| Clan Irvine | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irbhinn | |||
 | |||
| Motto | SUB SOLE SUB UMBRA VIRENS (Latin: "Flourishing both in sunshine and in shade"). [1] {Alternative Latin definition} "Green shadow beneath the sun" [2] [3] | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Aberdeenshire [4] | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| Alexander Irvine of Drum | |||
| Seat | Drum Castle | ||
| |||
| |||
Clan Irvine is a Scottish clan. [5]
Sometime between 1124 and 1125 Gilchrist, son of Erwini, witnessed a charter of the Lords of Galloway. [5] The first lands by the name of Irvine were in Dumfriesshire. [5] According to family tradition the origin of the clan chief's family is connected with the early Celtic monarchs of Scotland. [5] Duncan Irvine settled at Bonshaw. [5] Duncan was the brother of Crinan, who claimed descent from the High Kings of Ireland, through the Abbots of Dunkeld. [5] Crinan married a daughter of Malcolm II of Scotland and their son was Duncan I of Scotland. [5]
William de Irwyn was the second son of Irving of Bonshaw and was taken into Royal Service by the king Robert the Bruce For twenty years of faithful service William de Irwyn was granted the royal forest of Drum, in Aberdeenshire, as a reward. [5] This then became the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine of Drum. [5] There was already a tower at Drum which was built before the end of the 13th century as a royal hunting lodge. [5] From this grew Drum Castle, seat of the chief. [5]
Origin of the crest badge – "Robert Bruce, who, when a fugitive from the court of Edward I., was concealed by Irving of Bonshaw on numerous occasions and it is his second son William De Irwyn who went into Royal Service |William De Irwyn]] followed the changing fortunes of his royal master; was with him when he was routed at Methven ; shared his subsequent dangers ; and was one of the seven who were hidden with him in a copse of holly when his pursuers passed by. When Bruce came to his own again he made him Master of the Rolls, and ten years after the battle of Bannockburn, gave him in free barony the forest of Drum, near Aberdeen. He also permitted him to use his private badge of three holly leaves, with the motto, Sub sole sub umbra virens, which are still the arms of the Irving family." [6]
Clan Irvine was often at feud with the neighbouring Clan Keith. Both clans invaded each other's lands. In 1402, Clan Irvine is said to have slaughtered an invading war party of Clan Keith at the Battle of Drumoak. [7]
The third Laird of Drum was Alexander Irvine, who was the first in a line of twelve Irvines who successively bore the name Alexander. [5] He was said to be a knight of legendary prowess and followed the Earl of Mar to the wars in France. [5] He later fought at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, which was fought only twenty miles away from Drum itself. [5] At Harlaw Alexander Irvine engaged in single combat with the famous Hector Maclean of the Battles , chief of the Clan Maclean. [5] Both are said to have died from wounds that they inflicted on each other. [5] This is commemorated in a ballad about the battle as "Gude Sir Alexander Irvine the much renounit Laird of Drum". [7]
The next Laird of Drum was a prominent figure in the negotiations to ransom James I of Scotland from the English and when the king was released de Irwyne was knighted. [5] When the king was murdered in Perth, Sir Alexander Irvine took control of the city of Aberdeen to restore order. [5]
The sixth Laird of Drum and chief of Clan Irvine was a peacemaker, and was rewarded by King James V of Scotland for his efforts to suppress rebels, thieves, reivers, sorcerers and murderers in 1527. [5] [7]
During the Anglo-Scottish Wars the sixth Laird's son was killed when the clan fought against the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547. [5] [8]
During the Civil War, the royalist Irvines supported Charles I. [5] However the Irvines lived in a mainly Covenanter district and Drum Castle was therefore an obvious target. [5] The castle was attacked when the Laird of Drum was absent by a strong force that surrounded it with artillery. [5] Lady Irvine surrendered and the castle was then looted. [5] The Laird of Drum's two sons both fought in the civil war and were both captured. [5] The younger son, Robert, died in the dungeons of Edinburgh Castle, however his brother, Alexander, was freed after James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose's victory at the Battle of Kilsyth in 1645. [5] Drum Castle was again attacked, ransacked, the ladies of the house were ejected and the estate was ruined. [5]
During the Jacobite rising of 1715, the fourteenth Laird of Drum supported the Jacobite cause and fought at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715 where he received a severe head wound. [5] He never recovered from the wound and after years of illness died leaving no direct heir. [7] The estate then passed to his uncle, John Irvine and then onto another kinsman, John Irvine of Crimond. [5]
During the Jacobite rising of 1745 the Clan Irvine continued their support for the Jacobite Stuarts and fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. [5] The Laird of Drum escaped capture by hiding in a secret room at Drum Castle. [5] He then lived for a few years in exile in France until he was allowed to return to his estates. [5]
The twenty-second Laird of Drum fought in the Grenadier Guards during World War I. [5]
In 2002, the previous Chief of Clan Irvine entered into a peace treaty with the 13th Earl of Kintore, who was the previous Chief of Clan Keith, at an elaborate ceremony on the banks of the River Dee to end their 600-year feud. [9]
Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.
Drum Castle is a castle near Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. For centuries it was the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine. The place-name Drum is derived from Gaelic druim, 'ridge'. The site is located approximately 6+1⁄2 miles northeast of Banchory and 3 miles west of Peterculter. The property is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is open to the public.
Clan Keith is a Highland and Lowland Scottish clan, whose Chief historically held the hereditary title of Marischal, then Great Marischal, then Earl Marischal of Scotland.
Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald, is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, recognises under Scottish law the High Chief of Clan Donald. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs also held the title of Earl of Ross until 1476. Queen Mary of Denmark is member of Clan Donald.
William (Thomas) Irvine was a Scots soldier born in Dumfriesshire in Scotland. His father was William de Irwyn of Wodehouse, Laird of Bonshaw Tower.
Clan Maclean is a Highlands Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early MacLeans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in clan skirmishes with the Mackinnons, Camerons, MacDonalds and Campbells, as well as all of the Jacobite risings.
Clan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The chiefs of the clan are the Mackintoshes of Mackintosh. Another branch of the clan, the Mackintoshes of Torcastle, are the chiefs of Clan Chattan, a historic confederation of clans.
Clan Macpherson is a Highland Scottish clan and a member of the Chattan Confederation.
Clan Bannerman is a Lowland Scottish clan.
Clan Gordon is a Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the most powerful Scottish clans. The Gordon lands once spanned a large territory across the Highlands. Presently, Gordon is seated at Aboyne Castle, Aberdeenshire. The Chief of the clan is the Earl of Huntly, later the Marquess of Huntly.
Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The Chief of the clan is customarily referred to as simply "Lochiel".
Clan Boyd is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands and is recognized as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
Clan Davidson is a Highland Scottish clan and a member of the Chattan Confederation.
Clan Menzies ; Scottish Gaelic: Clann Mèinnear; a member is a Mèinnearach) is a Highland Scottish clan.
Clan Stirling is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands.
Clan Haldane is a Lowland Scottish clan.
Clan MacMillan is a Highland Scottish clan. The Clan was originally located in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands during the 12th century. The clan supported Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence, but later supported the Lord of the Isles in opposition to the Scottish Crown. During the Jacobite rising of 1745 the clan was divided with some supporting the Jacobites and others not taking part in the rebellion.
Clan Matheson is a Highland Scottish clan.
Clan Forbes is a Highland Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
The Battle of Drumoak, also known as the Battle of Keith's Muir, was a Scottish clan battle that took place at Drumoak, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1402. It was fought between the Clan Irvine whose chiefs were seated at Drum Castle and the Clan Keith whose chiefs were the Earls Marischal.
