Clan Haig

The 13th century poet, Thomas the Rhymer, made the prophecy Tyde what may, what'er betyde, Haig shall be Haig of Bemersyde.[1] Bemersyde has been in the hands of the Haigs for eight hundred years from the founder, Petrus de Haga, to the present chief.[1] Alexander Nisbet asserted that the Haigs were of Pictish or early British extraction.[1] However, it is evident that the name de Haga is Norman.[1]

Petrus de Haga appears as a witness on a charter of Richard de Morville, who was Constable of Scotland from 1162 to 1188, to Dryburgh Abbey.[1] Petrus is mentioned in several charters as Dominus de Bemersyde (Master of Bemersyde) which is evidence that the family were considerable magnates at that time.[1]

de Haga was amongst the nobles who were charged with the apprehension of John de Bisset for the murder of the Earl of Atholl in 1242.[1]

The Haig Barons of Bemersyde swore fealty to Edward I of England and appear on the Ragman Rolls in 1296.[1] However, later they strongly supported the struggle for Scottish Independence and fought for William Wallace at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.[1] The sixth Haig Laird followed Robert the Bruce to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 even though at the time he was only seventeen years old.[1] He was later killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.[1]

In 1449 Gilbert Haig was a commander in the Scottish host that defeated the Earl of Northumberland at the Battle of Sark.[1] Gilbert also opposed the rising power of the Clan Douglas family.[1] Gilbert's son, James Haig, was an adherent of James III of Scotland.[1] When James III was murdered in 1488, Haig was forced into hiding until he could make peace with the young James IV of Scotland.[1]

In 1513 William Haig of Bemersyde was killed at the Battle of Flodden.[2][1] However, his son, Robert, the 14th Laird, avenged his death at the Battle of Ancrum Moor in 1544, where he captured Lord Evers, an English commander.[1] Lord Evers was wounded and Haig carried him to Bemersyde where he died a few days later and Haig buried him at Melrose Abbey.[1]

During the 17th century the Haigs endured persecution for their religious beliefs.[1] Chief William Haig, the 19th Laird was the King's Solicitor for Scotland during the reigns of James VI of Scotland and Charles I of England.[1] The twenty-first Laird, Anthony Haig was persecuted for his membership of the Society of Friends and suffered a long period of imprisonment.[1] Between 1629 and 1630 four sons of the chief were killed while fighting in the service of the King of Bohemia.[1]

In the 19th century the line of succession looked to be in danger when the succession fell to three unmarried daughters. However, they signed a deed before their death that transferred the succession to a cousin—Colonel Arthur Balfour Haig who was of the Clackmannan branch of the clan and a descendant of the 17th Laird.[1] He became the 28th Laird and Chief of Clan Haig.[1]