The Massacre of Glencoe, (February 13, 1692), in Scottish history, refers to the treacherous slaughter of members of the MacDonald clan of Glencoe by soldiers under Archibald Campbell, 10th earl of Argyll. Many Scottish clans had remained loyal to King James II after he was replaced on the English and Scottish thrones by William III in 1689. In August 1691 the government offered an indemnity to all chiefs who should take an oath of allegiance before January 1, 1692. “Letters of fire and sword,” authorizing savage attacks upon recalcitrants, were drawn up in anticipation of widespread refusals; the chiefs, however, took the oath. Alexander MacDonald of Glencoe postponed his submission until December 31, 1691, and was then unable to take his oath until January 6 because there was no magistrate at Fort William to receive it. Sir John Dalrymple, William’s secretary of state for Scotland, thereupon issued an order under the king’s signature for military punishment of the MacDonalds. More than 100 of Argyll’s soldiers, who had been quartered amicably upon the MacDonalds for more than a week, suddenly attacked them. Many of the clan escaped, but the chief, 33 other men, 2 women, and 2 children were killed. John Campbell, earl of Breadalbane and Holland, a neighbour and an enemy of the MacDonalds, was widely suspected of planning the attack but was not its main instigator; his imprisonment in 1695 was for earlier involvement with the Jacobites.
According to the Scotland Welcomes You website (
https://scotlandwelcomesyou.com/glencoe-massacre/) describes the area as follows: "If you are ever fortunate enough to be driving through Glencoe, pull over in a quiet spot (there are many of them) get out of the car, have a look around you, and just listen. Now it could have been my imagination, but I got an eerie feeling …..
The haunting views are hypnotising! Listening to the silence, that strange silence, it seemed as though it was whispering to me, recounting the events of past centuries.
This is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and it’s really sad to think of what happened here, but unfortunately history cannot be changed!"
That was very much the feeling we got after watching the video at the Glencoe Visitors Center and seeing the immediate countryside up close . I hope you enjoy the images of this sacred place and the beautiful surroundings. More info at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/union/trails_union_glencoe.shtmlMark