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Exploring the Clan MacLeod: A Historic Quiz

Test your knowledge about Clan MacLeod, its history, traditions, and notable events through this interactive quiz.

#Clan MacLeod #Scottish History #Scottish Clans #Heritage #Traditions

1 The Clan MacLeod of Lewis claims its descent from ________, who according to MacLeod tradition was a younger son of Olaf the Black, King of Mann (r.1229–1237).

2 Possibly the most well known is the ________ which has numerous traditions attributed its origins and supposed magical powers.

3 In 1608 after a century of feuding which included battles between the Clan MacDonald, the ________, and Clan MacLean, all of the relevant MacDonald Chiefs were called to a meeting with Lord Ochiltree who was the King's representative.

4 Members of Clan MacLeod may also wear a sprig of juniper, as a ________.

5 In the Battle of Leckmelm, 1586, the Clan MacLeod and Clan MacKay are victorious in defeating the ________.

6 [6][7][8] In 1380 the Clan MacLeod along with Clan MacLean and ________ were defeated in battle by MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, who vindicated his right as Lord of the Isles.

7 The Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach (1406) was fought between the ________ and the Clan MacLeod of Lewis.

8 MacLeod tradition is that Leod, who had possession of Harris and part of ________, married a daughter of the Norse seneschal of Skye, MacArailt or Harold's son, who held Dunvegan and much of Skye.

9 Leod, according to tradition, died around 1280 and was buried on the holy island of ________, where six successive chiefs of the clan found a last resting-place after him.

10 Ardvreck Castle, in Loch Assynt, ________: built in the late 16th century by the Macleods.

💡 Interesting Facts

  • after William Dubh MacLeod was killed in 1480 at the Battle of Bloody Bay, he was the last MacLeod chief to be buried on the isle of Iona.
  • the triskelion in MacLeod heraldry (pictured) originates from a mistaken belief that the clan's founder, Leod, was a son of a king of Mann.
  • according to tradition, the horn that 14th-century clan chief Malcolm MacLeod supposedly broke off from a raging bull now exists as a drinking horn and heirloom of the chiefs of Clan MacLeod.
  • according to legend, the MacLeods were on the verge of being defeated at the Battle of Glendale by the MacDonalds, but their magical Fairy Flag was then unfurled, inspiring them to a hard-fought victory.
  • a 19th century antiquary considered that a saga character named Ljótólfr was the eponymous ancestor of the Clan MacLeod.
  • according to clan tradition, the wife of chief Iain Ciar MacLeod had two of her daughters buried alive within the dungeon of Dunvegan Castle (pictured).
  • clan tradition states that Iain Borb MacLeod was wounded in the head at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411 and that the wound's reoccurring bleeding caused his death 31 years later.
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