The Honourable & Ancient Clan MacAulay
The Clan MacAulay has three distinct branches. These branches are the MacAulay's of Ardencaple, the MacAulay's of Lochbroom, and the MacAulay's of Lewis.
The MacAulay’s of Lewis:
The MacAulay’s of Lewis, Calraighe and Glenarm descend from Aulay The Black, the 12th century Nordic King of Man & Lord of The Isles. Aulay The Black was the younger brother to Magnus Barelegs, King of Norway. The MacAulays of Lewis are related to the MacLeod & MacNeil and wear the MacAulay hunting tartan. Historically the MacAulays of the Isles were renowned for their great size and strength such as legendary Donald Cam, and Angus Mhor of Clach an Truisheal fame. In later years members of the clan made major contributions to British society. The most celebrated are Thomas Babington Lord MacAulay, a statesman and author who wrote the History of Britain and is buried along side Byron, Shelley, Keates, and Alfred Lord Tennyson in Poets Corner at Westminster, and Lady Catharine MacAuley of Calraighe founder of the Order of Mercy.
The MacAulay’s of Lochbroom:
The MacAulay's of Lochbroom and Coigach were amongst the ancient inhabitants of Kintail. They were allied to Alexander II of Scotland (1214 - 1249) who granted them land in Lochbroom and Coigach for loyal services to the King. Their saga is closely entwined with Clan MacKenzie of Kintail, whose stronghold Eilean Donan Castle was commanded and defended by Duncan MacAulay against the attacks of William, Earl of Ross. They also fought under King Alexander III against King Haakon of Norway who invaded Ayrshire on October 2, 1262. Alongside of them in the thick of battle were their clansmen, the Ardencaple MacAulay's.
The MacAulay’s of Ardencaple:
The MacAulay’s of Ardencaple claim descent from King Kenneth MacAlpin the 29th Dalriadic and the 41st Pictish King who ruled from 841 to 860 A.D. Aulay MacAulay of the Ardencaple MacAulay's first appeared in documents in 1296. In 1587, Sir Aulay MacAulay of Ardencaple is included in the roll of landlords of Gaeldom, as a son of Maldwyn, the Earl of the Lennox. May 1591, Sir Aulay MacAulay entered into a formal bond of friendship (alliance) with MacGreggor of Glenstrae recognizing that Clan MacAulay was a cadet clan of Clan Greggor. MacAulay folklore tells of the times that Rob Roy (MacGreggor) stayed with the MacAulay's of Ardencaple to avoid capture by the authorities. Clan MacAulay's red tartan is very similar to that of Clan Greggor.
Clan MacAulay claims descent from King Kenneth MacAlpin the 29th Dalriadic and the 41st Pictish King who ruled from 841 to 860 A.D. As a Clan the MacAulays were "Kings Men". At the Battle of Largs (1262) they fought against the Vikings. Also, the clan sheltered William Wallace (Brave Heart) when the English occupation army chased him into Dumbartonshire. They aided Robert the Bruce to escape to the West over the Gairloch to Argyll and were at Bannockburn (1314) under the Earl of Lennox and The Battle of Flodden (1513). In the latter battle, the MacAulay chief and his two sons were killed. A later MacAulay Chief signed the Bond to protect the infant King James VI, while another Chief was in the Party that escorted James VI to London to claim the throne of England.
Castle Ardencaple, the seat of the chief was on a hillside at Rhu near the town of Helensburgh, Scotland. The remaining battle tower overlooks an inlet to the Firth of Clyde on one side and the shore of Loch Lomond on the other, which lie about 25 km northwest of Glasgow, Scotland.
In September of 1997, the Lord Lyon appointed Sq. Leader Ian MacAulay, MBE a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp survivor as Commander of the clan to re-establish the clan and search for a bloodline chief.
In August of 2001, after an exhaustive search, a Derbhfine (Celtic court) was held for the first time in 250 years to select a chief. Ian MacMillan Macaulay, then 80, was unanimously elected to be the next chief. Sadly, the Chief suddenly passed away on August 9, 2003, in the company of friends.
The executive committee met on Saturday 6th March 2004 to consider the nominations and to announce the procedure for voting for a new chief. Diarmid Macaulay, eldest son of the Late Chief Ian Macaulay was elected chief of Clan Macaulay. The new Chief assumed the role as head of the Clan at the gathering on the 31st July 2004.
The Rt. Hon. Diarmid Iain MacAulay of Ardencaple, 14th Chief of The Honourable and Ancient Clan MacAulay will attend the 61st Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games.
