Alasdair Crotach MacLeod
| Alasdair Crotach MacLeod | |
|---|---|
|
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| Born | 1450 |
| Died | 1547 |
| Resting place | Church of St Clement, Rodel, Harris |
| Predecessor | William Dubh (father) |
| Successor | William |
| Spouse(s) | daughter of Cameron of Locheil |
| Children | one son; one natural son; two daughters |
Alasdair Crotach MacLeod (Scottish Gaelic: Alasdair Crotach MacLeòid) (1450 – 1547) is considered to be the eighth chief of Scottish Clan MacLeod. He was the son of the seventh chief William Dubh and succeeded his father in 1480, following William Dubh's death at the Battle of Bloody Bay. He was the first MacLeod chief not to be buried on the island of Iona. The Scottish Gaelic word crotach means "humpbacked" and the nickname refers to wounds he received during battle which crippled him the rest of his life. Alasdair Crotach's tomb is one of the most magnificently carved tombs of its era in Scotland. He was succeeded by his son, William.
Alasdair Crotach was the son of William Dubh, seventh chief of Clan MacLeod. The Scottish Gaelic word crotach means "humpbacked". According to MacLeod tradition, Alasdair Crotach earned this nickname during a pitched battle in which he was severely wounded. In the late 15th century, Angus Og MacDonald, bastard son of John MacDonald, Earl of Ross, Lord of the Isles, attempted to depose his father. Angus was supported by all the branches of Clan Donald, as well as the MacLeods of Lewis. However, other island clans, such as the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan, the MacLeans and the MacNeils, supported John. The Bannatyne manuscript states that the opposing clans fought skirmishes throughout the Hebrides. One such skirmish took place on Skye between the MacDonalds and MacLeods when a large force of MacDonalds, led by "Evan MacKail", son of the chief of Clanranald, landed at Aird Bay with the intention of laying waste to MacLeod territory. At this particular time, William Dubh was away and his only son, Alasdair, rallied the clan's forces and marched them towards the MacDonalds who were encamped near their galleys. The opposing forces clashed with each other and Alasdair was wounded in the back by Evan MacKail, who wielded a battle axe. As the wounded Alasdair fell he grabbed hold of Evan MacKail and brought him to the ground as well. Alasdair then killed the MacDonald with his dirk and cut off the dead man's head as a trophy. The battle ended with the defeat of the MacDonalds, who lost most of their men, and ten galleys. The writer of the manuscript states that at the time of writing (about the 1830s), there were heaps of skulls and bones which could still be seen where the battle was said to have taken place.
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