Clan Leslie

Clan Motto

Grip fast

Chief

THE HON. ALEXANDER LESLIE
Aberdeenshire Chieftain:-Sebastian Leslie of Warthill Aberdeenshire.

Associated Names

Abernethy, Lesslie, Moore, More

The History of the Clan

During Malcolm III’s reign, one of many new migrants to Scotland included a nobleman, Bartolf, reputedly a Hungarian, who settled in Aberdeenshire. Bartolf, generally considered the progenitor of the Leslies, earned King Malcolm’s favour; royal preferment led to his appointment as the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, as well as granted estates in Fife, Angus, the Mearns and Aberdeenshire. Bartolf established himself in a district of Aberdeen then called Lesselyn where he built a castle.

Over the centuries, the family name’s spelling altered to Lesley, still existing in many forms. The fortunes of the family continued to improve as Bartolf’s son, Malcolm, became Constable of the royal castle at Inverury for David II. Following service at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the family were rewarded with the Hill of Foudland. The family lands continued to increase, most notably with Malcolm’s great grandson, Sir Norman Lesley. In 1391, believing his son David had died during the Crusades, Sir Norman so chose to pass his estates to his cousin, George Lesley, only for David to re-appear, newly returned from the Crusades! The family fought at the Battle of Flodden where the 3rd Earl was cut down with King James IV and his nobles. During the early 17th century, when the Leslies of Fife and Aberdeenshire divided along religious lines, both branches found scarce employment in opposing forces during the Thirty Years War. By the time the 7th Earl was presented with the Dukedom of Rothes by Charles II in 1680, Walter Leslie of Balquhain had established the House of Leslie in the Holy Roman Empire.

Walter’s meteoric rise began in 1634 when he was made 1st Count Leslie by Emperor Ferdinand II, Governor of the Slovenian-Croatian military border in 1637, son-in-law to the Prince of Liechtenstein in 1640, Field Marshal in 1658 and finally invested in 1666 with the Order of the Golden Fleece in recognition of defeating the Ottomans in 1665. As Imperial Ambassador, he travelled the Danube to Istanbul to conclude the peace treaty with Sultan Mehmet IV, to whom he gave a brace of hunting hounds.

His nephew and heir, Field Marshal James, 2nd Count Leslie was responsible for the defence of Vienna in 1683, the most important geopolitical event in Europe until 1815; last of the line Anthony, 5th Count Leslie died in 1802 . Alexander Leslie of Warthill’s brother William (c.1650-1727) became Prince-Bishop Count William Leslie of Laibach/Ljubljana on 5th January 1718 until his death on 4th April 1727.One of the family’s ancestral castles at Warthill built in approx. 1200, is still the seat of Aberdeenshire Chieftain, Sebastian Leslie of Warthill.