Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan who were the descendants of Dugald, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and Mull in Argyll in the 13th and early 14th centuries.
Clan MacDougall is a Scottish clan traditionally associated with the lands of Argyll and Lorn in Scotland. The clan takes its name from Dougall, son of Somerled, who, after his father's death in 1164, held most of Argyll and also the islands of Mull, Lismore, Jura, Tiree, Coll and many others. The Celtic Christian name Dougall, or Dugald, is derived from the Gaelic 'dubh-gall', meaning 'black stranger'. Dougall's royal descent was acknowledged by the king of Norway, and he styled himself 'King of the South Isles and Lord of Lorne'. His son, Duncan, and his grandson, Ewan, built castles to defend their dominions, including Dunstaffnage, Dunollie and Duntrune on the mainland, and Aros, Cairnburgh, Dunchonnel and Coeffin on the islands. Dunollie, a craig rising up over seventy feet, was most likely fortified as early as the sixth century and was to become the chief seat. Duncan also built Ardchattan Priory, where the MacDougall chiefs were buried until 1737.
After King Haakon of Norway had been defeated by the Scottish army at the Battle of Largs in 1263 the Clan MacDougall attacked his fleet. The Norsman were defeated by the MacDougalls in the sea battle.
They were supporters of King John and were driven out by supporters of Robert I of Scotland during the civil wars in Scotland which formed part of the Wars of Scottish Independence. Clan MacDougall fought for robert the Bruce at the Battle of Dalry in 1306 against the Earl of Atholl.
Battle of Red Ford, Lorn 1296; Battle between Clan Campbell & Clan MacDougall. This battle took place due to the feud over coastal lands between the two clans. In the late 13th century the rising force on Scotland's Western Seaboard was the MacDougalls. Controlling the Western mainland was MacDougall's castles, Dunollie and Dunstaffnage, near Oban in Argyllshire while their huge fleet of galleys commanded the seas. Many lives were lost on both sides at the Battle of Red Ford which takes its name from the Ford which ran red with blood where the battle took place. Also on the day one of Campbell's castles on loch Awe was seized by the MacDougalls. The Campbell Chief Cailean Mor Campbell was killed at the battle. His body was carried to the church of St. Peter the Deacon at Kilchrenan on Loch Awe side and buried there. Although the exact burial place is unknown, in 1816 the Duke of Argyll inserted in the gable of the present church, a 14th century gravestone in memory of his ancestor.
Alistair MacDougall married the sister of John Comyn of the Comyn, Scotland’s most powerful man. John’s son, the "Red Comyn", was next in line as King of Scotland after the Balliols. However this was the time when Bruce made his bid for the Crown. Bruce slew the Red Comyn at the altar rails in Dumfries and the MacDougalls entered into the feud which ended in the utter destruction of the Clan Comyn and the loss of the MacDougalls' islands to Bruce.
The MacDougalls once held seat at Dunstaffnage Castle.
Mac Dughall (Gaelic for "Son of Dougall")
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