Sir Rory Mor's Horn: Difference between revisions

'''Sir Rory Mor's Horn''' is a drinking horn and one of several [[heirloom]]s of the MacleodsMacLeods of Dunvegan, chiefs of [[Clan MacleodMacLeod]]. Clan custom is that each successive chief is to drink a full measure of the horn in wine to prove his "manhood".<ref name="M2-115">[[#M2|MacLeod, F.T. 1912–1913]]: p. 115.</ref> The artwork on the horn has been thought by some to date as far back as the 10th century and and by others as far back as the 16th century. The MacleodMacLeod chiefs have several other notable heirlooms kept at [[Dunvegan Castle]]—such as the [[Fairy Flag]] and the [[Dunvegan Cup]] (''pictured right'').

Sir Rory Mor's Horn is a [[drinking horn]], made of an [[ox]]'s horn, tipped in [[silver]].<ref name="M3-4647"/> The rim around the mouth of the horn is thick and on this there are imprinted seven medallions. One three of the medallions are beasts, on three others are patterns, and on the seventh and joining medallion is both a pattern and a beast. R.C. MacLeod considered the work to be Norse, and declared the horn to date from the 10th century.<ref name="M1-4041"/> The horn holds about {{convert|2|imppt|l|lk=on}}. Clan MacleodMacLeod custom is that each successive chief, on achieving the [[Adult|age of manhood]], should drain in one draught, the horn which is filled to the brim.<ref name="M3-4647"/> The horn is named after [[Sir]] [[Roderick Macleod of Macleod|Ruairidh Mòr MacLeòid]] (''[[circa|c]]''.1562–1626), the 15th chief of Clan MacleodMacLeod.<ref name="macleodgenealogy.org-I25">{{cite web|url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/ACMS/D0077/I25.html|title=Sir Roderick Ruairidh Mor MACLEOD (XV Chief)|accessdate=13 August 2009|work=www.macleodgenealogy.org}}</ref>

In 1906, R.C. MacLeod noted that the greater proportion of the horn had been filled in, and that it was "but a moderate drink the present day Chiefs have to [[quaff]]. With what contempt, what might scorn would these stern warriors of the past look upon the puny performances of their descendants".<ref name="M3-4647">[[#M3|MacLeod, R.C. 1906]]: pp. 46–47.</ref> In 1956, [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] visited [[Dunvegan Castle]]. During this occasion, [[John MacLeod of MacLeod|John]], maternal grandson of the clan chief [[Dame (title)|Dame]] [[Flora MacLeod of MacLeod]], was challenged to [[quaff]] the horn which was filled with [[claret]]—which he did in one minute 57 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |coauthors= |title=John MacLeod of MacLeod |work=[[Telegraph.co.uk]]|page= |date=15 February 2007|accessdate=13 August 2009 |quote= |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1542687/John-MacLeod-of-MacLeod.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=John MacLeod of MacLeod, 29th Chief of Clan MacLeod. 1935-2007|url=http://www.clan-macleod-scotland.org.uk/newsletters.php?nl=0006&p=02 |date= |work=www.clan-macleod-scotland.org.uk |publisher= |accessdate=13 August 2009}}</ref>

The ''Bannatyne Manuscript'', dates from about 1830 and is thought to have probably been written by Dr. [[William Bannatyne, Lord Bannatyne|William MacLeod Bannatyne]].<ref name="macleodgenealogy.org--Matheson1">{{cite web|url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/Research/Matheson1.html|title=The Ancestry of the MacLeods|last=Matheson|first=William|date=18 November 1977|accessdate=18 August 2009|work=www.macleodgenealogy.org}}</ref><ref name="macleodgenealogy.org--Morrison">{{cite web|url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/Research/Morrison.html|title=The Origin of Leod|last=Morrison|first=Alick|date=1986|accessdate=18 August 2009|work=www.macleodgenealogy.org}}</ref> R.C. MacLeod noted that the manuscript contains a tradition concerning the origin of the horn. This tradition runs that one night, Gillecaluim (1296–1370), the 3rd chief of Clan Macleod,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/ACMS/D0027/I7.html|title=Malcolm Gillecaluim MACLEOD (III Chief)|accessdate=26 August 2009|work=www.macleodgenealogy.org}}</ref><!-- This web-ref is only for the chief's lifespan --> returned from a [[tryst]] with the [[Clan Campbell|Campbell]] wife of the chief of [[Clan Fraser]] who possessed the lands of [[Glenelg]]. That night Gillecaluim encountered a bull which lived in the woods of Glenelg and which had terrorised the local inhabitants. Armed with only a [[dirk]], Gillecaluim slew the bull and broke off one of its horns. Gillecaluim carried off the horn to [[Dunvegan]], as a trophy of his prowess. For this act of valour, Fraser's wife forsook her husband for Gillecaluim, thus starting a lengthy clan feud between the Frasers and the MacleodsMacLeods. Gillecaluim then carried off the horn to [[Dunvegan]] as a trophy of his prowess. The tradition runs that ever since the horn has remained at Dunvegan; and has been converted into a drinking horn, which each chief must drain to the bottom in one draught. The manuscript continues that ever since Gillecaluim defeated the bull, the family of MacleodMacLeod of MacleodMacLeod have used a ''bull's head'' as their [[heraldic crest]], with the [[heraldic motto|motto]] "hold fast".<ref>[[#M1|MacLeod, R.C. 1927]]: pp. 39–42.</ref>

R.C. MacleodMacLeod noted another tradition concerning a bull and motto of the clan's chiefs (though not the drinking horn). The tradition runs that one day Tormod (''[[circa|c]]''.1509–1584), 12th chief of Clan MacleodMacLeod was being entertained by [[Earl of Argyll|Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell]], at [[Inverary Castle]].{{#tag:ref|R.C. MacLeod considered Tormod as the 11th chief of the clan. The current view is that he was the 12th chief.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/ACMS/D0074/I22.html|title=Tormod <nowiki>[</nowiki>Norman<nowiki>]</nowiki> MACLEOD (XII Chief)|accessdate=26 August 2009|work=www.macleodgenealogy.org}}</ref> <!-- This web-ref is only for the chief's tenure and lifespan, not for the tradition --> |group=note}} During his visit, the MacleodMacLeod chief learned that one of his clansmen was a convicted criminal who had condemned to be gored to death by a bull. The MacleodMacLeod chief appealed to Argyll, but the Campbell chief replied that it was too late and that nothing could save the MacleodMacLeod clansman. The MacleodMacLeod chief then sprang into the ring, armed with only his dirk, and attacked the bull. He grabbed hold of the bull's horns and cried out "hold fast!" and saved the clansman.<ref>[[#M1|MacLeod, R.C. 1927]]: pp. 107–108.</ref>

*{{cite book|last=MacLeod|first=Roderick Charles|title=The MacleodsMacLeods|url=http://www.archive.org/details/macleodsshortske00macl|year=1906|publisher=Clan MacleodMacLeod Society|location=Edinburgh|ref=M3}}

*{{cite book|last=MacLeod|first=Roderick Charles|title=The MacleodsMacLeods of Dunvegan|url=http://www.archive.org/details/macleodsofdunveg00macl|year=1927|publisher=Privately printed for the Clan MacLeod Society|location=Edinburgh|ref=M1}}