Allow me to recount the fascinating history of your esteemed family, the MacLeods, a tale that weaves through the fabric of time with valor and legacy. Leod, born from the lineage of Olaf the Black, the Norse ruler of Man and the North Isles, emerged as the younger son destined for remarkable chapters. Around 1237, the torch of leadership passed to Leod, gifting him the realm of Lewis and Harris, alongside a portion of Skye. United in matrimony with the daughter of the Norse seneschal of Skye, the MacLeods found their abode in Dunvegan, a seat that stands proudly as your chief’s legacy to this day.

Within your family’s tapestry flourished two distinguished branches: the MacLeods of Lewis, eventually renowned as ‘of the Lewes,’ tracing lineage from Leod’s offspring Thorkil or Torquil (the ‘Siol Torquil’); and the MacLeods of Skye, tracing their heritage to Leod’s son Tormod (the ‘Siol Tormod’), who anchored their legacy at Dunvegan.

As time unfolded, your ancestors were entwined in the grand tapestry of history. Your clan stood alongside the Macdonald Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, only to navigate deftly through the intricate political currents when James IV sought to dismantle Macdonald power. The eighth chief, Alasdair Crotach, secured a title to Trotternish in 1542, asserting the Macleod presence against the Macdonalds of Sleat. Under his guidance, the famed fairy tower at Dunvegan Castle rose, an enduring monument to his reign. Alasdair Crotach’s legacy also lives within the revered church of Rodel in Harris, where he rests.

The mantle of leadership was taken up by Ruaraidh Mor, the 15th chief, in 1595. A knight under James VI, Ruaraidh Mor continued the legacy of his predecessors, elevating Dunvegan as a cultural beacon within the isles. His regal demeanor earned him the title of ‘a very lordly ruler,’ a testament to his impactful reign. Inheritors of this mantle have forever held Rory Mor in deep regard.

A unique token of your lineage is the great drinking horn named after the 15th chief, an integral part of every Macleod chief’s rite of passage. The challenge of the horn, holding a bottle and a half of claret, is an act of unity, emblematic of shared heritage. Your cousins, the MacLeods of the Lewes, bore the legacy of the ‘Siol Torquil,’ a connection sealed when Torquil Macleod of the Lewes passed away in 1597, leading to the ascension of Sir Rory Mackenzie of Cogeach, husband of Torquil’s daughter, Margaret. The mantle of the ‘Siol Torquil’ passed to the MacLeods of Raasay, upholding the noble tradition of your house.

As you traverse the chapters of your family history, remember the valor, unity, and cultural beacons your ancestors left behind. Your lineage is one of strength, resilience, and enduring legacy, a testament to the remarkable spirit of the MacLeods.