Clan Leslie

SCOTTISH CLANS - LESLIE


MOTTO GRIP FAST	CLAN TARTAN LESLIE TARTAN

The founder of this clan has been said to be Bartolf, a Hungarian nobleman who obtained the Barony of Lesley and was appointed governor of Edinburgh Castle by Malcolm III. He was granted lands in Fife, Angus, Aberdeenshire and the Mearns. His son, Malcolm was appointed constable of the royal castle at Inverury, and it is he who first took the name from the lands.

Later in the clans history, in 1320 Sir Andrew Leslie was one of the signatories of the famous Declaration of Arbroath. His second son married the heiress to the Earl of Ross and became Earl in her stead. On his death the earldom was contested by her brother, Donald of the Isles, at the Battle of Harlaw. The Leslies lost both battle and title that day but later still the sixth Chief was created Earl of Rothes by James II, a title the clan still holds.

After attending the wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1558, George, the 4th Earl, who had earlier fought on her side at Langside, was found mysteriously dead along with the Earl of Cassillis and two others. George Leslie of Balgonie served with great distinction in the Thirty Years War. He returned to Scotland to command the Covenantors and captured Edinburgh Castle. As a reward, in 1641, Charles I created him Earl of Leven.

The 9th Earl was Vice Admiral of Scotland and Governor of Stirling Castle. He was present at the Battle of Sheriffmuir and commanded a regiment of cavalry. He sold most of the Rothes estates but kept the Leslie House where it remained the seat of the Earls until 1926.