Clan Mar

Clan Mar
Motto	PANS PLUS
Profile
Region	Lawlands
Chief
Margaret o Mar
The 31st Coontess o Mar
Seat	Great Witley, Worcestershire
Historic seat	Kildrummy Castle

Clan Mar is a Scots clan frae the Grampian Hielands, whiles referred tae as the Tribe o Mar. The chiefs o the clan held the poseetion o Mormaer o Mar frae the 1130s tae the early 15t century as the oreeginal Earls o Mar. The poseetion wis later taken ower bi chiefs o the Clan Erskine in the 15t century who held the title as Earl o Mar an became chiefs o Clan Mar.

History

Oreegins o the Clan

Ane o the seiven auncient kinricks (or tribes) o Scotland, the rulers o this kinrick wur kent as 'Mormaer' which wis an auncient Pictish equivalent o an Earl. The Earldom o Mar lies in Aiberdeenshire atween the rivers Dee an Don. It is acause Mar wis ane o the auncient tribes o Scotland, that it is referred tae a the "Tribe o Mar."

Donald Mormaer o Mar focht alangside the Erse Heich Keeng Brian Boru against the Norse Viking invaders in 1014. Rothri (Ruadrí), a later Mormaer is named in the charter erectin the Abbey o Scone in 1114. Uilleam (William), the 5t Earl o Mar, wis an aa a regent o Scotland an Great Chamberlain o the Realm in 1264. He wis a witness tae the marriage o Princess Margaret an King Eric II o Norawa, 1280-99, whose dochter Margaret the "Maid o Norawa" dee'd in 1290 on her voyage tae claim the throne o Scotland, throwin the kintra intae a great period o unrest.

14t Century & Wars o Scots Unthirldom

In the 14t century durin the Wars o Scots Unthirlrdom the Clan Mar led bi chief Domhnall I, Earl o Mar supportit King Robert the Bruce o Scotland in fechtin the Inglis. He dee'd in 1302. His son, Gartnait, Earl o Mar teuk ower as chief but dee'd juist three years later in 1305. Gartnait's son, Domhnall II, Earl o Mar teuk ower as chief o the clan. He wis taken preesoner bi the Inglis an ae released efter the Battle o Bannockburn in 1314. He led the Clan Mar at the Battle o Dupplin Moor against the Inglis whaur he wis killed in 1332. Thomas, 10t Earl o Mar dee'd athoot heir an the Earldom passed tae his sister, Margaret, Coontess o Mar an then tae her dochter Isabel Douglas, Coontess o Mar. Isabel later marrit the Wolf o Badenonch Alexander Stuart. A rather shady character who haed amaist certainly been involved in the daith o her first husband an who’s ‘wooin’ technique involved a prolanged siege! Isabel dee'd wi nae childer sae title passed back tae a descendant o Domhnall I, Earl o Mar, the 7t Earl o Mar.

15t to 16t Centuries

In the mid 15t century the Earldom o Mar passed tae the chief o Clan Erskine, Robert Erskine, 1st Laird Erskine de jure 12t Earl o Mar. King James II intervened in later successions an claimed the Earldom for the croun throu Alexander Stewart an sae the Earldom passed intae the Stewart faimily. This unlawful succession wis finally interruptit bi Mary I, Queen o Scots, who saw that the richtful heir John Erskine, 17t Earl o Mar wis restored.

17t Century & Ceevil War

Chief John Erskine, 18t Earl o Mar wis govrenor o Edinburgh Castle an supportit King Charles I mair bi default than throu ony great allegiance an haed his estates forfeitit till the restoration o Charles II for his son John Erskine, 19t Earl o Mar.

John, Laird Erskine an Earl o Mar, teuk up airms in the Royalist cause. The earl entertained James Graham the 1st Marquess o Montrose in 1645 in his castle at Alloa. He led the Clan Mar an Clan Erskine at the Battle o Kilsyth whaur thay wur victorious in August 1645.

18t Century & Jacobite Uprisings

Chief Charles Erskine, 22nt Earl o Mar supportit the Hoose o Stuart an the Jacobite cause durin the uprisins. His son John 23rd Earl an Duke o Mar haed his honours forfeitit for supportin the Jacobite cause. Thir honours war restored in 1824 bi Act o parliament.

Clan Chief

The current chief o Clan Mar is Margaret o Mar, 31st Coontess o Mar who descends frae the Earls o Mar, first Creation.

The Clan Erskine haes a separate chief; James Erskine, 14t Earl o Mar who descends frae the Earls o Mar, seivent Creation (1565) (as deemed bi the House o Lords in 1875)

Clan Septs

Septs o the Clan Mar include:

Marr, Marrs, Mair, Mairs, Morren, Strachan, Tough.

See an aa

• Scots clan

Freemit airtins

• http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/families/mar.htm
• http://www.scotclans.com/clans/Mar/history.html Archived 2006-10-19 at the Wayback Machine