Clan Ogilvy

Clan Ogilvy Crest badge Crest: A naked woman holding a portcullis Motto: A Fin - "To the end" Profile

Chief David Ogilvy 13th Earl of Airlie, the chief of Clan Ogilvy Historic seat Airlie Castle

Septs of Clan Ogilvy Airlie, Findlater, Gilchrist, MacGilchrist, Milne, Richardson, Storey[1] Clan branches Ogilvy of Airlie (chiefs) Ogilvy of Seafield Ogilvy of Findlater Allied clans Clan Oliphant Clan Seton Clan Gordon Clan Forbes Rival clans Clan Robertson Clan Lindsay Clan Campbell

Clan Ogilvy / Ogilvie is a Highland Scottish clan.

History

Origins of the clan

"Ogilvie". A plate illustrated by R. R. McIan, from James Logan's The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, published in 1845, showing the dress tartan of the Ogilvies.

The Ogilvys are one of the most distinguished families in Scotland and take their name from Gillebride the second son of Gille Chriosd, Celtic Earl of Angus. The name means 'descendant of Gillebride', and is one of the rather few Scottish names to feature the 'O so common in Irish names.

Patrick de Olgilvy appears on the Ragman Roll swearing fealty to King Edward I of England in 1296.

Wars of Scottish Independence

However Patrick's two sons supported King Robert I of Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Ogilvy lands are found in Angus where the Ogilvy family were made hereditary sheriffs in the 14th and 15th centuries.

15th century & clan conflicts

In the 15th century the Tower of Airlie was built as the castle of the Chief of the Ogilvies. In 1394 a clan battle took place between Clan Robertson and the Clan Ogilvy, during a cattle raid on Angus. Sir Walter Ogilvy was slain at this battle, though his son became the Earl of Mar who commanded the Duke of Albany's forces at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411.

The Clan Ogilvy, supported by men from the Clan Oliphant, Clan Seton, Clan Gordon and by the Clan Forbes of Pitsligo fought at the Battle of Arbroath on 24 January 1445. Their enemy was the Master of Crawford and his Clan Lindsay.^[2]

During the fifteenth century the Clan Lindsay lost much of their land due to feuding with the Clan Ogilvy. Chief Alexander Lindsay, the 4th Earl of Crawford, also known as the Tiger Earl and Earl Beardie was badly defeated by the Clan Ogilvy and the Clan Gordon under the Earl of Huntly at the Battle of Brechin in 1452. Coordinates: 56°45′45″N 2°37′17″W / 56.7626°N 2.62127°W / 56.7626; -2.62127

16th century & Anglo-Scottish wars

In the 16th century, during the Anglo-Scottish Wars against the English the Clan Ogilvy fought at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 where the Chief's 4th eldest son called James was killed.

17th century & Civil War

arms of the Earl of Seafield, a branch of Clan Ogilvy

arms of the Earl of Findlater, a branch of Clan Ogilvy

During the Civil War the Clan Ogilvy supported the Royalist cause. They fought under James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose and fought with him at the Battle of Inverlochy (1645), the Battle of Kilsyth and Battle of Philiphaugh in 1648 where James Ogilvy 2nd Earl of Airlie was captured. The Earl was imprisoned in St Andrews Castle but escaped one night before the day of his execution, disguised in his sister's clothes. The 'Bonnie Hoose o' Airlie' was destroyed in the Civil War by the Clan Campbell and this tragic incident is described in a ballad from the time.

18th century & Jacobite Uprisings

The Ogilvy clan supported the Jacobite Uprisings in 1715 to 1716 and 1745 to 1746. A regiment from the Ogilvy Clan Lord Ogilvy's Regiment fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. After their defeat, the chief of the Ogilvy Clan escaped to France and entered royal service there and founded le régiment d'Ogilvie . At this time the title of Earl of Airlie was lost and not restored by parliament until 1896.

The clan today

David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie is the present chief of the Ogilvie clan serves as Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. Royal links were also reinforced when Angus Ogilvy, the brother of the chief, married HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent. There are many people of the Ogilvy/Ogilvie family living in various places all over the world, such as Australia, Norway and New Zealand.

Castles

• Auchindoun Castle was acquired by the Ogilvys in 1489.
• Airlie Castle, Airlie, Angus was home of the Ogilvy Earls of Airlie.^[3][4]
• Cortachy Castle.^[5][6]
• Banff Castle.

See also

• Ogilvie, for a list of notable Ogilvies
• Ogilvy, for a list of notable Ogilvys
• Scottish clan

References

1. ^ http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/ntor/ogilvy.html
2. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20091027094723/http://www.geocities.com/clanoliphant/arbroath.html
3. ^ http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst5170.html
4. ^ http://www.castlesontheweb.com/photoarchive/index.php?action=album&id=1173&sessionid=
5. ^ http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst10079.html
6. ^ http://www.castlesontheweb.com/photoarchive/index.php?action=album&id=1171&sessionid=

External links

• Clan Ogilvy at Electric Scotland.com