Castle Sween
| Castle Sween | |
|
Argyllshire | |
|---|---|
 Castle Sween | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NR71247882 |
| Location: | 55°56’52"N, 5°39’55"W |
| History | |
| Built 12th Century | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | Historic Scotland |
Castle Sween is located on the eastern shore of Loch Sween, in Knapdale, on the west coast of Argyllshire. The castle is thought to be one of the earliest stone castles built in Scotland, having been built at some time in the late twelfth century.[1] The castle's towers were later additions to wooden structures which have now since vanished.[1]
History
Castle Sween takes its name from Suibhne mac Duinnshléibhe, who is was thought to have built the castle. Suibhne may have been a grandson of Hugh the Splendid O'Neill who died in 1047.[2]
In the thirteenth century, the Clan MacSween governed lands extending as far north as Loch Awe and as far south as Skipness Castle on Loch Fyne.[2] In the later half of the thirteenth century the MacSween lands of Knapdale passed into the hands of the Stewart Earls of Menteith.[3]
By the time of the bloody wars of the fourteenth century, the MacSweens entered into the service of King Edward I of England in the hope of recovering their lands from the Earl of Menteith, however when Robert the Bruce became King of Scotland he displaced the MacSweens from their lands.[2] After Robert the Bruce had defeated MacDougall Lord of Lorne in 1308, he then laid siege to Alasdair Og MacDonald in Castle Sween.[4] Alastair gave himself up and was disinherited by Robert Bruce who then granted Islay to Alasdair's younger brother, Angus Og, the king's loyal supporter,[4] who also received the Castle Sween in Kintyre from the King.[2]
In 1310, King Edward II granted John MacSween and his brothers their family's ancestral lands of Knapdale, (though by then Castle Sween was held by Sir John Menteith).[3] It is possible that this could be the "tryst of a fleet against Castle Sween", recorded in the Book of the Dean of Lismore,[3] which tells of the attack of John MacSween on Castle Sween.
In 1323, after the death of Sir John Menteith, the Lordship of Arran and Knapdale passed to his son and grandson.[3] In 1376 half of Knapdale, which included Castle Sween, passed into possession of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, by grant of King Robert II to his son-in-law John I, Lord of the Isles.[3]
During the MacDonald's century and a half of holding the castle, the castellans were first MacNeils and later MacMillans.[5]
In 1490 Castle Sween was granted to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyle, by King James IV.[5]
In 1647, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Castle Sween was attacked and burnt by Alasdair MacColla and his Irish Confederate followers.[5]
In 1933 the castle was put in the care of the Historic Building and Monuments Directorate (HBMD).[6] Currently Castle Sween is under the protection of Historic Scotland.[6]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Castle Sween) |
- Castle Sween – Historic Scotland
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Historic Scotland
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://www.knapdalepeople.com/SweenStory.html Retrieved on June 19, 2007
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_126/126_517_557.pdf Retrieved on July 4, 2007
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.ccsna.org/jsep60b.htm Retrieved on June 19, 2007
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.ccsna.org/castles/sween.html Retrieved on June 19, 2007
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.darkisle.com/s/sween/sween.html Retrieved on June 19, 2007
