William Cleireach MacLeod
| William Cleireach MacLeod | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1365 |
| Died |
c.1402 Castle Camus, Skye |
| Resting place | Iona |
| Predecessor | Iain Ciar (father) |
| Successor | Iain Borb (son) |
| Children | 3 sons & many illegitimate children |
William Cleireach MacLeod (Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam Cleireach MacLeòid) (1365 – c.1402) is considered to be fifth chief of Clan MacLeod. He was a younger son of chief Iain Ciar and was originally intended to enter the church, as his nickname shows; however, on the death of his elder brother, William Cleireach became the heir to the chiefship. As chief of the clan, he led his followers in attacks against the Frasers and defended his lands against the MacDonalds. He did not live a long life and was said to have been buried on the isle of Iona with his predecessors.
The Bannatyne manuscript states that William Cleireach was the second son of Iain Ciar, fourth chief of Clan MacLeod. William Cleireach was originally bred for the church, having been educated in a monastery abroad. For this reason, he was known as "the clerk". His elder brother was killed at a feast and upon his death, William Cleireach returned home. As Iain Ciar's only surviving son and that William Cleireach succeeded his father upon his death, in 1392. The Bannatyne manuscript records that at the time of William Cleireach's succession, the MacLeods and Frasers were quarrelling as they had been for years previous; in consequence, William invaded the Fraser controlled lands of Aird. The MacLeods were successful in this particular venture and carried off much loot from their invasion.
According to the early 20th-century clan historian R.C. MacLeod, the first record of conflict between the MacLeods and MacDonalds took place during the tenure of William Cleireach. MacLeod stated that Alexander III had originally placed the isles of Skye and Lewis into the earldom of Ross; making the Earl of Ross superiors to the MacLeods. However, in 1335, these lands had been granted by charter to John MacDonald, who would later become the Lord of the Isles. Later, in 1344, the grant of Lewis was confirmed, but Skye reverted to the Earl of Ross. When William Cleireach succeeded to the chiefship in 1392, he then held his lands under three feudal superiors—in Glenelg, as a vassal of the king of Scots; in Skye, as a vassal of the Lord of the Isles; in Skye as a vassal to the Earl of Ross. MacLeod also stated that matters were further complicated by the fact that Donald, who succeeded to the Lordshop of the Isles in 1380, claimed that Skye had been given to him in terms of his marriage to a daughter of the Earl of Ross; and in consequence he claimed that William Cleireach was his own vassal on both Harris and Skye.
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