History of Clan Sinclair

History:

Medieval History
Early Modern History
Modern History
Timeline

Sponsor:

If we dont write our history - who will?: I bloody well will
— Tim Wallace-Murphy

History of Clan Sinclair

We start with medieval history, with the Norse and Norman origins of the Sinclairs. Then we intersperse countries such as Norway, Normandy, England, and Scotland with events such as the battles of Hastings, Rosslyn. Then we move on to early modern history with events such as the Battle of Altimarlach in the Last Clan War. Finally we have modern history, with events such as the Battle of Eureka Stockade, Victoria, Australia and a Wedding in Caithness. See also the web pages about people and places.

Laurel Fechner has constructed and is extended some elaborate History Charts.

For context, see Paul Sinclair's Timeline of Scottish History. There is also a A Timeline of Sinclair History. And it is useful to know about Kings of Scotland. Here is a map of Clan territories in Scotland.

An example to others.

From: Niven Sinclair <niven@niven.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 22:03:42 +0000

We need to encourage the young who, in this troubled and tormented World, desperately need the stability of having family roots to which they can turn with pride and endeavour to emulate in their own lives.

Roland St Clair, when injured turned his injury to good effect by giving us The St Clairs of the Isles which is the definitive work on the Sinclair family. Unfortunately, it is now over 100 years old and needs to be updated and, with the benefits of the internet, this is a task which is being accomplished by Lena, Milamba, Mary, John, Laurel and a host of others - not forgetting the sterling work of the late Pete Cummings.

Above all, we have a Chief who takes a positive and lively interest in the Clan. And we have Ian Sinclair who, with his own hands, is turning Noss Head Light House into a Sinclair Centre of which we can all be justly proud.

If we all pull together we can set an example of cooperation and solidarity which will be an example to others. Let that be our sole aim, ambition and intention.

Niven Sinclair

What Other Clan?

From: Niven Sinclair <niven@niven.co.uk>
Date: Monday, July 05, 1999 9:20 AM

You ask what other Clan is closest to us.

None. We are exceptional. No family under the rank of Royalty has a more distinguished history or produced so many distinguished people over the Centuries. One has only to look at their contribution to the constitution and the history of America to realise that their talents have cascaded down through the generations just as they, themselves, have retained their Viking wanderlust by spreading across the face of the Globe.

Let me quote a little from The St Clairs of the Isles:

``The Saint-Clairs figure prominently in history, song and story. In Normandy, they controlled lands, castles and troops of men and were closely allied to royal blood.

At Hastings their prowess was conspicuous and materially helped to decide the fate of that eventful day. They appear in the Battle Abbey roll.

Early in the 11th Century William `the Seemly' St Clair settled in Scotland; soon his name appears on the roll of the nobles of King Malcolm Canmore and thenceforward for generations his descendants are found in loyal support of the Scottish monarchs who trusted them implicitly through good and ill. Honoured with the confidence of the ancient Celtic line; entrusted with the defence of the Royal fortress during the wars of the Scottish Succession; they were the companions in arms of the patriot Bruce and, in later times, the St Clairs shared in the triumphs and disasters of the House of Stuart.''

I could cover the last 1,000 years of our history (even

before we took the name of St Clair) with volume after volume of facts and it would still be incomplete because, with every passing day, I am discovering fresh information about the Sinclairs and the part they played in the development of Western civilisation and culture.

Let me give you one more quote:

``All that was highest in marriage, lands and office they had in England for nearly a Century after the Conquest and the glow of their fame and their physical and intellectual powers kept them high for Centuries afterwards in a way which was rare to any one particular lineage.''

We are also different in so far as we have always had a European dimension. Our name is as well known in

Scandinavia as it is in Scotland. We held lands in every Province of France and in Alsace. We are related to the ex Royal House of Poland and, if we had won the Battle of Val-es-Dunes in 1047 against William 'the Bastard' it is the Sinclairs who would have been the Royal House of England and ipso facto of one quarter of the Globe.

We must never forget our history because `we are nothing without our roots'. It gives us the confidence and

the stability to face up to life's vicissitudes in this increasingly tormented and troubled World. I hope it will also give us the courage and the desire to improve the lot of our fellow man by becoming actively involved in our respective communities. We can begin by giving support to our Clan associations because there is strength in unity. The Sinclair engrailed cross — the oriflamme of our family — must be seen to herald a renaissance of the spirit of chivalry and brotherhood which should govern all our lives.

With every good wish.

Niven Sinclair

Last changed: 00/05/28 14:52:39