IN THE MacDougall clan memories run long.
They were outraged when their prized war trophy – ripped
from the breast of a fleeing Robert the Bruce – was
stolen in a Campbell raid in the 17th
century.
The fabled Brooch of Lorn was returned
at the beginning of the 19th century, and so fearful
were the MacDougalls of again losing the relic that it
has lain in a dusty bank vault, which the clan chief
alone can open, ever since.
Only now, 200 years
later, is the distrustful Highland clan cautiously
considering allowing the public to see the historically
significant relic. The royal jewel is said to have been
torn from the Scottish king’s cloak as he fled from
defeat at the battle of Dalrigh, near Tyndrum, in
1306.
It was later stolen from the MacDougalls
during the religious wars of the 1640s and has been
closely guarded by the clan since its return almost 200
years later. One of its last appearances was when a
previous chief wore it for the Queen’s visit to Oban in
1956.
But the brooch, an oval-shaped crystal set
in silver and surrounded by pearls, could now be
displayed at Dunollie House, the clan seat, as part of a
proposed museum of Highland social history. It was seen
as a badge of authority, with the crystal unscrewing to
reveal a chamber that may have held a relic or
memento.
The MacDougalls, whose motto is ‘To
conquer or die’, attacked Bruce in 1306 in revenge for
the king’s murder of his rival , John Comyn, a nephew of
the clan chief.
Bruce, who was retreating west
with 300 supporters from defeat by the English at
Methven, found himself outnumbered by 1,000 clan troops
and sought to escape. But he was attacked by three
clansmen who managed to grab the brooch from his
shoulder before he could get away.
The
brooch was kept at Dunollie Castle before being moved to
another MacDougall stronghold, Gylen Castle on the
nearby island of Kerrera, for safety during the
Covenanting wars which accompanied the English Civil
War. But it was captured when the castle was sacked by
General Leslie, backed by English troops, in
1647.
It did not resurface until 1819 when it was
found in a chest after the death of Major Campbell of
Bragleen. A paper accompanying the brooch confirmed it
had been taken by the Campbells in the raid on Gylen
Castle.
The brooch was returned to the
MacDougalls by General Duncan Campbell of Lochnell, a
trustee of the major’s estate, five years later. Queen
Victoria later examined the trophy during a visit to the
MacDougall clan chief in 1842.
Mary McGrigor, a
historian and author of the forthcoming Argyll: Land of
Blood and Beauty, said the brooch had major historical
significance. "It is one of the most important relics in
Scottish medieval history and people will be extremely
interested to see it," she said. It is part of a major
Highland folk art collection amassed by the late Hope
MacDougall, aunt of the current clan chief.
Dr
David Brown, a lecturer in Scottish history at Glasgow
University, said the brooch fell into MacDougall hands
at a key point in Bruce’s reign. "It was the low point
of his career. He had gambled everything and was making
a desperate flight. He was a hunted man and was lucky to
have survived."
However, some art experts
have questioned whether the brooch in question really
did belong to Bruce, suggesting it dates from a later
period.
David Caldwell, curator of the Scottish
medieval collections at the National Museums of
Scotland, said: "It is a very important piece of west
Highland art, but it dates from the mid 15th century, so
cannot be Bruce’s. Maybe the original brooch fell to
pieces and this one was substituted for it."
Mike
Robertson, factor for the Dunollie estate, said: "The
family is happy for a 19th century replica of the brooch
to be made available if the museum project comes off.
However, they are very conscious of its importance, and
if the circumstances were right, display of the actual
brooch might eventually be considered." |
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