Notes:

Cawdor Castle, Nairn, Inverness, Scotland
http://www.cawdorcastle.com

Cawdor Castle, Inverness, Scotland
http://www.caledoniancastles.co.uk/castles/highlands/cawdor.htm
"The castle has developed around an oblong keep built in 1454, by WilliamCalder, probably replacing or incorporating an earlier structure. Itrises to four storeys plus a garret inside the crenellated parapet, whichis drained by cannon spouts and provided with machicolations for droppingof missiles. Open rounds occupied the angles but these were heightenedand given conical roofs in the 17th century."
"The Calders are documented as Thanes of Calder from the late 13thcentury. The estate came to the Campbell's in 1511 through the forcedmarriage of the Calder heiress, Muriel to Sir John Campbell, 3rd son ofthe 2nd Earl of Argyll and ancestor of the present Earl of Cawdor. Murielhad been abducted from the guardianship of Lady Kilravock in 1499 byCampbell of Inverliver on the instructions of the Earl of Argyll. An actwhich would lead to the deaths of all six of Inverliver's sons. Thedining room fireplace commemorates this marriage, it was carved in 1670and features a monkey blowing a horn, a cat playing a fiddle, a mermaid aharp, and a fox smoking a pipe.

The castle remains a Campbell property, Earls of Cawdor since 1847, andaccording to tradition is set to remain so as long as a red-headed maidenis to be found in the vicinity of Loch Awe."

Cawdor Castle, Inverness, Scotland
http://www.scotland-calling.com/forts/cawdor.htm
Where is Cawdor Castle
12 miles east of Inverness, between Inverness and Nairn on the B9090 offthe A96
The home of Lord and Lady Cawdor, the castle and grounds are open fromMay to October

History of Cawdor Castle
Cawdor had been an ancient Thanedom (Earldom) long before the castle wasbuilt. Set in wooded grounds, the present buildings date from the early14th century. An entry in the Exchequer Rolls for 1398 refers to anoutlay on
Calder Castle'. The castle and its owners enjoyed thatlawlessness that is associated with the Highlands, both the 4th and 11thThanes were murdered

In 1454 the Thane of Calder received a royal license to build a newcastle. The legend is set loose a donkey with a sack of gold on its back,and that he would build his castle when the animal wherever it firststopped to rest. The animal stopped under a holly tree above the burn.The castle was built around the tree, which can still be seen in thevaulted cellar of the keep The Cawdor Toast is 'Flourish the Thorn!'

The present keep dates from 1454, and is typical of 15th century Scottisharchitecture

The entrance door, has a huge iron bolt across it, which came from nearbyLochindorb Castle around 1455 when the Thane of Cawdor was instructed todismantle Lochindorb after it had been forfeited by the Earl of Moray.

When the 8th Thane of Cawdor died, his heir was an infant daughter Muriel

Below from http://www.lsstrafford.freeserve.co.uk/macbeth3.html
The Story Of Macbeth
Act 1 - Prediction
Scene 1
The three witches plan to meet Macbeth.
Scene 2
King Duncan is delighted to hear of the victory achieved by Macbeth andBanquo.
The victory was against the Thane of Cawdor, Macdonwald and theNorwegians.
Scene 3
Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches.
The witches predict Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, then king.
Macbeth believes them.
The witches also predict that Banquo will father kings.
Banquo does not believe them.
Scene 4
Duncan makes Macbeth Thane of Cawdor.
Duncan has the old Thane of Cawdor executed.
He names his son Malcolm as the successor to the throne

Macbeth by William Shakespeare
ACT I, SCENE 2
"After completing this report to Duncan, the soldier departs to tend
his wounds, and the Thane of Ross, a loyal Scottish nobleman,
enters to greet the king. He comes from Fife and brings further
news of the fighting. He reports that the Thane of Cawdor has
become a traitor and joined forces with the King of Norway in the
battle against Macbeth, but "the victory fell on us," and the
Norwegian King was made to pay 10,000 dollars. King Duncan is
furious at the news about the Thane of Cawdor and orders his
execution. The title of Thane of Cawdor will be given to Macbeth
as a reward for his heroism in battle."
http://pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmMacbeth10.asp

Cawdor Castle, Inverness, Scotland
"Located behind the village of Cawdor 4 miles (7 km) south west of Nairn,Cawdor Castle is famous for its associations with Shakespeare's MacBeth.The Thanedom of Cawdor was promised to MacBeth by the witches, but inreality although MacBeth died in 1052, the 1st Thane of Cawdor did notlive until the 13th Century and it was not until 1454 that King James II(1430 - 60) permitted the 6th Thane of Cawdor to build this Castle. The1st Thane was appointed in 1236 by King Alexander II. The 3rd Thane wasmurdered by Sir Alexander Rait from the nearby Rait Castle.

Clan Campbell obtained control of the castle in 1511 by forcing the 12year-old daughter of the 8th Thane to marry John, the younger son ofArchibald Campbell (d.1513), the 2nd Earl of Argyll. To assure hisposition as the next Thane, the ruthless John Campbell summarily disposedof various of his wife's relatives."
http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst1210.html

Family/Spouse: Jane (of Inverugie) Keith. Jane and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Isabella Rose in 1458. Isabella (daughter of Hugh (8th of Kilravock) Rose and Isabel (of Duffus) Sutherland) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Muriel (of Cawdor) Calder and died.
2. Hugh Or Hutcheon (Sheriff of Nairn) Calder and died.
3. Andrew Calder and died.
4. Alexander (of Clunas) Calder and died.
5. Marjory Calder and died.
6. Marion Calder and died.
7. Margaret Calder and died.

William married Margaret\Marion (of Dunbeath) Sutherland on 21 Sep 1458. Margaret\Marion (daughter of Alexander (of Dunbeath) Sutherland and Marion (Or Mariotta) (De Ile) Macdonald) died before 29 Apr 1488. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alexander + Marion (Or Mariotta) (De Ile) Macdonald. Marion (daughter of Donald (2nd\8th Lord of The Isles) Macdonald and Mary (Countess of Ross) Leslie) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Margaret Stewart in 1389. Margaret (daughter of Alexander The Wolf (1st Earl of Buchan) Stewart and Margaret Atheyn) died in 1389. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Invaded mainland Scotland with men of the Isles and Ross but was stoppedat battle of Harlaw, 24 July 1411. Continued to style himself (9th) Earlof Ross.

Donald + Mary (Countess of Ross) Leslie. Mary (daughter of Walter (Earl of Ross) Leslie and Euphemia (Countess of Ross) Ross) died in 1435. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"The Earls of Ross and Their Descendants" Compiled by Francis NevileReid, 1894. (Reprinted from "the Scottish Antiquart: or Northern Notes &Queries") Reprinted 1987 by Scotpress, Bruceton Mills, West Virginia(page 6-7) says Margaret married Donald (Lord of the Isles) Macdonald