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Highland Scottish clan

The Murray chiefs played an important and prominent role in support of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Murrays also largely supported the Jacobite House of Stuart during the Jacobite risings of the 18th century. Clan Murray hold the unique position of commanding the only private army in Europe known as the Atholl Highlanders.

The progenitor of the Clan Murray was Freskin who lived during the twelfth century. It has been claimed that he was Pictish but it is much more likely that he was a Flemish knight, one of a ruthless group of warlords who were employed by the Norman kings to pacify their new realm after the Norman conquest of England. whereas the chiefs of Clan Murray descend from Freskin's younger grandson, William de Moravia. It has been suggested that the whole war might have taken a different course if Moray had survived the battle at Stirling Bridge as he had shown significant skill in pitched battle, which Wallace lacked. There were many branches of the Clan Murray who disputed the right to the chiefship. in a work that pre dates the establishment of the Lord Lyon's register of 1672 and is considered of equal authority. In 1594 the Murrays fought on the side of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell at the Battle of Glenlivet against George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, chief of Clan Gordon. The bond of 1598 is styled a "Bond of Association of the Name Murray" and is signed by Sir John Murray of Tulibardin, James Murray (younger) of Cockpuill, Blackbarony, Mr William Murray, Parson of Dysart, Androw Moray of Balvaird, Patrick Murray of Falahill, William Murray (younger) of Pomauis, Johne Morray, portioner of Arby, Antone Murray of Raith, Patrick Morray of Lochlan, Alexander Murray of Drumdeway, Colonel, John Murray of Tibbermuir, William Murray, appirand of Tullibardin, William Moray of Ochtertyre, (William) Murray of Abercairnay, Alexander Murray of Woodend, Walter Murray, portioner of Drumdeway, Johne Murray, portioner of Kinkell. Sir John Murray of Tullibardine, 1548 1613, who was created first Earl of Tullibardine in 1606, married Catherine Drummond and Elizabeth Haldane. His son William Murray, 2nd Earl of Tullibardine married Dorothea Stewart, heiress to the Earls of Atholl. It was this addition of men that won Montrose the Battle of Tippermuir in 1644.

During the Jacobite rising of 1715 the Atholl men (Clan Murray) consisted of 1400 men who were formed into four regiments that were each commanded by William Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine, Lord Charles Murray (younger son of John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl), Lord George Murray and William Murray, 2nd Lord Nairne. During the Battle of Sheriffmuir, Tullibardine did duty as Major General of the whole Jacobite army with his battalion of Athollmen having been put under the temporary command of his cousin, John Lyon, 5th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, whose own regiment had gone to England under Brigadier McIntosh. The battle was indecisive as although the Jacobite army's right wing had defeated the Government's left, the Government army's right wing had also defeated the Jacobite left and so both sides claimed victory.

At the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719 men of Clan Murray fought under William Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine against the Government in support of the Jacobite cause. Tullibardine was wounded but escaped to France. The following month the Government put up a proclamation offering £2000 for his apprehension. On 25 July 1745 he landed with the Young Pretender, (Charles Edward Stuart), at Borodale, Scotland to launch the Jacobite rising of 1745. General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the clan strength, of the Athol men, at 2,000.

Although the Battle of Culloden was the last time the Highlanders of Atholl went to war, the Murray chief's ceremonial guard which became known as the Atholl Highlanders still has the unique honour of being Europe's only legal private army. In 1845 Queen Victoria presented colours to the Atholl Highlanders.

Clan chief: Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl, Marquess of Atholl, Marquess of Tullibardine, Earl of Atholl, Earl of Tullibardine, Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle, Viscount of Balquhidder, Viscount of Glenalmond, Lord Murray of Tullibardine.

The current Clan badge, (see above), depicts a demi savage (the upper half of a wreathed, shirtless man) holding a dagger in his right hand and a key in his left. The Clan motto reads Furth, Fortune, and Fill the Fetters, meaning, roughly, go forth against your enemies, have good fortune, and return with captives. The demi savage badge was favoured by the late Duke of Atholl; the Clan continues to use it out of respect. An older badge depicts a mermaid holding a mirror in one hand and a comb in the other, with the motto Tout prêt, Old French for all ready. This badge is found in many historical and heraldic sources, and remains a valid Murray device.