| Leod Macgilleandrais | |
| Death Date: | 14th century |
| Death Place: | Feith Leoid, near Kinlochewe |
| Death Cause: | Put to death |
| Children: | Paul Mactire (son) |
| Footnotes: | According to 17th century tradition |
Leod Macgilleandrais is purported to have been a 14th-century Scotsman who lived in the north-west of Scotland. He is known from clan traditions which date to the late 17th century. According to these traditions, Leod was a follower of the Earl of Ross, and that he was an enemy of the Mackenzies of Kintail. He is said to have captured one of the early Mackenzie chiefs, and was then later killed by the slain chief's son sometime in the 14th century. His memory is preserved in the place where he is said to have been slain. According to at least one version of the tradition, Leod was survived by a son named Paul. Several historians in 19th and early 20th centuries equated this son to Paul Mactire.
According to the late 19th-century historian Alexander Mackenzie, sometime in the 13th century, Kenneth, the eponymous ancestor of the Mackenzies, succeeded to the right to govern Eilean Donan Castle, in Kintail. During this period, William I, Earl of Ross was an instrumental force in regaining control from the Norse. According to Mackenzie, the earl was naturally desirous to gain control of the fortress to aid his cause; he was also threatened by Kenneth's rise in power and prestige. The earl demanded the castle be handed over to his control, however, Kenneth refused to do so, and was supported in his defiance by the native clans of the area: the Macbeolains, Macivors, Mactearlichs, and Macaulays. The earl dispatched a strong detachment of troops to take the fortress by force, but Kenneth was able to fend off the attackers. The earl's forces were reinforced and while preparing to make another assault the earl became ill and died, in 1274.[1]
According to Mackenzie, during the tenure of Kenneth, the third chief of the Mackenzies, the lands of Kintail were granted by William III, Earl of Ross to Reginald, son of Roderick of the Isles, in 1342; this charter was confirmed two years later by David II. Mackenzie stated that around this time, followers of the earl invaded the district of Kinlochewe and carried off much plunder; however they were pursued by Kenneth, who was able to recover much of the loot and kill many of the invaders. In consequence, one of the earl's vassals, Leod Macgilleandrais, captured Kenneth. The Mackenzie chief was later executed in Inverness in 1346, and his lands of Kinlochewe were granted to his captor Leod Macgilleandrais for his service to the earl.[2]
Mackenzie stated that during the time when Kenneth was captured, Eilean Donan Castle was governed by Duncan Macaulay, who possessed the lands of Loch Broom. With the death of Kenneth, the earl was desirous to capture the dead chief's young son, Murdoch, as he had his father. Aware of this, Duncan sent his own son, and Murdoch to the safety of Macdougall of Lorn, who was a relative of the young Mackenzie chief. The earl narrowly missed capturing Murdoch, but was successful in capturing Duncan's son, and had him put to death in retaliation for his father's defence of the fortress of Eilean Donan against his own forces. Mackenzie noted that although Leod's lands of Kinlochewe were situated in-between Kintail and Loch Broom, which made a convenient base of operations to harass both districts, Duncan was successful in fending off all assaults on Eilean Donan.[3]
Cromartie stated that, Black Murdoch fled to his uncle, Macleod of Lewis, where he procured two birlinns and six score men, and sailed from Lewis to either Invereu in Loch Broom, or Kisseran in Loch Carron. Macleod of Lewis landed as well and met up with Black Murdoch and his company. In time, Black Murdoch learned that Leod planned a meeting at Kinlochewe, with the intention of marching on and laying siege to Eilean Donan Castle. Black Murdoch then marched his men to the location of the rendezvous and ambushed Leod and his companions. Leod was put to death for his part in the death of Macaulay of Loch Broom, at a place called "Achiluask", which the Earl of Cromartie noted was still call in his day "Fe-leod".[4]
In the late 19th century, John Henry Dixon related to a tradition of the Leod's death, and stated that Ath-nan-cean ("the ford of the heads") referred to the heads of those who were slain by Black Murdoch and his companions; these heads were thrown into the river at Kinlochewe, where the stream carried them down to the particular ford. This place-name is mentioned in the Ardintoul manuscript,[5] and it also appears in the Applecross manuscript as "a na kean".[7] Today it is known in English as Anancaun, and in Scottish Gaelic as Àth nan Ceann; it is located at .
Dixon stated that the spot where Leod is traditionally said to have met his end was located about three miles from Kinlochewe, "on the hill east of the Torridon road". Dixon called it in Gaelic Feith Leoid, and noted the place was shown on maps.[10] This place-name is mentioned by Cromartie as "Fe-leod",[4] it is mentioned in the Ardintoul manuscript,[5] and appears in the Applecross manuscript as "Fea leod".[7]
According to the Ardintoul manuscript Leod was survived by a son, Paul.[5] Several historians have equated this Paul with Paul Mactire, a figure who appears as a notorious freebooter in various clan traditions. Paul Mactire appears in contemporary records in the 1360s holding lands from the Earl of Ross in Easter Ross, as well as Gairloch, in Wester Ross.[11] [12] He also appears in a 15th-century genealogy, as the chief of Clan Gillanders[13] (although the name Leod is not given anywhere in his ancestry). It is unknown whether Paul Mactire's name equates to "Paul son of Tire", or "Paul the wolf"—both meanings are thought possible.[13]
. Alexander Mackenzie (historian) . History of the Mackenzies: With Genealogies of the Principal Families of the Name . New, revised, extended . 1894 . A. & W. Mackenzie . . M1.