Clan MacLellan
The Clan MacLellan is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. As the clan does not currently have a chief it is considered an Armigerous clan.
History
Origins
The name MacLellan is derived from Mac-a-ghille-dhiolan which means son of the bastard, and appears originally in the 1273 charter for Sweetheart Abbey as McGillolane. The leadership of the clan can be traced back to Cane McGillolane, a knight in the service of John Balliol in the later 13th century. Cane was the son of Thomas of Galloway, who was the illegitimate son of Alan of Galloway. Cane's son, Donald Mac Cane resided on Threave Island until he was removed by Edward Bruce who then replaced him as the Lord of Galloway. Eventually the Black Douglas, was made Lord of Galloway igniting a feud with MacLellans that lasted for well over a century. Threave Island was a residence for the prior Lords of Galloway, including Fergus and Cane's grandfather, Alan. Donald's son, Gillebertus MacLelan Galvediensis was Captain of Clenconnan and was Bishop of Sodor and Man. Lord Gilbert's brother was Cuthbert of Galloway.Wars of Scottish Independence
During the Wars of Scottish Independence, McGillolanes backed their cousin John Balliol. In 1305, Patrick M'Lolan was recorded capturing Dumfries Castle from The Bruce. After Balliol was deposed at the hands of Edward I, MacLellans still opposed Bruce, helping to re-capture Dumfries Castle following the murder of the rival claimant Sir John Comyn. With Balliol ascended to the throne of Scotland, M'Lolanes could take their rightful place as Lords of Galloway. Under Robert the Bruce, that title would fall first to his brother Edward Bruce and eventually to the Black Douglas.15th century and clan conflicts
After maintaining forlorn support for the house of Baliol into the early-fourteenth century, the MacLellans were ushered back into service of the Scottish crown when Master Gilbert of Galloway became clerk to King Robert and was appointed as Archdeacon of Galloway. Gilbert MacLelan would eventually become Bishop of Sodor and Mann. So successful was MacLellan's reintegration that during the early 15th century there were reputedly no fewer than fourteen knights in Galloway of the name MacLellan. One of these, Sir Alexander MacLellan was cited by the 16th-century historian David Hume of Godscroft as the Scotsman who slew the duke of Clarence while fighting in French service at the Battle of Baugé in 1421. In 1451, The Tutor of Bomby, Sir Patrick Maclellan, Sheriff of Galloway clashed repeatedly with William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas over outbreaks of lawlessness committed by the earl's retainers. These conflicts culminated when MacLellan rejected Douglas's appeal to join an aristocratic conspiracy against King James II. Douglas captured the sheriff and imprisoned him in Threave Castle. MacLellan's uncle, Sir Andrew Gray of Foulis held high royal office and sent his son, Sir Patrick Gray, into Galloway, with letters from the crown ordering Douglas to release his prisoner. However, Douglas had MacLellan murdered when presented with the royal warrant, whilst he entertained his guest at dinner. Patrick Gray escaped from the castle, and his vow of revenge was realised in brutal form when he stood at the forefront of the loyalist nobles who assassinated the earl of Douglas in front of the king at Stirling in February 1452. Local tradition holds that the MacLellans themselves used the celebrated Scottish cannon Mons Meg to batter down Threave Castle in retribution for the murder of their chief. The MacLellan's use of the Mons Meg cannon against Douglas became symbolised in an additional crest with a mortar piece and the motto Superba frango which translates to I humble proud things.As the feud escalated n the following generation, the MacLellan estates were forfeited after repeated raids on the Kirkcudbrightshire lands of the Clan Douglas. However, James II restored the family to their lands when Sir William MacLellan, son of Sir Patrick captured the leader of a band of gypsies who had been terrorising the district. William carried the head of the brigand to the king on the point of his sword. The story is one explanation for the MacLellan clan crest; however, a Moor's head has also been considered as an allusion to the Crusades or potentially connected to the similar, prior Lords of Bomby's crest, The Adairs. These events established the MacLellans as a bastion of support for the Stewart crown in a region prone to lawlessness and aristocratic powerplay. Their affiliation was confirmed in 1488 when Sir Thomas MacLellan supported James III against the rebellion that ended in the death of the king after the Battle of Sauchieburn. With most of the magnates of the south-west and the borders fighting in support of the insurrection, MacLellan's residence was burned to the ground after the monarch's defeat.