Scottish clan chief

A romantic depiction of a clan chief illustrated by R. R. McIan, from James Logan's The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, 1845.

for a list of the Scottish Chiefs and their clan, see List of Scottish clans.

The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children.^[1] In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a clan takes its name. The clan chief is the representative of this founder, and represents the clan as well. In the Scottish clan system, the term chief denotes a greater chief than that of a chieftain. In consequence, branch chiefs (heads of branches of a clan) are designated chieftains.^[2] Scottish clans who no longer have a clan chief are referred to as armigerous clans.

Functions of the Clan Chief

Historically the principal function of the chief was to lead his clan in battle on land and sea.^[3] The chief and the chieftain were at one time in the Scottish Highlands influential political characters, who wielded a large and often arbitrary authority.^[4] However, none of this authority now remains.^[4] Highland chiefship or chieftainship in the modern sense is no more than a high social dignity.^[4] The existence of chiefship and chieftainship has been recognized by Scottish law,^[4] however, the disarming of the Highland clans after the 1745 Jacobite rising effectively eliminated clanship from ordinary civil or statutory law.^[5] Most notable was the Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act, of 1746 that abolished traditional rights of jurisdiction afforded to Scottish clan chiefs.^[6]

Recognition of Chief in Scots law

"Clan Chiefs" and "Clan Chieftains"

While Scottish law recognizes the existence of Scottish Clans, Chiefs and Chieftains,^[7] this recognition is only one of social dignity or precedence, and as such does not involve any interest which the law has jurisdiction.^[8] The Lyon Court can make a recording of the dignity of a chiefship acknowledged by attestation, but can not declare judicially a chiefship.^[9] Further, no Scottish court can exercise a jurisdiction to determine disputes of competing claimants to a chiefship or chieftainship;^[4][10] to quote Lord Aitchinson in the Court of Session: "Historically the idea of a chief or chieftain submitting his dignity to the arbitrament of it Court of law is really grotesque. The chief was the law, and his authority was derived from his own people.".^[4]

"Chief of the Name and Arms"

The Lyon Court, whose jurisdiction is heraldic,^[10] can confirm an application for the Chief of the Name and Arms of a Scottish family. However, the "Chief of the Name and Arms" is a heraldic term, originating from the French "chef du nom et des armes" and refers to the head of a heraldic armigerous family.^[11][12] There is no evidence of any practice that would point to the use of chief of clan, or chieftain of branch of clan, as correct heraldic descriptions of headship of an armigerous family.^[13] The term chief of clan and principals of branches is not to persons bearing coats of arms; chiefship and chieftainship have no armorial significance.^{[13][Note 1]} The chief of clan and Chief of the Name and Arms may, of course, concur in the same person, however, they are not the same term.^[13] See Chiefs of Clan Fraser for an example of chief of clan and Chief of the Name and Arms not being held by the same person.

A crest badge of a clan chief of a fictional Scottish clan. A clan chief is the only one entitled to three eagle feathers.

"Clan Commander"

In cases where a clan has no chief, or a family wishes for recognition as a clan, clan or family members can formally get together in a derbhfine and appoint a clan commander. The Lyon Court can recognize this appointment for an interim period of ten years, whereupon a further derbhfine will be required.^[14] Clans with clan commanders are still referred to as armigerous clans.

Clan Chief prerogatives

Supporters

Clan Chiefs are entitled to supporters on their coat of arms to specify a very high dignity. A requirement of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs for membership, is that an applicant chief must demonstrate a right to hereditary supporters. A chief without supporters could only be allowed to serve on the Council for his or her lifetime, and each successive heir would have to be re-elected in the same manner.^[15]

Eagle feathers

Main article: Scottish crest badge

Elements of the chief's arms are often found in the crest badge worn, usually on a bonnet, by members of Scottish clans. These crest badges contain, in most cases, the chief's heraldic crest, and heraldic motto (or sometimes the chief's secondary motto or slogan). Clan chiefs are entitled to wear three eagle feathers behind their crest badge. Clan Chieftains are entitled to two eagle feathers. A clan member is not entitled to any feathers unless he or she has been granted arms by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, in which case they are an armiger and can wear a crest badge containing elements from their own arms.

Form of address

For the correct way to address a Scottish Clan Chief, see this table.

See also

• Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs
• Clan seat
• Statutes of Iona
• Clan
• Chief of the name

Notes

1. ^ an exception to this armorial insignificance being the chief's right to supporters if he or she has a coat of arms, see paragraph "Clan Chief prerogatives: supporters" hereto.

References

1. ^ Mark (2003), p. 458.
2. ^ Adam; Innes of Learney (1970), p. 154–155.
3. ^ Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean, p.711
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean, p.636
5. ^ Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean, p.650
6. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica - text link
7. ^ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (RPS).
8. ^ Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean, p.657
9. ^ Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean, p.637
10. ^ ^{a b} Gloag and Candlish Henderson, p.25
11. ^ Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean, p.645
12. ^ l'Académie française, p.527
13. ^ ^{a b c} Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean, p.635
14. ^ lyon-court.com
15. ^ SCOSC Requirements for Recognition

Bibliography

• Adam, Frank; Innes of Learney, Thomas (1970). The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands (8th edition ed.). Edinburgh: Johnston and Bacon. 
• Mark, Colin (2003). The Gaelic-English Dictionary: Am Faclair Gàidhlig-Beurla. Routledge. ISBN 0415297605. 
• l'Académie Française (1843) (in Frenche). Dictionnaire de l'Académie française. Tome Premier (Edition: 6 ed.). France: Firmin Didot frères. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=G1ovAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA2-PA527&dq=chef+du+nom+et+des+armes&lr=lang_fr&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES. 
• Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean, 1938 S.L.T. 49 and 1941 S.C. 613 Scotland (Court of Session First Advising (16 July 1937), Second Advising (27 March 1941), Final Interlocutor (18 July 1941)).
• Gloag and Candlish Henderson (1987). Introduction to the Law of Scotland (9th edition ed.). Edinburgh: W. Green.