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Sir Rory Mor's Horn

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Sir Rory Mor's Horn is a drinking horn and one of several heirlooms of the MacLeods of Dunvegan, chiefs of Clan MacLeod. Clan custom is that each successive chief is to drink a full measure of the horn in wine to prove his "manhood".[1] 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 MacLeod chiefs have several other notable heirlooms kept at Dunvegan Castle—such as the Fairy Flag and the Dunvegan Cup (pictured right).

Photo of the Dunvegan Cup, Fairy Flag, and Sir Rory Mor's Horn, sometime before 1927.

Description and custom

Sir Rory Mor's Horn is a drinking horn, made of an ox's horn, tipped in silver.[2] 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.[3] The horn holds about 2 imperial pints (1.1 L). Clan MacLeod custom is that each successive chief, on achieving the age of manhood, should drain in one draught, the horn which is filled to the brim.[2] The horn is named after Sir Ruairidh Mòr MacLeòid (c.1562–1626), the 15th chief of Clan MacLeod.[4]

There have been differing opinions concerning the age of the horn. In 1927, R.C. MacLeod declared his opinion that it dated from the 10th century. Professor Brögge, from Oslo, thought it was of Norse origin, dating from the 10th century. Professor Callander, from Edinburgh, considered it to be not unfamiliar with other objects of Scotland, and dated it to the 16th century.[3]

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".[2] In 1956, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Dunvegan Castle. During this occasion, John, maternal grandson of the clan chief Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, was challenged to quaff the horn which was filled with claret—which he did in one minute 57 seconds.[5][6]

Tradition

 
The Macleod's crest badge contains the bull's head and the motto "hold fast".

The Bannatyne Manuscript, dates from about 1830 and is thought to have probably been written by Dr. William MacLeod Bannatyne.[7][8] 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,[9] returned from a tryst with the 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 MacLeods. 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 MacLeod of MacLeod have used a bull's head as their heraldic crest, with the motto "hold fast".[10]

R.C. MacLeod 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 (c.1509–1584), 12th chief of Clan MacLeod was being entertained by Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, at Inverary Castle.[note 1] During his visit, the MacLeod chief learned that one of his clansmen was a convicted criminal who had condemned to be gored to death by a bull. The MacLeod chief appealed to Argyll, but the Campbell chief replied that it was too late and that nothing could save the MacLeod clansman. The MacLeod 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.[12]

Another legend concerns Sir Ruairidh Mòr when he was a young man while his brother Uilleam (c.1560–1590)[13] was clan chief. Ruairidh Mòr is said to have been watching teams of bulls ploughing a field when he heard tell of a force of Macdonalds landing nearby. He jumped on a bull, commanded the other clansmen to do so and led the herd towards Dunvegan. They joined William's forces and routed the enemy. The bull that had carried him was never slain but on its natural death Sir Rory Mor's Horn was made from one of its horns.[citation needed]

Notes

  1. ^ R.C. MacLeod considered Tormod as the 11th chief of the clan. The current view is that he was the 12th chief.[11]

References

  1. ^ MacLeod, F.T. 1912–1913: p. 115.
  2. ^ a b c MacLeod, R.C. 1906: pp. 46–47.
  3. ^ a b MacLeod, R.C. 1927: pp. 40–41.
  4. ^ "Sir Roderick Ruairidh Mor MACLEOD (XV Chief)". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  5. ^ "John MacLeod of MacLeod". Telegraph.co.uk. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ "John MacLeod of MacLeod, 29th Chief of Clan MacLeod. 1935-2007". www.clan-macleod-scotland.org.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  7. ^ Matheson, William (18 November 1977). "The Ancestry of the MacLeods". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  8. ^ Morrison, Alick (1986). "The Origin of Leod". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Malcolm Gillecaluim MACLEOD (III Chief)". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  10. ^ MacLeod, R.C. 1927: pp. 39–42.
  11. ^ "Tormod [Norman] MACLEOD (XII Chief)". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  12. ^ MacLeod, R.C. 1927: pp. 107–108.
  13. ^ "William MACLEOD (XIII Chief)". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 26 August 2009.

Sources

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