The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. Ill] OF SCOTLAND 211
CHAPTER III.
The Qk\A.QXY.\.~(continued).
Clan Donald.
The clan Donald derive their origin from Donald II., son of
Reginald. The share of his father's possessions which fell to
him appears to have been South Kintyre and Isla, but it is
unquestionable that he held these possessions of his brother
Roderic, as the head of the house. As the clan Donald were
at this time under the sway of the Norwegians, but little is
known of their history until the cession of the Isles in 1266.
Donald is said by a Highland Sennachie to have gone to
Rome for the purpose of obtaining remission for various atroci-
ties of his former life, which he is reported to have obtained
with little difficulty, and to have evinced his gratitude by
granting lands to the monastery of Saddell, and other ecclesias-
tical establishments in Scotland. It was during the life of
Angus Moir, his son and successor, that the expedition of
Haco to the Western Isles took place, and although Angus
joined him immediately on his arrival with his fleet, and assisted
him during the whole war, yet, in consequence of the treaty
which afterwards took place between the kings of Norway and
Scotland, he does not appear to have suffered either in his
territories or in his power. He appeared at the convention in
1284, when the maiden of Norway was declared heiress of the
crown, when his support appears to have been purchased by a
grant of Ardnamurchan, a part of the earldom of Garmoran ;
and also confirmed his father's and grandfather's grants to the
abbey of Saddell, granting additional lands to them himself by
not fewer than four charters. Angus left two sons, Alexander
and Angus Og. Alexander acquired a considerable addition to
his territories by marriage with one of the daughters and co-