Clan Skene
| Clan Skene | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| MacSgian[1] | |||
| Motto | Virtutis regia merces (A palace the reward of bravery)[1] | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| District | Aberdeenshire | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| Dugald Skene of Skene[2] | |||
| Chief of the Name and Armsof Skene | |||
| Historic seat | Skene Castle | ||
| |||
Clan Skeneis aScottish clan.[3]
History[edit]
Origins of the clan[edit]
Traditional origins[edit]
The traditional origin of the Clan Skene is found in a legend of theClan Robertsonin the eleventh century.[3]It is said that a younger son of the Robertson chief of Straun saved the life of the king by killing a savage wolf with nothing but hisSgian-dubh.[3]He was rewarded with lands inAberdeenshirewhich he named after the weapon (Sgian/Skene) that had brought him good fortune, and the family thereafter took the name of the lands.[3]The feat is commemorated in the clan chief's shield which displays three wolves' heads impaled on daggers orDirks.[3]
Recorded origins[edit]
The first bearer of the name on record was John de Skeen, who lived during the reign ofMalcolm III of Scotland.[3]After Malcolm died, Skeen supported the claim ofDonald Banewho was a rival to the succession ofEdgar, King of Scotland.[3]As a result his lands were forfeited and were only restored when the Skenes joined the army ofAlexander I of Scotlandwhich marched against rebels in the north in 1118.[3]
John de Skeen's grandson, John de Skene, held the lands during the reign ofAlexander III of Scotland.[3]
Wars of Scottish Independence[edit]
John de Skene's son was Patrick who appeared on theRagman Rollsof 1296, submitting toEdward I of England.[3]Despite this the Skenes staunchly supportedRobert the Bruceand after his victory the Skene lands were erected into a barony.[3]
15th and 16th centuries[edit]
In 1411 Adam de Skene was killed at theBattle of Harlaw.[3]Four generations later Alexander Skene de Skene is amongst those listed as dead on the field of theBattle of Floddenin 1513.[3]Another Skene laird was killed at theBattle of Pinkie Cleughin 1547.[3]
Other prominent branches of the Clan Skene were the Skenes of Curriehill and Skenes of Hallyards.[3]John Skene, Lord Curriehillwas a prominent lawyer of the sixteenth century who in 1594 was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench.[3]He was knighted byJames VI of Scotland.[3]His son was created aBaronet of Nova Scotiain 1626.[3]His second son was John Skene of Hallyards who rose to high judicial offices as Lord Clerk Register.[3]Philip Skeneof the Skene of Hallyards foundedSkenesboroughon the shores ofLake Champlain,then inCanada.[3]
17th century and Thirty Years' War[edit]
The Skenes were forced into exile for their support ofCharles I of England.[3]The clan chief then took service with the Swedish armies underGustavus Adolphus of Swedenduring theThirty Years' War.[3]
19th century[edit]
The direct line of the chiefs of Clan Skene died out in 1827 and the estates passed to a nephew,James Duff, 4th Earl Fife.[3]
Another prominent branch of the Clan Skene were the Skenes of Rubislaw.[3]James Skene of Rubislawwas a close friend of the novelistWalter Scott,and is said to have provided Scott with some inspiration for bothQuentin DurwardandIvanhoe.[3]
William Forbes Skeneis a celebrated Scottish writer and historian who was appointedhistoriographer royal for Scotlandin 1881.[3]
Clan castle and seat[edit]
Skene Castle was the seat of the chiefs of Clan Skene until the main line died out in 1827 and it passed to the Earl of Fife.
Clan chief[edit]
On 17 February 1994Danus George Moncrieff Skeneof Skene was recognised by theLord Lyon King of ArmsasChiefof the Name and Arms of Skene.[3]His son, Dugald, was also recognised in the matriculation as the heir apparent.[3]Danus Skene had matriculated his arms as Skene of Halyards in 1992.[3]In 1672 John Skene of Halyards had matriculated his arms in the Lord Lyon's register and it was established that he was lineally descended from chief James Skene of that Ilk who died in around 1604.[3]In Danus Skene's petition to the Lord Lyon he argued that upon the death of Alexander Skene in 1827 with no male issue, the succession passed to the next most senior line, the Skenes of Halyards, which the Lord Lyon accepted.[3]After his death in 2016, his only son Dugald became chief.
Clan septs[edit]
Septsof the Clan Skene include: Cariston, Dyce, Hallyard and Carnie.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abClan Skene Profilescotclans. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ^Current Chief Dugald Skene,Clan Skene Association.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajWay, George and Squire, Romily.Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia.(Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, TheStanding Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 324 - 325.
