{{Short description|Scottish clan chief}} {{other people||Iain MacLeod (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{infobox person | name = Iain Borb MacLeod | image = Arms of "Le sire de bes" from the Armorial de Berry.jpg | caption = Arms of MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan, dating to the tenure of Iain Borb's chiefship. | birth_date = 1392 | death_date = 1442 | death_place = Pabbay, Harris | resting_place = Iona, Scotland | known_for = The 6th Chief of Clan MacLeod | predecessor = William Cleireach (father) | successor = William Dubh (second son) | spouse = Margaret, grddau. of the Earl of Douglas | children = 2 sons, 2 daughters. }}
'''Iain Borb MacLeod''' (Scottish Gaelic: '''Iain Borb MacLeòid'''; Anglicised as: '''John "the Turbulent" MacLeod''') (1392–1442) is considered to be the sixth chief of Clan MacLeod. He is the first MacLeod chief to which heraldry can be assigned. Clan tradition states that he was a minor at the time of his father's death and for six years an incompetent guardian led the clan to its lowest point in clan history. After reaching the age of maturity, Iain Borb managed to acquire some of the clan's lost lands and led his clan and his kinsmen (the MacLeods of Lewis) in the Battle of Harlaw, in 1411. Iain Borb was wounded in the head during the conflict; the wound never completely healed and confined him to his home on Pabbay for much of his life. Tradition states that he died when this wound re-opened during a fencing/wrestling match. There is some disagreement as to which of his sons was the eldest; however, his son William Dubh was the one who finally succeeded to the chiefship, following his death in 1442.
==Life== Iain Borb was the son, and successor of William Cleireach, fifth chief of Clan MacLeod. According to the ''Bannatyne manuscript'', he was only ten years old at the time of his father's death. The manuscript relates how during his minority a guardian was chosen to lead the clan. This man's name was Iain Mishealbhach ('John the Unlucky') who was a cousin of the young Iain Borb. During Iain Mishealbhach's tenure as guardian, the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan were at their lowest point in their history. Many of the clan opposed the selection of Iain Mishealbhach, favouring instead Tormod Coil who slew Alastair Cannoch at the Battle of Sligachan. Tormod Coil defied the guardian and seized part of the lands of Glenelg.<ref name="MacLeodRC"/>
The manuscript continues that the during this era, the MacDonalds took full advantage of the disorderedness of the MacLeods. A force of MacDonalds landed at Sleat and took possession of the castles of Dunscaith and Camus and in the process drove the MacLeods out of Sleat. They also invaded North Uist and fought the MacLeods at Cailus, where the MacLeods were completely defeated and further lands were gained by the invaders. Following these victories, the MacDonalds besieged Dunvegan Castle, where the widow of William Cleireach was living at the time. The chief of the MacLeods of Lewis, however, came in force and relieved the castle, defeating the MacDonalds at Fiorlig. Torquil then took the family to Lewis where they remained until Iain Borb reached the age of maturity.<ref name="MacLeodRC"/> [[File:Pabbay and boat.jpg|left|thumb|Pabbay, Harris, where Iain Borb spent much of his life and where he died in 1442.]] Iain Borb's first act as chief, according to the manuscript, was to hang Iain Mishealbhach, confiscate the dead man's lands, and banish his family. Later, Iain Borb made an agreement with Domhnall, Lord of the Isles, in which the MacDonalds gave back the lands they won from the MacLeods—except the lands on North Uist. Iain Borb swore his vassalage to the Lord of the Isles and in accordance to this agreement fought under the MacDonalds at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. During the battle, Iain Borb commanded all the MacLeods (including the MacLeods of Lewis) and the manuscript states that the MacLeods had the honour of fighting on the right of Domhnall's forces.<ref name="MacLeodRC"/> Early 20th century Clan Donald historians A. and A. Macdonald, however, stated that both clans of MacLeods were in the main body of men commanded by Domhnall and that the right wing was made up of MacLeans, commanded by Hector MacLean of Duart (Red Hector of the Battles).<ref name="Macdonald">{{cite book|first1=Angus|last1=Macdonald|first2=Archibald|last2=Macdonald|title=The Clan Donald|year=1900|publisher=The Northern Counties Publishing Company, Ltd|location=Inverness|volume=1|url=https://archive.org/details/clandonald01macd|pages=[https://archive.org/details/clandonald01macd/page/156 156], 160}}</ref> The manuscript states how Iain Borb was wounded in the head during the conflict. The wound never entirely healed and for the rest of his life it would bleed whenever he became agitated. For the most part, Iain Borb lived at his castle on Pabbay, where he renovated and enlarged the fortress there. The manuscript tells how during a fencing match with his foster-brother, Somerled MacConn, Iain Borb's wound began to bleed so profusely that he bled to death.<ref name="MacLeodRC"/>
[[File:Iona Abbey - altar.jpg|thumb|The choir of Iona Abbey. The stone said to represent a MacLeod is visible on the floor in the middle. The effigy on the left (north) is of a Mackinnon, the one on the right is a Mackenzie.<ref name="morrison"/>]]
The ''Bannatyne manuscript'' states that the first seven chiefs of Clan MacLeod were buried at Iona.<ref name="MacLeodRC-30"/> Iona Abbey and church date from the 12th century when it was built by Somerled's son Ranald. The choir of Iona Abbey, may date from a later period. Within the centre of the choir there is a large stone which once contained a monumental brass, traditionally said to have been a MacLeod.<ref name="morrison">{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=John |title=Behold Iona |url=https://archive.org/details/beholdionaguides00morruoft |year=1947 |publisher=Iona Community |location=Glasgow |page=[https://archive.org/details/beholdionaguides00morruoft/page/14 14] }}</ref> The stone formed a matrix which at one time contained the brass inlay (tradition states it was a silver inlay). It is the largest carved stone on the island, measuring {{convert|7|ft|9.25|in|m|2}} by {{convert|3|ft|10|in|m|2}}.<ref name="MacMillan">{{cite book |last=MacMillan |first=Archibald |title=Iona: Its History and Antiquities |url=https://archive.org/details/ionaitshistoryan00macmuoft |year=1898 |publisher=Houlston & Sons |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ionaitshistoryan00macmuoft/page/82 82]–83 }}</ref> R.C. MacLeod speculated that perhaps the clan's founder, Leod, and five of his successors were buried beneath—however, in his opinion the fourth chief, Iain Ciar, was buried elsewhere.<ref name="MacLeodRC-30">{{cite book |last=MacLeod |first=Roderick Charles |title=The MacLeods of Dunvegan |url=https://archive.org/details/macleodsofdunveg00macl |year=1927 |publisher=Privately printed for the Clan MacLeod Society |location=Edinburgh |page=[https://archive.org/details/macleodsofdunveg00macl/page/30 30] }}</ref>
==Issue== The ''Bannatyne manuscript'' records that Iain Borb married a granddaughter of the Earl of Douglas.<ref name="MacLeodRC"/> Several 20th-century clan historians named her Margaret.<ref name="I14">{{cite web |url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/ACMS/D0013/I14.html |title=John Iain Borb Macleod (VI Chief) |accessdate=10 January 2010 |work=www.macleodgenealogy.org |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924094447/http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/ACMS/D0013/I14.html |archivedate=24 September 2011 }}</ref> The couple had two sons, named ''William'' and ''Norman'' (''Tormod''), as well as two daughters. The manuscript maintains that Norman was the elder of the brothers, but that he died young and left a young son who was too young to succeed to the chiefship.<ref name="MacLeodRC"/> In fact, William Dubh succeeded Iain Borb as chief of the clan.<ref name="I14"/> R.C. MacLeod considered the fact that the clan considered William chief and not guardian was evidence that William was in fact the elder brother.<ref name="MacLeodRC"/> A. Morrison stated that Norman was probably an illegitimate son of Iain Borb and that he was considerably older than William, since Norman led the clan in battle in 1428. According to Morrison, Norman was killed in 1429 and that his posthumous son was the progenitor of the MacLeods of Waternish. D. MacKinnon stated that he led the MacLeods and was slain at the battle in Lochaber in 1429, supporting Alexander, Lord of the Isles against James I. MacKinnon stated that he married a daughter of Chisholm of Strathglass, and by her had his son, John.<ref name="I15"/>
Morrison stated that Iain Borb's daughters were both born in wedlock.<ref name="I15">{{cite web |url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/ACMS/D0014/I15.html |title=Norman Macleod (of Arnisdale) |accessdate=10 January 2010 |work=www.macleodgenealogy.org }}</ref> According to MacKinnon, one of the daughters, Margaret, married Roderick MacLeod of Lewis (6th clan chief).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/ACMS/D0032/I231.html |title=Margaret Macleod |accessdate=10 January 2010 |work=www.macleodgenealogy.org }}</ref> MacLeod stated that the other daughter married Lachlan MacLean, of Duart (7th chief of Clan MacLean).<ref name="MacLeodRC">{{cite book |last=MacLeod |first=Roderick Charles |title=The MacLeods of Dunvegan |url=https://archive.org/details/macleodsofdunveg00macl |year=1927 |publisher=Privately printed for the Clan MacLeod Society |location=Edinburgh |pages=[https://archive.org/details/macleodsofdunveg00macl/page/60 60]–67 }}</ref> The late 19th-century clan historian A.M. Sinclair stated that her name was ''Finvola'' and noted that the couple had two sons, Neil and John Garbh.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sinclair |first=Alexander Maclean |title=The Clan Gillean |url=https://archive.org/details/clangillean00sincuoft |year=1899 |publisher=Haszard and Moore |location=Charlottetown |page=[https://archive.org/details/clangillean00sincuoft/page/248 248] }}</ref> However, several years earlier another late 19th century Clan MacLean historian, J.P. MacLean named Lachlan's wife as "Fionnaghal, daughter of William MacLeod of Harris".<ref>{{cite book |last=MacLean |first=John Patterson |authorlink=John Patterson MacLean |title=A history of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period; including a genealogical account of some of the principal families together with their heraldry, legends, superstitions, etc |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofclanmac00macl |year=1889 |publisher=R. Clarke & Co. |location=Cincinnati |page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofclanmac00macl/page/46 46] }}</ref>
==Heraldry== Iain Borb is the earliest MacLeod chief to which heraldry can be assigned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/Research/APMacLeod.html |title=The Ancestry of Leod |last=MacLeod |first=Andrew P. |year=2000 |accessdate=10 January 2010 |work=www.macleodgenealogy.org |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727051958/http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/Research/APMacLeod.html |archivedate=27 July 2011 }}</ref> The coat of arms of the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan appear in the mid 15th century roll of arms ''Armorial de Berry'' (although the armorial actually lists the arms as those of "Le sire de bes").<ref>{{cite journal |last=Clouston |first=J. Storer |authorlink=Storer Clouston |date=1937–38 |title=The Armorial De Berry. (Scottish Section) |journal=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |volume=72 |url=http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_072/72_084_114.pdf |pages=84–114 |doi=10.9750/PSAS.072.84.114 |s2cid=167008260 |archive-date=11 June 2007 |access-date=12 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611141549/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_072/72_084_114.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The blazon is: ''azure, a castle triple-towered argent''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/Mitchell/berry.html |title=Armorial de Berry |accessdate=23 December 2009 |work=www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219221642/http://heraldry-scotland.co.uk/Mitchell/berry.html |archivedate=February 19, 2009 }}</ref> The castle may represent the seat of the chiefs—Dunvegan Castle, located on Skye.<ref name="ref-Sellar">{{cite web|url=http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/Research/Sellar.html |last=Sellar |first=William David Hamilton |authorlink=David Sellar |title=The Ancestry of the MacLeods Reconsidered |year=1998 |accessdate=8 December 2009 |work=www.macleodgenealogy.org |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513072921/http://www.macleodgenealogy.org/Research/Sellar.html |archivedate=13 May 2008 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Clan MacLeod}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macleod, Iain Borb}} Category:1392 births Category:1442 deaths Iain Category:Deaths from bleeding Category:Accidental deaths in Scotland Category:Burials at Iona Abbey