Clan Keith

Keith is the name of a Scottish clan in Aberdeenshire and Caithness.

History

Origin

It is said, a Scottish warrior slew the Danish General Camus at the legendary Battle of Barrie 1010. Thereupon King Malcolm II of Scotland dipped three fingers in the blood of the dead and passed it over the shield of the warrior. This man was then as Marbhachir Chamius or Camus Slayer ( of Camus Slayer ) famous. It is alleged that after this event, the leader of the Keith clan the same character ( three red lines) has carried on his arm. Today it is known that the battle and the stories contained therein have historically not been so.

Malcolm II victory in the Battle of Carham in 1018, earned him complete control over the lands of Lothian and Berwickshire. The name Keith comes from the Barony of Keith in East Lothian, which was given Marbhachir Chamius by the King for his bravery.

The first writing as proven Marischal of Scotland Keith was Hervey de Keith as Marscallus Regis Scotie, who stood in the correspondence between the monks of Kelso Abby and the Bishop of Glasgow. He was Marischal under Malcolm IV and William the Lion.

The Scottish Wars of Independence

Title and duties of the Earl Marischals (later Knight Marischal ) of Scotland were until the late 18th century within the Keith family hereditary. Sir Robert Keith commanded Scottish Light Cavalry during the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and died in 1332 during the Battle of Dupplin Moor. His great- grandson Robert Keith died in 1346 at the Battle of Neville 's Cross.

At the end of the 14th century became Sir William Keith, through a land swap action with Lord Lindsay, rule over a rocky peninsula in Kincardineshire. On it he had Dunnottar Castle building, which still should be in the possession of the Keiths to the 18th century. William Keith died around 1410.