History of Clan MacLaine
The Warriors of Lochbuie: History of Clan Maclaine
Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie (Gaelic: Clann 'ic 'ill-Eathain Lochabuidhe) shares a powerful ancestry with the Macleans of Duart but stands as a distinct and proud independent clan. Both descend from Gillean of the Battle-Axe (Gillean-na-Tuaighe), a fierce 13th-century warrior who fought against the Vikings at the Battle of Largs. The split occurred in the 14th century when the brothers Hector and Lachlan received lands from the Lord of the Isles. While Lachlan founded the Duart line, Hector the Stern (Eachann Reaganach) established the house of Lochbuie on the southern coast of the Isle of Mull. The Lochbuie branch adopted the spelling "Maclaine" to distinguish themselves from their cousins.
Moy Castle and The Headless Horseman
The historic seat of the clan is the formidable Moy Castle, a tower house built by Hector Maclaine in the 14th century at the head of Loch Buie. The clan is famous for the chilling legend of Ewan the Headless (Eoghann a' Chinn Bhig). Ewan was the son of the 5th Chief, Iain Og. A dispute over land, fueled by Ewan's ambitious wife, led to a battle between father and son in 1538. During the skirmish, Ewan was decapitated by a claymore stroke. Legend says his horse galloped away with his headless body still in the saddle. Since then, the ghost of the Headless Horseman is said to ride around Moy Castle whenever a Chief of Lochbuie is about to die.
Feuds and the Return of the Heir
The relationship between the Maclaines of Lochbuie and the MacLeans of Duart was often bloody. In a notorious incident, John Og Maclaine and two of his sons were killed in a feud with Duart. His only surviving son, Murdoch, a small child, was smuggled to Ireland for safety. Years later, Murdoch returned to Mull as a man. Recognized by his childhood nurse, he gathered loyal clansmen and boldly recaptured Lochbuie Castle, securing his birthright. It is from this resilient Murdoch that the present chiefs descend.
The Duelist and Jacobite Loyalty
The Maclaines were renowned for their martial skill. John Mor, the 7th Chief, was such an expert swordsman that he fought and killed a famous Italian master-at-arms in a duel before the King and Court in Edinburgh. The clan was staunchly Royalist and Jacobite. They fought for Montrose in the Civil War and for Viscount Dundee at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689, where Hector, the 12th Chief, led his men to victory. However, like many clans, they suffered forfeiture of lands which took years to restore.
Modern History and Survival
By the 19th century, the estate was burdened with debt. The 21st Chief, Donald Maclaine, saved the ancestral lands by amassing a fortune in the Java trade. Unfortunately, the estate was lost in the 1920s due to legal and financial struggles. Despite the loss of the land, the Chiefship survives. The current Chief is Lorne Gillean Ian Maclaine of Lochbuie, Baron of Moy, who maintains the traditions of this ancient warrior clan from his home in South Africa.