Clan MacAlister
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clan MacAlister is a Highland Scottish clan and was a sub-branch of the main Clan Donald or MacDonald.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins of the Clan
The founder of the Clan MacAlister was Alasdair Mor MacDonald. He was a younger son of Donald MacDonald of Islay who was the founder of Clan Donald and great-grandson of King Somerled.
During the 14th century the MacAlisters were allies of the powerful Clan Comyn which is now known as Clan Cumming. The Comyns were rivals to the throne and enemies of the soon to be King Robert the Bruce. Bruce himself killed the Comyn chief and the Comyn's allies were soon forced to submit to the Bruce. The Clan MacAlister was often small in numbers therefore they made alliances with more powerful people. They soon became allies of Robert the Bruce.
The clan is known to have settled in Kintyre under Charles MacAlister in 1481. Charles MacAlister was a great ally of the Stuarts and King James III of Scotland. The principal family of the Clan MacAlister were known as "MacAlister of Loup".
In 1598 Godfrey MacAlister murderd his tutor Charles MacAlister. He then besiged Charles' sons in their home at Askomull. Two years later the Clan MacAlister attacked the Clan Montgomery. They seized everything belonging to the Chief John Montgomery of Skelmorlie including £12,000 worth of possessons.
Two years after Archibald MacAlister along with Angus Og MacDonald carried out a similar attack on the inhabitants of the Isle of Bute against the Clan Stuart. A year later and Archibald MacAlister and Angus Og MacDonald were accused of being rebels, charged with treason and hanged in Edinburgh Tollbooth.
Alexander MacAlister 8th of Loup led the clan when they fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. He was succeeded by his brother, Charles MacAlister who married a daughter of the Chief of Clan Lamont.
By 1707 the MacAlister's House and lands of Tarbet had passed to the Clan MacLean. However the MacAlisters of Loup were flourishing and Duncan MacAlister made his way to Holland in 1717. There he established himself as a great officer and through him the MacAlister name flourishes in Europe.
[edit] Branches of Clan MacAlister
The MacAlisters of Tarbet became the Hereditary Constables of the Royal Castle of Tarbet on behalf of the Earls of Argyll. Another branch established itself at Glenbarr in Argyll. Another branch took the name Alexander and settled in Menstrie in Clackmannanshire as vassals of the Earl of Argyll, many of this branch settled in Ireland in the 17th century and became Earls of Caledon.
