Maclean Skirmish
The Maclaines of Lochbuie occasionally feuded with the Macleans of Duart, but joined forces with them when treatened. One feud was put to rest when the Lochbuie chief and his followers came upon the Duart bunch in the woods. Duart and his followers were asleep, exhausted after losing to the Lochbuie clan in a skirmish that day. Lochbuie's followers wanted to attack immediately but the chief chose to take another approach. Instead, the Lochbuie chief crept up on the Duart chief and twisted Maclean's hair around his dirk before sticking it in the ground. When the Duart chief awoke to find his hair pinned to the ground he recognized the dagger to be that of the Maclaine chief. He was so moved by the act of mercy that he decided to end the feud immediately.
Two Clans, One Family
When the Lord of the Isles, granted charters to both Hector and Lachlan, sons of Iain Dubh MacGillean, the brothers became feudally independent; each a Baron in his own right, effectively and legally creating two separate clans. Both charters were later ratified by the King, hence today we speak of Maclean of Duart and Maclean of Lochbuie.
Both Lochbuie and Duart are recognised today by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs and Lord Lyon.
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