Chanonry of Ross - Munro-Mackenzie Feud

Munro-Mackenzie Feud

In 1569 a feud arose between the Clan Mackenzie and Clan Munro, who were among the most powerful clans in Ross-shire. The trouble started when John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, made over to his cousin Leslie, the Laird of Balquhair, the right and title to the castle at Chanonry together with the castle lands. Bishop Leslie had been secretary to the deposed Mary, Queen of Scots and there was strong feeling against episcopacy in Scotland. He therefore felt it best to get the church property under his bishopric passed into his family's hands to preserve some of the important privileges that came with being a bishop. Notwithstanding this grant the Regent Moray (James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray), acting in the name of the infant King James VI of Scotland gave the custody of the castle to Andrew Munro, 5th of Milntown.

James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, who was the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland, promised Bishop Leslie that in return for ceding the castle and lands he would give him some of the lands of the barony of Fintry in Buchan. This scheme was interrupted when, in January 1570, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (Regent Moray) was shot dead, preventing Andrew Munro of Milntown from obtaining the title to the castle and lands of Chanonry, but that did not deter Munro from occupying the castle.

The Mackenzies were not pleased to see their powerful neighbours, the Munros, in possession of this castle and recognizing the inherent weakness in Munro's title, or lack of it, they purchased from Leslie the legal title and rights and proceeded to demand possession of their rightful property from Munro. However Munro would not cede.

Munro decided to stay put and made a new approach to the new regent, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox who seeing the justice of the situation supported Munro. The situation became even more complex when the unfortunate Earl of Lennox was also shot and killed in September 1571. The next regent, John Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar, subsequently also gave his approval to Andrew Munro to retain possession of the castle.

The Mackenzies regarded the Munros as wrongful possessors of their property which they had legally purchased from Leslie. They therefore laid siege to the castle. The Munros defended the castle for three years with the loss of many lives on both sides. Finally in 1573 the Munros peacefully passed the castle to the Mackenzies under an Act of Pacification, in the terms of which Munro was awarded compensation for his expenses in occupying the castle.