MacDuff

MacDuff

Clan Macduff of that Ilk, Scotland; descended from Queen Gruoch, wife of Macbeth, whose son Lulach was murdered in 1058 which allowed Malcolm III to seize the crown of Scotland. Malcolm's son Aedh, married Gruoch's granddaughter and was created Earl of Fife and hereditary abbot of Abernethy. Fife and bore the Celtic arms of a red lion rampant. The Earl of Fife was second only to the king. and was granted the privileges; to lead the vanguard of the Scottish army; to enthrone the king of Scots at his coronation; and the right of sanctuary for all his kinsmen, even for the crime of murder, if they reached the cross near Abernethy, after which a small fine would be levied instead of more severe penalties. Gillemichael MacDuf was a witness to the great charter of David I to the Abbey of Dunfermline. At the coronation of Robert the Bruce in 1306 Duncan Macduff, Earl of Fife, was a child held by Edward I of England as his ward, and so his sister, Isabel, Countess of Buchan, crowned Robert. She was later imprisoned in a cage suspended from the walls of Berwick Castle by the English. Later Duncan married Mary Monthermer, niece to Edward I. and fought against Robert the Bruce. He was captured and died Kildrummy Castle in 1336 and he was attainted by the Scottish nobles. David Duff received a charter from Robert III to the lands of Muldavit in Banffshire in 1404. In 1759, William Duff, Member of Parliament for Banff was created Earl Fife and Viscount Macduff. Maj. Gen. James, the fourth Earl Fife, fought with distinction during the Peninsular War of 1808-14. Alexander, the sixth Earl Fife, married HRH Princess Louise, the Princess Royal, eldest daughter of the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII and thus was created the Duke of Fife in July 1889. Various cadets of the family also settled in Ulster, Ireland.

Arms: (Ancient) Or, a lion rampant gules, armed and langued azure.

Crest: A demi-lion gules, holding in the dexter paw a broadsword erected in pale proper, hilted and pommelled or.

Motto: Deus juvat (God assists).

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