Clan Munro

Clan Munro is a Highland Scottish clan. The name of the Munro (Rothach or Mac an Rothaich in Gaelic) clan is derived from the area in which they came from, the 'Mountains of Ross-shire', Highlands, Scotland.

Other people believe that the Munro's came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th Century. Another theory is that they were originally from Scotland and moved to Ireland to escape Roman rule and then returned to Scotland 300 years later to expel Viking invaders. Non of these theories can be fully substantiated.

Hugh Munro was the first Munro recorded to be authentically designated of Foulis, he died in 1126. He is believed to have been the son of Donald Munro who in turn was the son of O'Ceann.

By tradition it is believed that during the 11th Century the Munro's fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross. It was during this time the Munros defeated and expelled Viking invaders who had invaded Rosshire. As a reward the clan under Chief Donald Munro were granted lands in Foulis, Rosshire and a seat at the Castle of Foulis by a greatful King. The clan soon spread into Sutherlandshire and were also given a charter for lands in Strathspey in 1309. However there is not much evidence of this until 1336 when we do find the Munros being granted lands by the Earls of Ross. Within the Munro's lands is the mountain Ben Wyvis.

Origins of the clan

Clan map showing two areas of Munro territory

The Scottish-Norwegian War

The Battle of Largs, 2nd of October 1263; The Clan Munro fought at this battle which was the most important military engagement of the Scottish-Norwegian war. The Norwegian forces were led by king Håkon Håkonsson and the Scottish forces by king Alexander III. It was at this time that the clan under Chief George Munro had all their lands in Ross-shire confirmed to them by King Allexander III.

The Wars of Scottish Independence

The Munro Clan played an important part during The Wars of Scottish Independence firstly alongside William Wallace in battles such as the Battle of Dunbar (1296), Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297), Battle of Falkirk (1298) and later alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) and the Battle of Halidon Hill (1333). Clan Chief Robert Munro and son George Munro held command under Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn 1314.

Clan Conflicts

• Earldom of Ross 1369, Little is known of this battle where the Clan Munro were fighting in defense of the Earl of Ross, Hugh Ross against an enemy, possably the MacKenzies who were attempting to take over as the Earls of Ross. The Munro chief 'Robert de Munro' who was married to the daughter of the Earl of Ross and who previously had charters confirmed to him by David II of Scotland for Easter Foulis and Strathskiach in 1364 was killed at this battle.

• The Clan Munro led by Chief Hugh Munro fought as Highlanders at the Battle of Harlaw near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire on 24 July 1411 against an Army of Scottish Lowlanders. The Munros took the side of Donald, Lord of the Isles (Macdonald) who was the current Earl of Ross through marraige. Their enemy was the Earl of Mar.

• Bealach nam Broig 1452, A force of Munros and Dingwalls met north-west of BenWyvis. Their enemy was a force MacKenzies and their followers who had with them an important Ross hostage, who was in fact the Earl of Ross's son. The Munros and their allies rescued the Ross hostage and almost completely exterminated their ememies. However the Munros victory came at a loss as around 140 Dingwalls and their leader William of Dingwall were killed. Also 11 Munros from the house of Foulis were killed including their Chief thus the Chieftenship was left to a baby still lying in his cradle.

Clanchnaharry Monument destroyed by lightning

• Clachnaharry 1454, John Munro tutor of Foulis, took the clan on a private raid into Perthshire, MacKenzie country. On their way home with their captured cattle the Munros had to pass through MacKintosh country and an amount of 'road collop' or passage money was demanded as was the custom. There was a dispute over the amount and the Munros refused to pay anything. The Munros sent their spoils on ahead hotly pursued by the Mackintoshes who overtook them at Clachnaharry. Some accounts say John Munro orderd the spoils on ahead with 50 men while the remaining 300 Munros stayed behind to fight. In the ensuing fight the clan Chief of MacKintosh was killed along with most of his company. Also John Munro was left for dead on the battlefield. He is said to have been found by an old woman after the battle and nursed back to health before being handed over to Lord Lovat who returned him to his own people. The Clachnaharry Monument built in 1820 was 50ft tall but was destroyed in a lightning storm in 1951, there are plans to rebuild it.

• Drumchatt 1497, In 1495 King James assembled an army at Glasgow. Then on May 18th many of the Highland Chiefs made their submissions to him, including the MacKenzie and Munro Chiefs. Soon after this Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and his clan rebelled against the King. He invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated in battle by the Munros and MacKenzies at a place called Drumchatt where he was driven out of Ross-shire. He escaped southward amongst the Isles but was caught on the island of Oransay, by MacIan of Ardnamurchan, and put to death.

• Drumchatt 1501, There is no Munro account or any historical record of this second battle at Drumchatt apart from that of what the MacKenzies claim hundreds of years later. In Alexander MacKenzie's book 'The History of the MacKenzies', first published in 1890, he claims that in 1501 a large group of Munros, Dingwells & MacCullochs attacked the MacKenzies, laying waste to their lands and taking much spoil. However on their return they were attacked by the MacKenzies at a place called Drumchatt where many were killed. However there is no evidence for this and his books are unsourced and his account is believed likely to be fiction. Munro sources record a series of smaller skirmishes and feuds between the two clans at this time, rather than an actual battle. There is a very lengthy document now in the Scottish Records Office detailing all of the offences claimed by both sides in the troubles between them at this time when there was damage to property and the murder of individuals. In the next generation Chief Hector Munro of Foulis married a daughter of the Chief Mackenzie of Kintail bringing peace between the two clans.

• Battle of Achnashellach 1505, Little is known of this battle which is often described as an obscure skirmish between the Clan Cameron and Clan MacKay, where the Munro Chief who was on the side of the MacKays was killed. The Clan Munro themselves were not involved but historical research has found that their Chief was acting on the King's orders: "Sir William Munro of Foulis was sent to Lochaber on the King's business and was killed in an engagement between the Camerons and MacKays at a place called Achnashellach in 1505". The outcome of the battle is also disputed as both sides claimed victory. It is Cameron tradition to say they defeated a joint force of MacKays and Munros, however this is unlikely as the Camerons would have been massively outnumberd by the MacKays and Munros. William Munro left two sons Hector and William. The eldest, Hector Munro took over as Chief of the clan and had extensive lands confirmed to him by King James V at Stirling and was made the Royal Lieutenant of Western Ross-shire as his father was before him.

• 1547 Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, During the Anglo-Scottish Wars Chief Robert Munro died fighting the English where he led the clan at the last major battle between the Royal Scottish and Royal English armies. Clan chiefs from Clan Hunter, Clan Colquhoun, Clan MacFarlane and Clan Farquharson also died at this battle. A good clan chief was expected to lead by example, this meant being first into battle at the head of the clan. For this reason many clan chiefs died during battle. Because of the awful number of Scottish lives lost at the Battle of Pinkie the 10th of September is known in Scotland as 'Black Saturday'.

• Inverness 1562, Robert Mor Munro 15th chief of the clan was a staunch supporter of Mary Queen of Scots and he consequently was treated favourably by her son James VI. Robert More Munro was also a faithful friend of Mary Queen of Scots. Buchanan states, that when the unfortunate princess went to Inverness in 1562; "as soon as they heard of their soveriegn's danger, a great number of the most eminent Scots poured in around her, especially the Frasers and Munros, who were esteemed the most "valiant of the clans inhabiting those countries in the north". These two clans took Inverness Castle for the Queen, which had refused her admission. The Queen later hanged the governor, a Gordon who had refused her admission.

• Delvines, Nairn 1562; Clan Gunn Chief, Alistair Gunn had become a man of much note and power in the North. Not just as Chief of Clan Gunn but he had also married the daughter of John Gordon the Earl of Sutherland and because of this he himself felt entitled to hold his head high amongst the best in Scotland. However this led to his undoing when in 1562, in Inverness he bumped into Mary Queen of Scott's brother who was the Earl of Moray. Alistair Gunn believing he was of superior rank and authority behaved with some disrespect and insult to the Earl in public. The Earl soon afterwards sent the Clan Munro to capture Alistair Gunn. The Munros led by one Andrew Munro entrapped the Gunns at a place called Delvines near Narin. The Gunn Chief was captured and taken to Inverness where the Earl of Moray had him executed "under pretence of justice".

• With the Mackenzie clan the Munros were often at feud, and Andrew Munro of Milntown defended and held, for three years, the Castle Chanonry of Ross, which he had received from the Regent Moray who died in 1569, against the Clan MacKenzie, at the expense of many lives on both sides. Mackenzie failed to take the castle by force. It was, however, afterwards delivered up to the Mackenzies peacefully under the act of pacification (a treaty of peace to cease hostilities), as the MacKenzies had more legal right to own the castle. Again in Alexander MacKenzie's book 'The History of the MacKenzies' published in 1890 he claims that an attempted sortie by the Munros for fish at a nearby loch was foiled and as a result the MacKenzies took control of the castle. Again however there is no evidence for this, his books are unsourced and it is believed likely to be fiction. During the Civil War in 1646 The Marquis of Montrose laid siege to the castle which he took from the MacKenzies after a siege of four days.

• Logiebride 1597, At a time of peace between the Clan MacKenzie and Clan Munro a fight broke out at a fair in logiebride which almost put the whole of Ross-shire into combustion. The fight began between John Macgillichallum (brother to the Laird of Raasay) and Alexander Bane (brother to Duncan Bane of Tulloch). The Munros took the side of Alexander Bane and the MacKenzies took the side of John Macgillichallum. John Macgllicham was killed along with John Mac-Murdo Mac-William and three others from the Clan MacKenzie. Alexander Bane escaped but three on his side were also killed; John Munro of Culcraggie, his brother Hutcheon Munro and John Munro Robertson. The Clans MacKenzie and Munro then began assisting each side in preparing to invade each other. However nothing ever came of it and peace was resumed. Again in Alexander MacKenzie's book 'The History of the MacKenzies' published in 1890 he claims that 50 Munros were killed when this took place. Again there is no evidence for this and his account is believed to be fiction.

• Spynie Palace 1640, General George Munro laid siege to the fortified Spynie Palace forcing Bishop Guthrie of Clan Guthrie to surrender to Munro's forces. This marked the end of Spynie Palace as a seat of power, which had been home to the Bishops of Moray for over 500 years.

• Battle of Stirling (1648), During the Civil War Sir George Munro showed great initiative when he successfully commanded a force in support of the Earl of Lanerick (Lanark) who had been left to defend Scotland by the Scottish parliament, who now found themselves against the Campbell Marquis of Argyll who was in open rebellion against parliament. Sir George Munro had heard that one of Argyll's commanders, a MacKenzie was in Stirling and made a move towards the town in a bid to capture his hated enemy but actually succeeded in entering the town before any of Argyll's commanders were aware of his presence. Argyll's supprised forces broke after some initial resistance, losing about 200 dead and 400 captured. If it was not for Munro's initiative quite a different battle may have been fought the following day.

• Inverness 1649, During the Civil War the Clan Munro and Clan Fraser again took Inverness Castle. This time they were also joined by Clan Urquhart and Clan MacKenzie who they had recently made peace with. They were all opposed to the authority of the current parliment. They assaulted the town and took the castle. They then expelled the garrison and raised the fortifications. However on the approach of the parlimentry forces led by General Leslie all of the clans retreated back into Ross-shire. During that year several skirmishes took place between these parties.

• During the Civil War at the Battle of Carbisdale (1650) the Munros and the Rosses fought on the side of the Scottish Government, then led by the Duke of Argyll. In 1650 the Marquis of Montrose (a Royalist) and his invading army of foreigners, mainly Germans and Danes landed in Ross-shire. The Munros & Rosses had initially indicated that they would join him and arranged to meet him at a specified location, he waited two days for them but the Munros & Rosses did not turn up as they had actually taken the side of the Scottish Government, along with Clan Sutherland. A day later the battle took place in Scroggie Wood. The Germans and Danes fought gallantly deeper and deeper into the wood but they were losing the battle and in the end the need for self-preservation took over and those that were left attempted to flee. Montrose's force of cavalry also fought bravely but were soon overwhelmed. History records that the bloodshed in the wood continued for over two hours and even after the battle ended, the slaughter did not cease, for the Munro & Ross clansmen of Ross-shire continued the killing of the escpaed from the battle for many dayes thereafter. Shortly after Montroses death the Scottish Argyll Government switched sides and became Royalists too.

The Continental Thirty Years' War

During the 17th Century the Munros continued their strong military traditions, fighting in the continental Thirty Years' War. Most notably Robert, the 18th chief and 700 members of Clan Munro joined the army of Gustavs Adolphus, in defence of protestantism in Scandinavia. Many men from Clan MacKay were also placed under Robert Munro's command. In his own words:"When cannons are roaring, and bullets are flying, If one would have honour, he must not fear dying". Robert and his men served with distinction and received the name of the "Invincibles" in recognition of their prowess. While fighting in Germany one Scott is actually stated to have slain eighteen men in succession, with his own hand, during an attack on Frankfort-on-the-Oder.

United Kingdom and British Highland Regiments

After Queen Elizabeth I of England died without a hier, King James VI of Scotland also became King of England in the Union of the Crowns in 1603. A century later in 1707 England and Scotland were officially united to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

In May 1740, when the Independent Black Watch companies were formed into the 43d Highland regiment (now the 42d Royal Highlanders), Sir Robert Munro was appointed lieutenant-colonel. Among the captains were his next brother, George Munro of Culcairn, and John Munro, promoted to be lieutenant-colonel in 1745. The surgeon of the regiment was his younger brother, Dr James Munro.

Jacobite Uprisings & The French War

The first Jacobite Uprising of 1715 to 1716

Inverness 1715, During the early attempted Jacobite Uprising Simon Fraser of Lovat (who had been outlawed and in exile), put pressure on the Jacobite garrison in Inverness, which was delivered upon the very day when the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought and another Jacobite force was defeated at the Battle of Preston. Soon after this 31 year old Chief Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis marched into the town of Inverness with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. Government troops arrived in Inverness towards the end of February, and for some months the process of disarming the rebels went on, helped by a Munro detachment under Culcairn. With the rising suppressed, and the Hanoverian succession firmly established, Colonel Robert's interest with the Government and his own compassionate nature prompted him to mediate on behalf of some of the defeated leaders (including Alexander Macdonell of Glengarry) and their wives and children.

The clan rivalries which had erupted in rebellion were finding an outlet in local politics. The MacKenzie's Earl of Seaforth came to an end in 1716, and it seems to have been arranged that while the Rosses held the county seat the Munros would represent the Tain Burghs. To secure the burghs, control of three out of the five was necessary, and the manoeuvrings by which the councils were persuaded to send the "right" delegate to vote in parliamentary elections were often exciting, and even a show of force was likely. Ross ascendancy was secure in Tain, and from 1716 to 1745 the Munros controlled Dingwall, with one of Robert Munro's brothers as provost --but not without something like two armed Munro "invasions" of the county town in 1721 and 1740, when opposing councillors were abducted to secure a favourable result (for the first incident Colonel Robert and his brother were fined £200 each, and after the second his parliamentary career came to an abrupt end with defeat at the 1741 election).

Jacobite Uprising of 1745 to 1746 & War against the French

The Clan Munro fought for the British Army against the French. Their first action against the French came on 11th May 1745, at the Battle of Fontenoy. Allowed "their own way of fighting" by the young Commander-in-Chief, each time they received the French fire Col. Sir Robert Munro ordered his men to "clap to the ground" (while he himself, because of his corpulence, stood alone with the colours behind him), and then springing up and closing with the enemy, they several times drove them back, and finished with a successful rear-guard action.

In June 1745, a little more than a month after the battle of Fontenoy, Col. Sir Robert Munro was "rewarded" by an appointment to succeed General Ponsonby as Colonel of the British 37th Regiment of Foot. When the Jacobite Rising broke out, his friends in the Highlands hoped for his presence among them. One wrote that it would have been "the greatest service to His Majesty and the common cause", but it was not to be. The Munro clan fought on the side of the British government during the Jacobite uprisings.

In 1745 the Jacobites were lead by Charles Edward Stuart who was the exiled claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland, commonly known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie". Charles was the son of James Francis Edward Stuart who was in turn the son of King James II of England, Scotland and Ireland, who had been deposed in 1688. After his father's death Charles was recognised as "King Charles III" by his supporters but his opponents referred to him as "The Young Pretender".

Col. Sir Robert Munro was put in command of an British regiment at the Battle of Falkirk (1746) and the Munro Clan themselves fought at the Battle of Culloden. In the northern shires the Earl of Sutherland was the King's Lieutenant, and the Sutherlanders, MacKays, Rosses, Munros, Gunns, Campbells, and Grants could be counted on to support the British Government, but the Menzies, Macdonalds, MacKenzies, MacKintoshes and Chisholms were Jacobites, and the Frasers were divided owing to a disputed chiefship but they later joined the Jacobites. Many other clans both highland and lowland joined either side of this conflict. Lowland clan Agnew held Blair Castle, seat of the Duke of Atholl, against the Jacobites who laid siege to the castle. Also lowland clan Hay supported the Jacobite uprising by assisting in financing the rebellion.

Sir Robert Munro

Tomb of Col. Sir Robert Munro

Clan Chief Col. Sir Robert Munro had been fighting at the front at the second Battle of Falkirk (1746) when, by account of the rebels, the British regiment he was in command of ran away and he was surrounded by six Jacobites, he killed at least two with his pike before being shot by a Jacobite commander with a flint lock pistol, he was 62 years old. The Jacobites wished to do special honour to their opponent: They opened the grave of Sir John Graham, the hero of the Wars of Scottish Independence, who rescued Wallace at Queensberry and who died at the first Battle of Falkirk (1298). They then buried Sir Robert Munro beside the dust of the hero John Graham. The graves can be seen in Falkirk churchyard (right).

The Munros had been assigned another duty by the government. It was at this time when the Munro clan was away and Foulis Castle was left temporarily unattended and undefended that the Jacobites set fire to it and left much of the castle destroyed and in ruin. Robert's brother Sir Harry Munro returned from the Battle of Falkirk (1746) to find the castle partially destroyed and set about rebuilding it as it is today incorporating what he could of the original castle. The Munros took revenge just a few months later with a victory over the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden led by Chief Sir Harry Munro. His men were armed with Muskets, Bayonets, Swords and Spontoons. The Foulis Castle now appears as more of a mansion house built in a more formal Georgian style rather than the defensive fort it once was.

Foulis Castle

Munro's Foulis Castle as seen from the air

The seat of the Chief of the Clan Munro is still at Foulis Castle.

Other Achievements

The Munros made a significant early contribution to Scottish traditional arts in the fifteenth century with what is probably the earliest piece of pipe music written for the Pibroch. This piece, entitled Bealach na Broige has been attributed to one of the early Munro family and is the pipe music for the clan.

The Munros were also prominent members of the Scottish clergy in the north of Scotland and clan members became justices of the peace in Caithness and its environs. Dr. John Hay Munro, Senior Pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte North Carolina, as well as Canadian author Alice Munro, are notable descendants.

Clan Chiefs

Septs of Clan Munro

The Septs were smaller clans or Scottish families who lived within Munro territory. They would pay tax to the chief in order to live within his territory. The Chief's clan in return could give septs protection. Taxes would normally be paid in the form of food such as crops and livestock rather than money. Some septs would sometimes fight alongside the ruling clan, for example the Clan of Dingwall were known to have fought in battles in support of Munro. However other septs were sometimes just normal Scottish families who worked on the land. The spelling variations of Munro, Munroe, Monroe, Monro and even Monroo may not have always indicated a sept family and sometimes were the names used by a branch of the Chief's family. This was sometimes the case because firstly during the days of the clan few people could write and spelling would not have always been accurate by those who could. Also some branches of the Chief's family, occasionally, may also have changed the spelling of their surname as more generations increased the distance between themselves and the Chief's line. However Munro is the most frequent and spelling variations are mostly those of sept families.

The proposed improved tomb for Col. Sir Robert Munro

• Dingwall
• Dingwell
• Dingvaile
• Faulis
• Foulis
• Fowlis
• Keddie
• Kiddie
• Culloch
• Gulloch
• MacAdie
• MacCoulaghe
• MacChullach
• MacAlach
• MacCullaigh
• MacClullich
• MacColly
• MacCully
• MacCulloch
• MacEddie
• MacHulagh
• MacHullie
• MacKeddie
• MacLullich
• MacLullick
• Makcullocht
• Monro
• Monroe
• Monroo
• Munroe
• Pathillock
• Patillo
• Patillok
• Vass
• Vassie
• Wass
• Waus

Crest and Coat of Arms

Notable Munros

• Sir Hugh Thomas Munro Founder member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club. Produced the first table of Mountains in Scotland over 3000ft.
• Sir Hector Munro (1726 - December 27, 1805), was a British military leader of 89th regiment and went on to have military success in India against the Indians and the French.
• Dr. John Hay Munro Senior Pastor of Calvary Church, Charlotte, North Carolina.
• James Munro (VC) Scottish soldier who won the Victoria Cross.
• Douglas Albert Munro A winner of the US Medal of Honour.
• John Munro (soldier & poet) Scottish soldier who won the Military Cross during the First World War and later became a poet.
• Robert Munro (1684 - 1746) Clan Chief and lieutenant-colonel of the original Black watch Regiment.
• Harry Munro Clan Chief, soldier and politician.
• Robert Munro (d. 1680) Soldier, British military leader.
• John Munro (loyalist) John Munro (1728 - October 27 1800) Soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.
• Thomas Munro Sir Thomas Munro (27 May 1761-6 July 1827), Scottish soldier and statesman.
• James Munro (Australian politician)
• John Farquhar Munro Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Ross, Skye and Inverness West.
• Burt Munro Motorcycle enthusiast, racer and 1000cc land speed record holder.
• Alexander Munro III Professor of anatomy at Edinburgh University in the early 19th century.
• William R. Munroe Vice Admiral in the United States Navy.
• James Monroe A President of the United States.

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