war of succession. Black Archibald (Archibald Dubh), a man described as having a soul as dark as his complexion, conspired to murder his half-brothers to seize power.
In a notorious incident, Archibald invited his brother, Donald Hearach, to a dinner to view a newly built gallery. During the meal, Archibald stabbed Donald in the back. The violence only ended when Archibald himself was eventually killed by his nephews, restoring the rightful line of succession.
The Trap of 1608 and the Baronetcy For nearly a century, the MacDonalds of Sleat feuded with the MacKenzies and MacLeans. The violence forced King James VI to intervene. In 1608, the King’s representative, Lord Ochiltree, invited the Chiefs to a "conference" on a ship. It was a trap. The Chiefs, including Donald Gorm Mor, were kidnapped and imprisoned in Blackness Castle.
To gain release, they had to sign the "Statutes of Iona," pledging obedience to the King. This marked a turning point. The next chief, Sir Donald Gorm Og, became a favorite of the King and was created the 1st Baronet of Sleat in 1625.
The Jacobite Rising and Flora MacDonald Unlike their cousins in Clanranald and Glengarry, the Chiefs of Sleat took a pragmatic approach to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Sir Alexander MacDonald refused to join Bonnie Prince Charlie, a decision that saved the clan estates from forfeiture after the government victory.
However, the clan produced the most famous Jacobite heroine of all: Flora MacDonald. The daughter of a Sleat tacksman, she famously helped the Prince escape "over the sea to Skye" disguised as her maid. Today, the clan seat is at Armadale Castle on Skye, home to the Museum of the Isles.