Clan Buchan
| Clan Buchan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Buchan, Buchanach | |||
| Motto | Non inferior secutus | ||
| Profile | |||
| District | Buchan | ||
| Chief | |||
 |
|||
| David Buchan of Auchmacoy | |||
| The Chief of Clan Buchan | |||
| Seat | Auchmacoy House | ||
|
|||
Clan Buchan is a Scottish clan. The Clan Buchan are of no relation to the Clan Buchanan despite their similar name. The name Buchan is also considered a sept of the Clan Cumming (Comyn).
The name Buchan is derived from the district of Buchan, in the north east of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire. The ancient Mormaerdom and Earldom of Buchan came into the hands of the Clan Comyn, but they later lost it after they were defeated by Robert the Bruce. The title of Earl of Buchan then went to Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, who was also known as the Wolf of Badenoch. The geographical name of Buchan was used by notable inhabitants of the district even though they may not have had a provable connection to the Earls of Buchan.
The historian, Black, lists one Ricardus de Buchan as a clerk to the bishopric of Aberdeen in 1207. Before 1281 William Buchan held land in Aberdeen. In 1296 Sir Thomas de Boghan appears in the Ragman Rolls giving homage to Edward I of England. Sir Thomas's lands were around Edinburgh, and his seal includes an eight rayed figure which may represent the shining sun, which also forms part of the clan chief's crest.
It is not known definitively when the Buchans gained their lands of Auchmacoy. However, in 1446 Andrew Buchan of Achmakwy was amongst those appointed to settle the boundaries of the lands of St Peter's Hospital. Auchmacoy is believed to have been in the possession of the family from the beginning of the 14th century. However it was not until 1503 when Andrew Buchan, reckoned the second chief of Clan Buchan, received a charter for the lands from James IV of Scotland.
The Buchan Barons of Auchmacoy were staunch royalists and supporters of the House of Stuart.Thomas Buchan who was the third son of chief James Buchan of Auchmacoy, was a professional soldier who fought in both France and Holland. He served in Douglas's Scots Regiment that was raised for the king of France. In 1686 he was commissioned as colonel in the Earl of Mar’s regiment by James VII of Scotland. He later joined John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee. After Dundee was killed at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689 Buchan was appointed as commander-in-chief of all Jacobite forces in Scotland and received his commission from the king in Ireland. General Buchan harried the enemy with his force of twelve hundred foot soldiers. However, on 1 May 1690 he was surprised and defeated by a strong government force under General Hugh Mackay at the Battle of Cromdale. Buchan however escaped and joined forces with the Clan Farquharson who encouraged him to take the offensive again and they marched from Abergeldie to the Mearns. He was opposed by the Master of Forbes who had a strong force of cavalry, but Buchan dispersed his troops to give the appearance of numerical superiority and Forbes retreated to Aberdeen, causing panic in the city. General Hugh Mackay and his forces then marched to intercept Buchan and as a result the Highlanders under Buchan began to drift away.
...
Wikipedia