Origins
The origin of the name Chattan is disputed. There are two main theories
- The name is taken from Cait, an ancient name for the present counties of Caithness and Sutherland.
- The clan derives its name from Gillichattan Mor, baillie of Ardchattan, follower of Saint Catan. This is the most widely accepted theory, but as an explanation may become circular because it is probable that Saint Catan worked among the Picts and may himself be named after Cait, or Caithness, a former Pictish kingdom, e.g. the Saint of Catan.
One of the traditional accounts of the founding of the Macpherson clan, states that Gillicattan Mor Mac Gillespic settled in the Lochaber region of Scotland on the eastern side of Loch Ness, where he founded the Clan Chattan. It is said that three of Gillichattan Mor's sons founded branches of the Clan Chattan. Murriach, a younger son of Gillichattan Mor, founded Clann Mhuirich. His grandson Duncan was called the Parson, because he had the collection of parsonage tithes in the Parish of Laggan.
It is from him that the name Macpherson, the 'Son of the Parson', became the surname the clan in the 15th century. Although the chief of the Mackintosh clan has most frequently been the leader of Clan Chattan, there has been a long rivalry with the chiefs of the Macpherson clan for that position. Together, as the principal chiefs of Clan Chattan, they were involved in a bloody feud with Clan Cameron that lasted 350 years.
In 1396, a gladiatorial contest between the Chattan confederation and Clan Cameron was staged at a field outside the city of Perth called the North Inch. This Battle of the North Inch, a fight to the death, took place in front of King Robert III and his court. According to the story, Clan Chattan killed all but one of their rivals with the loss of 19 of their party of 30 clansmen.
Until the early 14th century the Clan Chattan was a separate Scottish clan with its own chieftaincy, until Angus Mackintosh, 6th chief of Clan Mackintosh married Eva, the daughter of Gilpatric Dougal Dall, the 6th chief of Clan Chattan. Thus Angus Mackintosh became 6th chief of Clan Mackintosh and 7th chief of the Clan Chattan. The two clans united to form the Chattan Confederation, headed by the chief of Clan Mackintosh.
Read more about this topic: Chattan Confederation
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