In 1691, William d’Orange considered the clans of the Highlands as a threat to his kingdom since they had sworn allegiance to the deposed Stuart King James VII, so he decided that all clans should sign an oath of allegiance to him by January 1, 1692. The clans would sign the agreement or be punished with the “utmost extremity of the law”.
Glencoe, in the Highlands, is one of the most beautiful places in the UK but its name is associated with one of the worst massacres, not so much because of the number of its victims but because of the way it was carried out.
At that time, the area was inhabited by the MacDonald clan, their leader was Alisdair MacDonald, known as “Maclain”, hence their clan were known as “the Maclains”.
The Maclains were constantly involved in problems with the law and with their neighbors, particularly from the clan Campbell, for their consistent raiding, pillaging and cattle rustling.
The messenger carrying the news arrived at the Maclains only 3 days before the deadline, that is, December 28. This area has a very harsh climate and it was already winter, yet Maclain, fearing for the safety of his clan, decided to make the way to Fort William in order to sign the oath. Once he reached the fort, Colonel John Hill turned him back, as the oath had to be taken before a sheriff. Maclain then had to travel almost 100 km to Inveraray, the town of his enemies, the Campbells.
He was then captured by Campbell soldiers serving the Argyll regiment and was detained for one day, he was detained for several more days in Inveraray due to the absence of the Sheriff, Sir Colin Campbell. On January 6, once the Sheriff arrived, MacIain had to plead with him to agree to accept the late oath.
The man who used this deadline to his own political ends was the Secretary of State, John Dalrymple, Master of Stair who was a Lowlander and a Protestant, he detested the Highlanders, particularly the MacDonalds of Glencoe and saw their whole way of life as an obstacle to Scotland, believing that it would be better served in union with England. He rejected Maclain’s oath for being late and gave explicit orders to slaughter the clan “cut off roots and branch”.
Of the three commanders who were to be in charge of carrying out the order, only one showed up Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, a man who had lost everything because of his addiction to gambling. The other two used the prevailing bad weather as an excuse.
The soldiers commanded by Campbell arrived at Glencoe 12 days before the massacre, as friends, seeking shelter because the fort was full.
The MacDonalds, honoring the Highland code of hospitality, welcomed the soldiers into their own homes, sharing and living together for 12 days days.
On the night of February 13, there was a snow blizzard. While the clan slept, their guests gathered, received their orders, and started to systematically kill as many as they could, a total of 38, including the chief, Maclain, two women, two children and 33 men.
Many escaped to the mountains but due to the storm some more died before they could find a refuge, including Maclain’s elderly wife.
The Scottish people, although used to war and murder, were outraged by the callousness of the massacre. For the Jacobites of Edinburgh this massacre was a powerful tool of anti-government propaganda.
An enquire was held and Scottish Parliament declared it an act of murder. John Dalrymple, the Master of Stair, resigned and the matter was forgotten by the government but for Scotland it became a legend. The Campbells were accursed in much of the Highlands and that reminds the truth to this day in certain places of the country where Campbells are still seen as bad and even there is an Inn with a door sign saying “No Campbells”.
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