Ormacleit Castle (7)
Ranald Bain, 5th of Clanranald, was tried in the presence of the king and executed for an unrecorded crime at Perth in 1509.
His son Dougall Macdonald, 6th of Clanranald, due to his cruelty towards his own clansfolk, was assassinated in 1520 by members of his own clan and his sons were excluded from the succession of the chiefship. On his death the leadership of the clan transferred to his uncle, Alexander, son of Allan, 4th of Clanranald. With the exclusion of Dougalls heirs, Ranald Gallda, son of Allan, 4th of Clanranald, became the nearest male heir to the chiefship.
Alexander, 7th of Clanranald lead the clan until his death, sometime before 1530.
The 8th Captain of Clanranald was John Moidartach, his father's natural son (although he was later legitimised). His chiefship was disputed by his (legitimate) uncle, Ranald Galda, who was supported in his claim for the captaincy by Lord Lovat (who was Ranald Galda's maternal uncle), together with the Grants and the Gordons. Under the leadership of the Earl of Huntly, who although not directly involved in the dispute, was Lieutenant of the North, Ranald Galda and his allies were able to take possession of Castle Tioram. The numerically inferior Macdonalds however remained undefeated and after the Earl of Huntly withdrew back to the east, they ambushed and defeated the Frasers at the Battle of Blàr-nan-Léine (Battle of the Shirts) in 1544, in which Lord Lovat and his heir were both killed. By the time Huntly returned to Lochaber to avenge his allies, the Macdonalds had plundered the lands of their enemies and then fled out here to the safety of the Outer Isles. Alexander died in 1584 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Allan.
In 1588, Allan, 9th of Clanranald quarreled with Alexander Macdonald of Keppoch and killed Keppoch's brother. Allan was never pardoned for the murder and never received any charters from the crown for his lands, yet he possessed them undisturbed for the duration of his life. Allan married a daughter of Alasdair Crotach and his ill treatment of her was the cause of violent feuds between the Macdonalds of Clanranald and the Macleods. It is believed that Allan, who died in 1593 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son Angus, built an earlier castle here at Ormacleit, some parts of which may remain within the current ruins.
Angus, 10th of Clanranald, was killed shortly after taking over from his father and was succeeded by his brother Donald. Donald was knighted at Holyrood by James VI, in 1617. He died at Castle Tioram in 1618 and was succeeded by his son John.
Ormacleit Castle (7)
Ranald Bain, 5th of Clanranald, was tried in the presence of the king and executed for an unrecorded crime at Perth in 1509.
His son Dougall Macdonald, 6th of Clanranald, due to his cruelty towards his own clansfolk, was assassinated in 1520 by members of his own clan and his sons were excluded from the succession of the chiefship. On his death the leadership of the clan transferred to his uncle, Alexander, son of Allan, 4th of Clanranald. With the exclusion of Dougalls heirs, Ranald Gallda, son of Allan, 4th of Clanranald, became the nearest male heir to the chiefship.
Alexander, 7th of Clanranald lead the clan until his death, sometime before 1530.
The 8th Captain of Clanranald was John Moidartach, his father's natural son (although he was later legitimised). His chiefship was disputed by his (legitimate) uncle, Ranald Galda, who was supported in his claim for the captaincy by Lord Lovat (who was Ranald Galda's maternal uncle), together with the Grants and the Gordons. Under the leadership of the Earl of Huntly, who although not directly involved in the dispute, was Lieutenant of the North, Ranald Galda and his allies were able to take possession of Castle Tioram. The numerically inferior Macdonalds however remained undefeated and after the Earl of Huntly withdrew back to the east, they ambushed and defeated the Frasers at the Battle of Blàr-nan-Léine (Battle of the Shirts) in 1544, in which Lord Lovat and his heir were both killed. By the time Huntly returned to Lochaber to avenge his allies, the Macdonalds had plundered the lands of their enemies and then fled out here to the safety of the Outer Isles. Alexander died in 1584 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Allan.
In 1588, Allan, 9th of Clanranald quarreled with Alexander Macdonald of Keppoch and killed Keppoch's brother. Allan was never pardoned for the murder and never received any charters from the crown for his lands, yet he possessed them undisturbed for the duration of his life. Allan married a daughter of Alasdair Crotach and his ill treatment of her was the cause of violent feuds between the Macdonalds of Clanranald and the Macleods. It is believed that Allan, who died in 1593 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son Angus, built an earlier castle here at Ormacleit, some parts of which may remain within the current ruins.
Angus, 10th of Clanranald, was killed shortly after taking over from his father and was succeeded by his brother Donald. Donald was knighted at Holyrood by James VI, in 1617. He died at Castle Tioram in 1618 and was succeeded by his son John.