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ut died on his way in 1249; on the Island of Kerrera; leaving his son; Alexander III。; then only nine years of age; with the full weight and responsibility of government on his shoulders。 Shortly after the King attained his majority; Colin Fitzgerald; correctly speaking Fitz John is said to have been driven out of Ireland and to have sought refuge at the Scottish Court; where he was heartily welcomed by the King; by whom his rank and prowess well known to him by repute; were duly recognised and acknowledged。
At this time Alexander was preparing to meet Haco; King of Norway; who; on the 2nd of October; 1262; landed with a large force on the coast of Ayrshire; where he was met by a gallant force of fifteen hundred knights splendidly mounted on magnificent chargersmany of them of pure Spanish breedwearing breastplates; while their riders; clad in complete armour; with a numerous army of foot armed with spears; bows and arrows; and other weapons of war; according to the usage in their respective provinces; the whole of this valiant force led by the King in person。 These splendid; well…accoutred armies met at Largs two or three days after; and then commenced that sanguinary and memorable engagement which was the first decisive check to the arrogance of the Norsemen who had so long held sway in the West Highlands and Isles; and the first opening up of the channel which led to the subsequent arrangements between Alexander III。 of Scotland and Magnus IV。 of Norway in consequence of which an entirely new organisation was introduced into the Hebrides; then inhabited by a mixed race composed of the natives and largely of the descendants of successive immigrant colonists of Norwegians and Danes who had settled in the country。 In this memorable engagement; we are told; the Scots commenced the attack。 The right wing; composed of the men of Argyle; of Lennox; of Athole; and Galloway; was commanded by Alexander; Lord High Steward; while Patrick Dunbar; Earl of March; commanded the left wing; composed of the men of the Lothians; Berwick; Stirling; and Fife。 The King placed himself in the centre; at the head of the choice men of Ross; Perth; Angus; Mearns; Mar; Moray; Inverness; and Caithness; where he was confronted by Haco in person; who; for the purpose of meeting the Scottish King; took post in the Norwegian centre。 The High Steward; by a dexterous movement; made the enemy's left give way; and instantly; by another adroit manoeuvre; he wheeled back on the rear of Haco's centre; where he found the two warrior Kings desperately engaged。 This induced Haco; after exhibiting all the prowess of a brave King and an able commander; to retreat from the field; followed by his left wing; leaving; as has been variously stated; sixteen to twenty…four thousand of his followers on the field; while the loss on the Scottish side is estimated at about five thousand。 The men of Caithness and Sutherland were led by the Flemish Freskin; those of Moray by one of their great chiefs; and there is every reason to believe that the men of Ross rallied round one of their native chiefs。 Among the most distinguished warriors who took part in this great and decisive victory for the Scots; under the immediate eye of their brave King; was; it is said; Colin Fitzgerald; who is referred to in a fragment of the Record of Icolmkill as 〃Callenus peregrinus Hibernus nobilis ex familia Geraldinorum qui proximo anno ab Hibernia pulsus opud regni benigne acceptus hinc usque in curta permansit et in praefacto proelio strenue pugnavit。〃 That is; 〃Colin; an Irish stranger and nobleman; of the family of the Geraldines who; in the previous year; had been driven from Ireland; and had been well received by the King; remained up to this time at Court; and fought bravely in the aforesaid battle。〃 This extract has often been quoted to prove that Colin Fitzgerald was the progenitor of the Mackenzies; but it will be noticed that it contains no reference whatever to the point。 It merely says that Colin; an Irishman; was present at Largs。
After the defeat of Haco the King sent detachments to secure the West Highlands and Isles; and to check the local chiefs。 Among the leaders sent in charge of the Western garrisons was; according to the supporters of the Irish…origin theory; Colin Fitzgerald; who; under the patronage of Walter Stewart; Earl of Menteith; was settled in the Government of the Castle of Ellandonnan; the well…known stronghold of the Mackenzies; in Kintail; situated on a small rocky island at the junction of Lochalsh; Loch Duich and Loch Long。 Colin's jurisdiction; it is said; extended over a wide district; and he is referred to in the fragment of the Record of Icolmkill; already quoted; as he 〃of whom we have spoken at the battle of Largs; and who afterwards conducted himself with firmness against the Islanders; and was left a governor among them。〃 Sir George Mackenzie; first Earl of Cromartie; who will be proved later on to have been the inventor of the Fitzgerald theory; says in a MS。 history of the clan; that Colin 〃being left in Kintail; tradition records that he married the daughter of Mac Mhathoin; heritor of the half of Kintail。 This Mhathoin;〃 he continues; 〃is frequently identified with Coinneach Gruamach Mac Mhathoin; Cailean's predecessor as Governor of Ellandonnan Castle。 The other half of Kintail belonged to O'Beolan; one of whose chiefs; Ferchair; was created Earl of Ross; and his lands were given to Cailean Fitzgerald。〃
It will be proved by incontestible public documents still in existence; that these identical lands were; except that they once for a time exchanged them with a relative for lands in Buchan; uninterruptedly possessed by the Earls of Ross; the descendants of this Ferchair; or Farquhar; for two centuries after the battle of Largs。 While the Earl of Cromartie and other clan historians accept the Fitzgerald origin by marriage with a daughter of Kenneth Matheson of Lochalsh; the Mathesons maintain that the first Mackenzie; or Mac Choinnichthe actual progenitor of the clanwas a son of their chief; Coinneach Gruamach; and that the Mackenzies are thus only a sept; or minor branch of the Mathesons。 It must in fairness be admitted that the latter contention is quite as near the truth as the Fitzgerald theory and it must have already occurred to the reader; how; if the Fitzgerald origin of the Mackenzies had been true; has it come about that the original patronymic of Fitzgerald has given way to that of Mackenzie? It is not pretended that it was ever heard of after Colin himself。 This difficulty occurred even to the Earl of Cromartie; and this is how he attempts to dispose of it。 Cailean; he says; had a son by the daughter of Kenneth Mac Mhathoin; or Matheson; whom he named Coinneach; or Kenneth; after his father…in…law Kenneth Matheson; Cailean himself was killed in Glaic Chailein by Mac Mhathoin; who envied him; and was sore displeased at Colin's succession to Matheson's ancient heritage; Colin was succeeded by his son Kenneth; and all his descendants were by the Highlanders called 〃Mac Choinnich;〃 or Kenneth's son; taking the patronymic from Mac Mhathoin rather tha