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 Altimarlech, near Wick.
Chief commander Walderne Compte de Sancto Claro 1006 - 1075 head of the Sinclair family and father of William Sinclair, father of all Scottish Sinclairs, was granted the Barony of Rosslyn in Midlothian in 1138. Walderne is listed in the Roll of Battle Abbey along with 9 other Sinclairs and granted land on England's Medway River. His son William Sinclair 1028 - 1090 also fought at Hastings. After William the Conqueror became King of England William Sinclair, disenchanted over the King's aggressive expansion of his new kingdom, left England to become steward to Queen Margaret and King Malcolm III of Scotland. He became known as William the Blond and Seemly Sinclair. Starting with William, 1st baron of Rosslyn and cupbearer to the King and Queen of Scotland, many Sinclair generations and branches became Lords, Barons and lairds of Orkneys, Caithness and Fife properties.
Sir William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney, founded and built Collegiate Church in 1441. 1471 Sir William 1st Earl of Caithness relinquished the Orkney earldom to the King. Sinclairs of Roslin were Hereditary Grand Masters of Masons in Scotland 1437-1736 when the office became elective and William Sinclair was elected 1st Grand Master. Many Sinclairs fought against England and later in British forces. A Baron of Rosslyn and his two grandsons fought so well at Bannockburn King Bruce gave them honors and gifts of land. Gen Arthur St Clair of the fledgling United States Army campaigning in the northeast frontier secured our border, paving the way for Western expansion. He served with distinction under George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Sir John Sinclair of Uhlster studied farming in each Scottish district compiling records of improving productivity. Using statistics he traveled throughout Europe in the 1800s discussing his work with experts from many countries.
The Knights Templars, a powerful, wealthy force throughout Europe, formed in the 1100s to protect pilgrims going to Jerusalem. In 1312 the King of France ordered them suppressed. Survivors escaped to Scotland, where King Robert the Bruce protected them, hiding treasure at Rosslyn Castle. There are many Templar graves in the Sinclair family cemetery.
Castle Sinclair/Girnigoe Castle
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. 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 a daughter of the 5th Earl. 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: First of many disastrous battles by Scots over northern English territory. 1100, Sir William Sinclair serving as Warden of the Marches commanded Scottish forces to defend their land, then led the Scottish attack into England at Castle Alnwick. After Scotland won an Englishman speared Scotland's king to death during a ceremony of receiving the keys to the castle. Today the castle retains impressive medieval fortification with a central keep and a massive encircling wall.
ALLERTON 1136: When England's King Henry I died King Stephen renewed wars to reclaim land in Scotland. The Battle occurred across the River Tweed where Sir William Sinclair won high distinction defending England. Rewarded with the lands of Cardaine, Sinclair was later sent to England as Scottish Ambassador to resolve land disputes. Sinclair succeeded again by gaining back Northumberland for Scotland.
LARGS 1263: Sir William Sinclair 1190 - 1270 led soldiers of King Alexander III of Scotland to repel the last Norman invasion. A column marks the spot. Every September a Viking festival celebrates the event.
STIRLING BRIDGE 1297: aka Triple Battle, Battle of Roslyn Moor; 37 mi N of Stirling. Castle recaptured from King Edward I by Scotland led by William Wallace repelling 30,000 English at Roslin Moor. Sir William Sinclair 1260 - 1305 one of Wallace's major commanders along with the Red Comyn and Symon Frazer.
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.
BANNOCKBURN 1314: between Edinburg and Sterling; Roslyn Castle again the center of battle, for Scottish independence. Led by Robert the Bruce. Sir Henry Sinclair 1275 - 1329 8th Baron of Roslin fought impressively, his leadership rewarded with more land. Sir Henry also signed a truce seeking permanent peace between Kings Robert the Bruce and Edward II.
HALIDON HILL September 1402: Prince Henry Sinclair 1340-1402 slain in battle
FLODDON 1515: Coldstream, England; Just when Scotland's King James IV was at peace with his neighbors France was in conflict with the Holy League, which included England. Scots massed on Floddon Hill. Well organized English circled and attacked the Scotsmen from the North. 13 Scottish nobles and their men were slain as was King James, leaving as his heir a son, 1. 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 James Sinclair defend the Orkneys.
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.
Rosslyn Chapel
Built in 1446 by grandson William 1410-1484 3rd Prince of Orkney, Earl of Rosslyn. Designated Collegiate Church of St Matthew. Construction stopped when William died. Stone carvings of Bible stories; of Indian maize and aloe cacti, carved from stone pre-Columbian. Prentice Pillar 13th column, crafted by an apprentice while his master mason studied in Rome. William gave the apprentice the OK to copy the model. The Master returning grew angry and jealous and struck the apprentice over the head and killed him. The apprentice's head is carved in the pillar's top NW corner. Other carvings depict Templar secrets and Green Man traditions. Vaults contain 20 St Clair knights in full armor, a privilege normally reserved for royalty but extended to St Clair in their capacity as Knights Templar and guardians of the Holy Grail. During the Reformation many ornaments and valuables were removed for safekeeping. Some may be in these vaults, sealed for centuries, now protected by English law.
Green Man
Welcomed by Gypsies in May and June in meadows below Rosslyn Castle. Plays feature a traditional Green man, a vegetation and fertility god, all things to all people, good and evil. The theme usually deals with the balance between disorder and harmony, part of daily life.
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