Why are the Campbell clan hated so much?

Question

im a desendent of the Campbell clan and although ive never been to Scotland i have dated a scottish girl who was a decendent of the Mackay/Sutherland clans. When i went up to Sutherland country i found out that the Campbells seemed to be really hated up there, why is that?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

The Massacre of Glencoe occurred in Glen Coe, Scotland, early in the morning of 13 February 1692, during the era of the Glorious Revolution and Jacobitism. The massacre began simultaneously in three settlements along the glen - Invercoe, Inverrigan, and Achacon - although the killing took place all over the glen as fleeing MacDonalds were pursued. Thirty-eight MacDonalds from the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by the guests who had accepted their hospitality, on the grounds that the MacDonalds had not been prompt in pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange. Another forty women and children died of exposure after their homes were burned.

The Glencoe massacre became a propaganda piece for Jacobite sympathies which were to come to a head in the next generation in the Rising of 1745. In the Victorian era interest was revived and the massacre was romanticised in art and literature, such as Sir Walter Scott's "The Highland Widow". Due to the involvement of Argyll's regiment under Glenlyon's command, the massacre was regarded not as a government action, but as a consequence of the ancient MacDonald - Campbell rivalry.

Memory of this massacre has been kept alive by continued ill feeling between MacDonalds and Campbells — since the late 20th century the Clachaig Inn, a hotel and pub in Glencoe popular with climbers, has had a sign on its door saying "No Hawkers or Campbells".

Each year, on the 13th February, the Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh arranges an annual wreath laying ceremony at the memorial to the Massacre of Glencoe. Clansmen from Clan Donald, from across the world, attend the ceremony, along with local people. The memorial is situated in the village of Glencoe, about 200 metres (yards) from where the road through the village crosses the River Coe.

Ultimately, it has to be said that stories of ancient clan rivalries have only obscured the real horror of Glencoe. It was an act of official policy, conceived by a Secretary of State for Scotland, executed by a Scottish commander-in-chief, approved by the King, and carried out by a regiment in the British Army. Indeed, the Argyll Regiment was deliberately chosen by Dalrymple because he knew how their involvement would be perceived. Lowlanders, like Dalrymple, had oft expressed hatred of Highland 'barbarians'. At Glencoe this hatred finally acquired a murderous form.

Two brothers escaped to Ireland and changed their name to McKern or MacKern. Decendants moved to Argentina and Australia when the potato famine struck around 1850. Australian descendants include the late actor Leo McKern.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of…

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

There was so many good and informative answers, so i would like to thank everyone but this was by far the best answer and complete answer which also included a link for more information so a special thank you to you

Answer 2

History. Generally the Campbells opposed the highlanders. They supported the protestants and English. At Culloden, where there were more Scots on the English side than on the Scottish side, the Campbells fought on the side of the English.But, the bottom line is it is all politics. The Campbells were generally more successful than the highlanders so the highlanders hate and resented them.

Answer 3

Their bloody SOUP!

Answer 4

Think BETRAYAL to the highlanders!

Answer 5

They have always been hated as a result of the Glencoe Massacre

Source(s):

Wikipedia.org/Wiki/Glencoe_massacre

Answer 6

(google )the massacre of glencoe ,that will pretty much explain it

Answer 7

Ask a Macdonald!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

It goes back to the time of the king, German Geordie, to whom the protestant Campbells were loyal.
The king wished for his Scottish catholic opponents to be 'dealt with', and it was in this context that the Campbells, on a pretext of being caught in a storm while journeying, begged hospitality from the catholic MacDonalds. They were quartered with various MacDonald families, fed and given beds. During the night, however, they rose and slaughtered their hosts.
It is one of those things that you would imagine might fade somewhat in the course of the last 300 years, but most Scots have a long memory for shameful actions such as this, and so the - 'hatred' is too strong - ill-will persists, even to this day.

Answer 9

The Campbells were a very astute clan politically and tended to support whoever was most beneficial to them. This got them a bad name as they sometimes stood against other clans in Scotland. It also advanced their status with the establishment but not their fellow Highlanders.

In Glencoe it says on a local pub door - "No Tinks or Campbells allowed"

Campbell nickname - twisted mooth - ie never tell the truth.

Poor you - I wouldn't boast about your lineage.

Answer 10

I feel your pain! My husband is descended from the Campbells also. But the other people are corrrect, it's because of the Glencoe Massacre! They're considered murderers. It doesn't mattter it's 2007.Anyway, Hi, cousin!

Source(s):

personal experience

Answer 11

It never ceases to amaze me that people always refer to the "massacre" of Glencoe. The Campbells were sent on a mission by their monarch.
When the British attacked the Germans in the night during world war 2, or the Greeks conned the Trojans with their wooden horse- these are said to be victories.
The treatment of the Campbells is the same as that of the native American Indian. When the cavalry won - it was a great victory - when the Indians won it was always a massacre.

Answer 12

Probably small minded people with nothing better to do than hold a grudge about past actions that they were not even there for.

While its important to remember the past for learning and understanding, it is unforgivable to use it to judge another person in the present. Surely that makes them no better than the people who they claim to hate.

To do this can be the beginnings of racism. One person in history who did this was Hitler.

Answer 13

The Campbells are disliked because of the clan's involvement in the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, when the lateness of the head of the MacDonald clan in swearing allegiance to the new King, William of Orange, resulted in a massacre of the MacDonalds by their guests. One Captain Robert Campbell was the commander of around 120 men who were billeted in Glencoe and under the hospitality of the MacDonalds. The result of his direct orders was the murder of 38 MacDonalds in their homes and as they attempted to flee, and the death from exposure of a further 40 women and children since their homes were burned to the ground.

Incidentally, the name means "crooked mouth" (from Gaelic 'cam' (crooked or distorted) and 'beul' (mouth)).

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of…

Answer 14

My family too are desendants of the Campbell clan. Aparently the killed people while there we defenceless in their sleep. I believe there is a pub somewhere in Scotland that has the sign "No Cats, No Dogs, No Campbells" on the door. We must have been really hated. Oh well, at least we weren't around back then.

Answer 15

The campbells were responsible for the massacre of the macdonalds at glencoe. The slaughter occured AFTER the Campbells accepted the hospitality of the macdonald clan so they are seen as murderous sleekit wicked folk!!!!!!! Scotland has a long memory & like the elephant so doesnt forget. Also if you search for information on the duke of sutherlands estates & the highland clearances you will find out why the highlanders feel the way they do. Hope this helps to explain a little bit for you

Answer 16

The Glencoe murder just about sums it up, so if you do take that job in Inverness? you'll be better off pretending to be English, but only just!

Answer 17

Campbells are the betrayers of the highlanders and traitors to their country

Answer 18

In the mists and myths of time the Campbells and the MacDonalds were brothers who fell out with each other and a feud began. In a short battle 300 Campbells were killed by the MacDonalds. They never fought on the same side during the Jacobite period.

At Glen Coe it was a British army or government unit under the command of the sole Campbell there during the infamous massacre. He protested his orders and involvement but was left with no choice but to obey himself or face punishment.

It is recorded that most of the troops involved actually allowed more people to escape than was actually killed, however, the truth of the situation is often ignored, i.e. the MacDonald's deliberately defied the King's orders and gave their vow of alleigiance late, hence a lesson was to be taught to those who defied the King.

The MacDonald's also quite conveniently forget to mention that a short time before the massacre that they invaded their neighbour's land and killed some of his workers, destroyed his crops, and killed some of his family, but revenge was not sought by the landowner, i.e. Glenlyon of Argyll, who was a Campbell.

The politics of Scotland was such that folklore was like the newsmedia of today and each clan liked to form its own version of historical events; the truth was irrelevant as long as the clan telling the story came out smelling of roses.

Little has changed in Scottish politics today!

Answer 19

find out about cullodin.Campbell's were supposedly known for violence then

Answer 20

The Campbells were hated a few hundred years ago because they were responsible for the slaughter of the McDonald clan at Glencoe when they took them by surprise after pretending friendship.