The traditional Scottish Clan Buchannan has been with out a chief because the seventeenth century. Now, the rightful inheritor to the clan has been topped chief in a ceremony dripping with archetypes from Scottish historical past.

Clan Buchanan was first recorded in 1225 AD. The identify seems on a document issued by the Earl of Lennox granting “Sir Absalon of Buchanan” lands on the jap shore of Loch Lomond in western Scotland. Nevertheless, in line with the official Clan Buchanan website, the origin fantasy claims “the primary laird” was chief or king Anselan O Kyan, of the clan Ó Catháin in north Ulster, County Londonderry, Eire.

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For his companies combating Danish Vikings in 1014 AD Anselan acquired the lands of Buchanan from King Malcolm II. The identify “Mac a Chanonaich” (Buchanan) is claimed to have been derived from “Macauselan” (son of Anselan).

Nevertheless, DNA evaluation has proven that the Clan Buchanan was in existence “properly earlier than the yr 1000 (AD) and presumably going means past that,” explains the Clan Buchanan Society International. “There’s a robust DNA hyperlink to the Clan Gregor which appears to point a standard ancestor across the yr 400 AD).”

The clans of Scotland reunited this weekend for the inauguration of the primary Buchanan Clan Chief for over 340 years. #Scottish #clans

— Historical past Scotland (@HistoryScotland) October 10, 2022

5 Million Clan Members With out a Chief

In the present day, Clan Buchanan has round 5 million members throughout the globe, reported the Evening Standard. Nevertheless, the clan has been with out a chief since 1681 when John Buchanan died with out leaving a male inheritor. Members from ten Scottish clans got here collectively final week in Callander, within the Scottish Highlands, for the primary time in 240 years to witness the inauguration of the brand new “true inheritor” of the clan, John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan.

“It’s implausible to be in Scotland representing Clan Buchanan members from the USA,” defined Kevin Buchanan, vp of the Clan Buchanan Society based mostly in California. John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan, the brand new clan chief, is the supervisor of Cambusmore Property and is the daddy of 4 kids. A report on Scottish Television mentioned Baillie-Hamilton’s inauguration as clan chief represents “a turning level in our clan’s historical past.”

John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan, the brand new Chief of Clan Buchanan. (The Clan Buchanan Society International)

A Promise to Restore Historic Traditions

The brand new clan chief pledged to deliver Clan Buchanan into the fashionable period by “restoring our historic traditions and championing the values, relevance and significance of the worldwide group we signify.” And Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan waited no time, as he has already restored the traditional clan parliament which he says will “discover the way forward for the Buchanan clan and focus on how traditions could be celebrated within the modern-day.”

John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan’s appointment as clan chief outcomes from 60 years of onerous work by the late British genealogist Hugh Pessket. This was the man who in 2004 demonstrated U.S. president Ronald Reagan’s paternal Irish ancestry was blended with Scottish blood from Paisley, Glasgow. In keeping with a report in The Independent on the time, Regan requested the Irish Ambassador to Washington to “maintain his Celtic heritage secret as a result of he was terrified it will break his political profession.”

Pessket’s mom was a descendant from the Buchanan of Leny and she or he urged her son to search out the rightful chief of Clan Buchanan. In keeping with Clan Buchanan Society International, in 2018, after 60 years of analysis, Dr. Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon, “accepted the declare of Michael Buchanan of Arnprior and that Ilk to be chief of Buchanan.”

Historic Scottish Symbols of Workplace

The chief’s inauguration ceremony was laced with recreated artifacts and symbols from historic Scottish historical past. Nevertheless, the brand new chief was given “recreations” of the unique clan Buchanan jewels together with the chief’s signet ring that includes the Buchanan coat of arms.

The unique clan jewels, together with the Little Sword of Leny which acted as a clan constitution, have been confiscated by the British authorities after the 1740s Jacobite rebellion. Buchanan of Leny and Arnprior had served because the treasurer and armorer for the defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Maybe probably the most archetypally Scottish side of the brand new chief’s costume was his Balmoral Cap or Bonnet that includes three golden eagle feathers. The Court docket of the Lord Lyon supplies pointers for entitlement to show a number of Golden Eagle feather(s) tucked behind a crest badge “as a mark of rank in a clan/household.” Nevertheless, this specific Scottish custom has been woven into the egos of many clan members all over the world.

A plate entitled “Buchanan” illustrated by R. R. McIan, from James Logan’s The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, printed in 1845. (Public domain)

“My Feather’s Larger Than Yours”

“Sadly, not all descendants of expatriate Scots perceive the that means of the show of feathers… evident at abroad Highland Video games occasions all over the world,” defined author W. Neil Fraser. Historically in Scotland, actual Golden Eagle feathers have been tucked behind the clan crest badge on Balmoral and Glengarry caps.

This fashion, the big pointed finish of the feather tasks above, with the quill tucked behind the badge, as a mark of clan or household rank. Frazer says at many international clan occasions there are “so many feathers being displayed “it should terrify the remaining inhabitants of the Golden Eagle, now thought of an endangered species in Scotland.”

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The clan Buchanan web site informs that, together with the precise jewels and badges of the traditional clan, “our ceremonies and customs have been misplaced too.” After the Jacobite rebellion governmental restrictions forbade the carrying of clan insignia or tartans for 40 years, after which “most of the oral traditions, ceremonies and experiences held by a clan and its members, have been misplaced eternally.”

Contemplating the mass-destruction of Scottish heritage and historical past within the wake of the Battle of Culloden in 1746, it’s simpler to see why so many Scots, together with myself, are delighted with this step in the direction of resurrecting and sustaining a few of what was misplaced.

High picture: The crowning ceremony of the Clan Buchannan chief was laced with recreated artifacts and symbols from historic Scottish historical past. Supply: The Clan Buchanan Society International

By Ashley Cowie