Cailean Mór
Encyclopedia
Cailean Mór Caimbeul, also known as Sir Colin Campbell (d. after 1296), is one of the earliest attested members of Clan Campbell
and an important ancestor figure of the later medieval Earls of Argyll.
Cailean was the son of Gilleasbaig
, a knight and lord of the estates of Menstrie
and Sauchie
in Clackmannanshire
. It was first suggested in the 1970s that Cailean's mother was Afraig, a daughter of Cailean mac Dhonnchaidh
, the probable father of Niall, Earl of Carrick. Although it has also been suggested that this Afraig was the daughter of Niall himself, there is no doubt that Afraig was of the family of the Gaelic Earls of Carrick
. This means that Cailean himself was the cousin of the future king, Robert I of Scotland
, which explains why the Campbells were so attached to the Bruce cause during the Wars of Scottish Independence
. Cailean himself took part in the Great Cause, and was one of the Bruce representative advocates to King Edward I of England
in 1291.
He appears as a witness in various documents dating to the 1290s and relating to lordships in south-western Scotland. He appears in the Newbattle Registrum of around 1293, where he is called the son of "Gylascop Kambel" ("Gilleasbaig Caimbeul"), obtaining from Sir Robert Lindsay the estate of Symington; the document, which has James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland
, Lord of Kyle
, as one of Cailean's pledgers, guarantees continued payment of rent to Newbattle Abbey
. In 1295, Cailean appears as a witness in a charter of James Stewart granted to Paisley Abbey
, and in 1296 appears again in the Paisley Registrum attesting the marriage of James to the sister of Richard de Burgh
, Earl of Ulster
. Cailean also witnessed a charter of Maol Choluim
, the contemporary Mormaer or Earl of Lennox
, and in another Lennox charter in which he is granted lands in Cowal
by John Lamont, one of Maol Chaluim's vassals.
By 1296, and perhaps by 1293, Cailean held the position of "Ballie" of Loch Awe
and Ardscotnish, a position he was granted either by King John Balliol
or Edward I of England. It was this position that made him the enemy of Iain of Lorn, the MacDougall
Lord of Lorne
. Sometime after September 1296, Cailean was killed by the MacDougalls at the "Red Ford" on the borders of Loch Awe and Lorne at a place known as the String of Lorne.
Cailean's great fame lies in the fact that the later Earls and Dukes of Argyll claimed descent from him, and styled themselves "Mac Cailein Mór", son or descendant of "Colin the Great".
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
and an important ancestor figure of the later medieval Earls of Argyll.
Cailean was the son of Gilleasbaig
Gilleasbaig of Menstrie
Gille Escoib or Gilleasbaig of Menstrie is the earliest member of the Campbell family to be attested in contemporary sources, appearing in royal charters dating to the 1260s. His existence is confirmed by later Campbell pedigrees. According to these genealogies, he was the son of a man named...
, a knight and lord of the estates of Menstrie
Menstrie
Menstrie is a village in the county of Clackmannanshire in Scotland, UK. It is about 5 miles east-north-east of Stirling...
and Sauchie
Sauchie
Sauchie is a village in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies north of the River Forth and south of the Ochil Hills, within the council area of Clackmannanshire. Sauchie is located north-east of Alloa and east-southeast of Tullibody.- History :...
in Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire, often abbreviated to Clacks is a local government council area in Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife.As Scotland's smallest historic county, it is often nicknamed 'The Wee County'....
. It was first suggested in the 1970s that Cailean's mother was Afraig, a daughter of Cailean mac Dhonnchaidh
Cailean mac Dhonnchaidh
Cailean of Carrick or Cailean mac D[h]onnchaidh was the son of Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick , and probably the father of Niall, Earl of Carrick...
, the probable father of Niall, Earl of Carrick. Although it has also been suggested that this Afraig was the daughter of Niall himself, there is no doubt that Afraig was of the family of the Gaelic Earls of Carrick
Earl of Carrick
The Earl of Carrick was the head of a comital lordship of Carrick in southwestern Scotland. The title emerged in 1186, when Donnchad, son of Gille Brigte, Lord of Galloway, became Mormaer or Earl of Carrick in compensation for exclusion from the whole Lordship of Galloway...
. This means that Cailean himself was the cousin of the future king, Robert I of Scotland
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
, which explains why the Campbells were so attached to the Bruce cause during the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
. Cailean himself took part in the Great Cause, and was one of the Bruce representative advocates to King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
in 1291.
He appears as a witness in various documents dating to the 1290s and relating to lordships in south-western Scotland. He appears in the Newbattle Registrum of around 1293, where he is called the son of "Gylascop Kambel" ("Gilleasbaig Caimbeul"), obtaining from Sir Robert Lindsay the estate of Symington; the document, which has James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland
James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland
James, 5th High Steward of Scotland was High Steward of Scotland and a Guardian of Scotland during the First Interregnum.-Birth and ancestry:...
, Lord of Kyle
Kyle
Kyle may refer to:* KYLE, a Fox network affiliate* Kyle , a Scottish masculine given name * Kyle , a surname of Scottish origin* Kyle, Ayrshire, Scotland* Kyle, Indiana, United States...
, as one of Cailean's pledgers, guarantees continued payment of rent to Newbattle Abbey
Newbattle Abbey
Newbattle Abbey was a Cistercian monastery near the village of Newbattle in Midlothian, Scotland, which has subsequently become a stately home and then an educational institution.-Monastery:...
. In 1295, Cailean appears as a witness in a charter of James Stewart granted to Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey is a former Cluniac monastery, and current Church of Scotland parish kirk, located on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, in west central Scotland.-History:...
, and in 1296 appears again in the Paisley Registrum attesting the marriage of James to the sister of Richard de Burgh
Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster
Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and 3rd Baron of Connaught , called The Red Earl, was one of the most powerful Irish nobles of the late 13th and early 14th centuries.-Early life:...
, Earl of Ulster
Earl of Ulster
The title of Earl of Ulster has been created several times in the Peerage of Ireland and Peerage of the United Kingdom. Currently, the title is a subsidiary title of the Duke of Gloucester, and is used as a courtesy title by the Duke's son, Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster...
. Cailean also witnessed a charter of Maol Choluim
Maol Choluim I, Earl of Lennox
Mormaer Maol Choluim I of Lennox ruled the Mormaerdom of Lennox, between 1250 and 1303.He was an early supporter of the Bruces, and appeared before Edward I of England in 1292 amongst the supporters of Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale...
, the contemporary Mormaer or Earl of Lennox
Earl of Lennox
The Mormaer of Lennox or Earl of Lennox was the ruler of the long-lasting provincial Mormaerdom/Earldom of Lennox in the Medieval Kingdom of the Scots. The first Mormaer is usually regarded as Ailin I , but the genealogy of the Mormaers gives earlier names...
, and in another Lennox charter in which he is granted lands in Cowal
Cowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
by John Lamont, one of Maol Chaluim's vassals.
By 1296, and perhaps by 1293, Cailean held the position of "Ballie" of Loch Awe
Loch Awe
Loch Awe is a large body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe, or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such as Innis Chonnell and Inishail.- The loch :It is the third largest freshwater loch in Scotland with...
and Ardscotnish, a position he was granted either by King John Balliol
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
or Edward I of England. It was this position that made him the enemy of Iain of Lorn, the MacDougall
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century...
Lord of Lorne
Lorne
Lorne is a given name and place name especially popular in Canada, due to the Marquess of Lorne, who was Governor-General of Canada . Lorne may refer to:-Given name:*Lorne Anderson , Canadian hockey player...
. Sometime after September 1296, Cailean was killed by the MacDougalls at the "Red Ford" on the borders of Loch Awe and Lorne at a place known as the String of Lorne.
Cailean's great fame lies in the fact that the later Earls and Dukes of Argyll claimed descent from him, and styled themselves "Mac Cailein Mór", son or descendant of "Colin the Great".