Clan MacLea.co.uk

The Official Home of the Clan McLea - the Highland Livingstones

Cuduilig - the Progenitor of the Macleans

In the History of the Men of Alba, amongst the Clans supposed to be descended from the Kings of Dal Riada in Scotland, are listed the Macleans whose pedigree includes

“Gilleeoin mic Mecraith mic Maoilsruthain mic Neill mic Cuduilig, Abbot of Lismore, (Conduilig i. Ab Leasamoir ) mic Raingee”

who was able to appanage his heirs in Morvern, then part of the Abbey Lands. Raingee was supposedly descended from Lorn, the brother of Fergus MacErc. Cuduilig was probably brought in by Somerled in 1150 on the basis that he was a suitable man of the Fine Grin, or Tribe of the Land.

The Macleans were originally supporters of the McDougalls, Lords of Lorn but later transferred their allegiance to the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles, and became one of their most powerful vassals with large tracts of land on Mull.

In 1527 Duart abandoned his wife, Elizabeth (who had tried to end the feuding with the Stewarts), in chains on Lady’s Rock. She was rescued by some fishermen who took her to Bachuil, who reunited her with her father, the Earl of Argyll. Some days later Maclean arrived to break the sad news of the death of his daughter to the Earl. He himself appeared inconsolable at the loss of his wife until, suddenly, she was ushered in to his presence to put an end to his hypocrisy. Duart's wife lived for many a day after her escape from the Lady's Rock, but he later paid for his cruelty with his life.