Scottish Clans: History of Buchanan Clan

The great Clan Buchanan are said to descend from Anselan, a warrior prince who fought for the Scots King Malcolm II in the early 11th Century. This was a critical time in Scottish history, with Viking armies occupying large tracts of land within the infant nation. Anselan's service against the invading Scandinavians was well rewarded by the grateful King, who granted him lands in Lennox, to the east of Loch Lomond. These lands were known as "buth chanain", which in Gaelic means "canon's seat", or "churchman's seat". The Clan Buchanan takes its name from this ancient area, forever bonding them with their heartland, and the gallant deeds of their forefathers.

From these early warrior origins, the Buchanans continued to distinguish themselves in battle. Clan Buchanan was prominent in their support for King Robert the Bruce in the 14th Century, waging war on the English overlords for the sake of Scotland's independence. It is testament to the Buchanans' zeal that when the English were driven from Scottish territory, the Buchanans took their armies overseas in pursuit of more Englishmen to slay. Buchanans fought alongside the French during the Hundred Years War, helping to drive the English out of mainland France. The Buchanans were victorious at the Battle of Beauge in 1421, with legend accrediting the death of Henry V's brother, the Duke of Clarence, to the sword of Alexander Buchanan.

Clan Buchanan not only built power from physical strength, but were also important members of Scotland's intellegensia down through the centuries. One of the most notable scholarly figures was George Buchanan, who first tutored Mary, Queen of Scots, and then her son, King James VI. Buchanan was also a religious reformer who championed the cause of Protestantism in Scotland, following the impact of the Reformation in the 16th Century. Buchanans were also successful abroad, with James Buchanan, the son of a Scottish immigrant, becoming the 15th President of the United States of America. The Buchanan Clan crest is a hand holding a tasseled cap and the Clan motto reads "Clarior hinc honos" meaning "Brighter hence the honour". The Clan chiefship is currently unoccupied, but the Buchanans do boast one of the oldest Clan Societies in Scotland. Created in 1725, the Buchanan Society was set up as a charitable institution aiming to help needy Clansfolk and educate their children. The island of Clarinch, amid the splendour of Loch Lomond, in the Buchanan's ancient heartland, was gifted to the Society in the mid 20th Century by a wealthy Clan member. It is currently being used as an animal and bird sanctuary.