Clan Sinclair
History
Clan Sinclair was a Highland Scottish clan located at the very northern tip of Scotland.
St. Clare in Pont d'Eveque in Normandy is generally thought to be the birthplace of this great northern clan.
The family received a grant of the Barony of Roslin in Midlothian during the twelfth century. Through marriage, the family obtained the Earldom of Orkney, and in the next century received land in Caithness. The earldom or kingdom of Orkney was later resigned by order of James III.
The chief of clan Sinclair at this time split the family lands, giving the lands of Caithness to his elder son, and the lands at Roslin to his younger son. It was around this point that the spelling "Sinclair" came into general use, although the Earls of Roslin still prefer to use the older form of "St. Clare".
The Earls of Caithness engaged in a long succession of feuds with their neighbours and within the family. This resulted in the 4th Earl imprisoning his son in Girnigoe Castle, where he starved to death.
Much of the Sinclair lands in Caithness had to be sold off to pay debts. Within the family, rights to estates were disputed and culminated in a battle between the Sinclairs and the Campbells on the banks of Altimarlach, near Wick.
Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
In the 15th century the Sinclairs were granted the earldom of Caithness, but lost it in the 17th century when Sir George Sinclair, the sixth earl, who had been forced to sell off most of the family lands, died without issue. Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy was the chief mortgagee of the Sinclair estates and he promptly married Sir George's widow and claimed the earldom for himself. This did not go down well with the rest of the Sinclair family and George Sinclair of Keiss besieged and captured Girnigoe Castle, which was claimed by the Campbells. The Campbells had swift revenge at the bloody battle of Altimarlech, where so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells were able to cross the river without getting their feet wet. Clearly, however, the Sinclairs had influence in high places as only a few years later, in 1681, they regained the earldom by an order of Parliament.
Girnigoe Castle, dramatically situated on the cliffs just outside Wick, was one of the main Sinclair strongholds. Although now ruined, it is well worth a visit and it still contains both a secret chamber in the vaulting of the kitchen ceiling and a grim dungeon where, it is said, the 4th Earl of Caithness imprisoned his son and heir and fed him salt beef so that eventually he died mad with thirst.
Another former Sinclair property is the Castle of Mey, originally known as Barrogill Castle. Barrogil castle was built by George, 4th Earl of Caithness.In the early 1950s the castle was purchased by HM The Queen Mother who changed its name back to Castle of Mey. The castle is reputedly haunted by The Green Lady, ghost of the daughter of George, 5th Earl of Caithness, Elizabeth Sinclair. Having fallen in love with a local ploughman, the unhappy girl was imprisoned in the castle attic by her angry father and, in a fit of despair, she threw herself from a window.
Battles
- Castle Alnwick 1093, Northumbria England, Sir William Sinclair led an attack on England at Alnwick Castle in which the Scottish won. After the battle during a ceromony where the keys to the castle were to be handed over to the Scottish King an Englishman speared the Scottish King to death. Today the castle still remains a very impressive fort with a central keep and a massive encirling wall.
- Allerton 1156, When Englands King Henry died the new King Stephen restarted wars to reclaim land in Scotland. The battle took place across the river Tweed. Here Sir William won high distinction in defending England and was rewarded lands in Cardaine. He was later sent to England as a Scottish ambassador to resolve land disputes. He also succeeded in claiming back Northumberland for Scotland.
- Rebellion of the Sinclairs 1222; The trouble was over tithes imposed by the Bishop of Caithness whose seat was at Dornoch. The Clan Sinclair Earls of Caithness had long resented the fact that the bishopric was under Sutherland control and decided to exploit the discontent over tithes, to get rid of the bishop and have the seat moved. There was soon a riot, said to be incited by Sinclair gold. The unfortunate bishop was roasted alive and his cathedral was set on fire. The rioters then headed north to join up with their Sinclair allies. Once again the Lord of Sutherland was given responsibility by the crown for restoring law and order, and for punishing Sinclair for his instigation of the incident. The Clan Sutherland force was gathered and the far northeast was laid waste in a campaign of revenge and repression. Wick and Thorso were burned and the Sinclair stronghold razed to the ground. Eighty men were tried at a summer court session at Golspie and there was strict punishment for the rioters. Four of the ringleaders were roasted and then fed to the town dogs for good measure.
- Largs 1236, Sir William Sinclair(1190 - 1270) led the soldiers of King Alexander III of Scotland to repel the last Norman invasion. Today a clumn marks the spot of where the battle took place. Every September a Viking festival celebrates the event.
- Lewes Sussex 1265; Simon of Montfort Earl of Leicester, England. Gained great influence over other barons and bishops. They drew up the Provisions of Oxford. King Henry III objected. Civil war broke out. Rebellious barons won, capturing the King. After years of conflict the Crown returned to his son Edward. King Alexander ordered Sir William Sinclair to assist King Henry III in a bloody victory. Sinclair escaped unharmed.
Scottish Wars of Independence
- Battle of Stirling Bridge 1297: 37 miles North of Stirling Castle, recaptured from England's King Edward I, by the Scottish who were led by William Wallace. Sir William Sinclair (1260 - 1305) was one of Wallace's major commanders.
- Battle of Roslin, 24th February 1303; Scots defeated an army of 30,000 English at Roslin Glen in three separate engagements.See
- Battle of Bannockburn 1314; Another battle for Scottish Independence. Roslyn Castle again at the center of the battle. Sir Henry Sinclair (1275 - 1329) the 8th Baron of Roslyn fought impressively for which he was rewarded more land. He also signed a truce for permanent peace between Kings Robert the Bruce of Scotland and King Edward II of England.
- Battle of Halidon Hill September 1402; Prince Henry Sinclair 1340-1402 slain in battle.
Battles (continued)
- Battle of Flodden Field 1515, Coldstream, England; Sir William Sinclair was one of the nobles fighting for King James. He had previously sat in Parliament. In battle King James observed Sir William leading his followers, all wearing green. The King asked and found they were of Caithness, led by the Earl. King James wrote the renewal of Sir William's Earldom on a drumhead, the only parchment available. The drumhead was carried by runner to Sir William's lady. Sir William died in battle the next day, leaving the Earldom to his son John.
- Somersdale, Orkney, May 1529; John Sinclair (1490-1529) 3rd Earl of Caithness died leading 500 men to help defend James Sinclair and defend the Orkneys.
- Battle near Wick 1588; Earl of Sutherland Alexander Gordon divorced his obnoxious Sinclair wife in 1573. He waged all out war with her father and Clan Sinclair before gaining a decisive victory outside Wick in 1588, when more than a hundred Sinclair clansmen were killed in a pitched battle on the seashore. Earl Alexander later married the divorced wife of the Earl of Bothwell, third husband to Mary Queen of Scots.
- Castle Kirkwall 1614; Orkney waterfront built by Prince Henry 1390. Henry Sinclair Wadsetter 1570-1614 died leading 100 men to besiege the castle. He became paralyzed and died at night.
- Battle of Altimarlech 1678; A battle took place between Clan Campbell and Clan Sinclair. Legend has it that so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells were able to cross the river without getting their feet wet. Clearly, however, the Sinclairs had influence in high places as only a few years later, in 1681, they regained the earldom by an order of Parliament.
Names, Mottos and Badges
- Gaelic Name: Mac na Ceardadh
- Motto: Commit thy work to God
- Badge: Whin
- Lands: Midlothian, Orkney and Caithness
- Origin of Name: Placename, French de Sancto Claro
- Pipe Music: Spaidsearachd Mhic nan Cearda (The Sinclair's March)
Septs of the Clan
- Budge
- Caird
- Clouston
- Clyne
- Linklater
- Lyall
- Mason
Notable Sinclairs
- Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster
- Major General Arthur St. Clair
- Upton Sinclair, author
- Gordon Sinclair, radio journalist and commentator
- Sir Clive Sinclair, inventor
- Trevor Sinclair, footballer
- Christine Sinclair, footballer