Clan Macdonald o Sleat

Clan Macdonald o Sleat, whiles kent as Clan Donald North an in Gaelic Clann Ùisdein [klˠ̪aNˈuːʃtʲɛɲ], is a Scots clan an a branch o Clan Donald — ane o the lairgest Scots clans. The foonder o the Macdonalds o Sleat is Ùisdean, 6t ieroe o Somhairle, a 12t century Rì Innse Gall. The clan kin forbye be kent in Gaelic as Clann Ùisdein ("children of Ùisdein"), an its chief's Gaelic designation is Mac Ùisdein ("son of Ùisdean"), in reference tae the clan's foonder. Baith the clan an its clan chief are recognised by the Lord Lyon Keeng o Airms, who is the heraldic authority in Scotland.

The Macdonalds o Sleat participatit in several feids wi thair neebours, maist notably the Macleods o Harris an Dunvegan, an the Macleans o Duart. The clan suffered fae fechtin within itself in the early 16t century, as the leadin members o the clan focht an murthert ilk ane ither.

The clan seemt tae hae grudgingly supportit the Royalist cause in the Wars o the Three Kinricks, an suffered grievous in militar defeats anent Parliamentarian forces. The clan supportit the Jacobite cause in the 1715 rebellion, but refuist tae cam oot for Bonnie Prince Charlie an his faither efter in 1745. In the early 18t century, the clan's chief wis insnorlt in a plan tae sell tenants intae slavery in the American Colonies. By the late 18t century, the chiefs haed distanct thairsels fae the common clansfowk, whan thay seatit thairsels in northren Ingland an didnae visit the auld clan lands. The 18t an 19t centuries thar wis muckle sufferin o the common clansfolk. Mony wur cleared aff thair lands at the haunds o thair absentee lairds in the Clearances. Nouadays descendants o the clan live aw ower the warld.