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Virtutis Regia Merces (A palace the reward of bravery)
Clan Skene's origin is told through a wolf-slaying legend: a younger son of the Robertson chief of Struan is said to have saved the king's life with only his sgian (knife) and to have been rewarded with the lands of Skene, Aberdeenshire, from which the family took its name. John de Skene appears on the Ragman Roll in 1296, and Robert de Skene received a charter from Robert the Bruce in 1318 erecting Skene into a barony. The senior line, Skene of that Ilk, became extinct in 1827; arms for Skene of Skene were recorded at the Lyon Court in 1994, and Dugald Skene of Skene is the chief listed today.
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Crest & Motto
The motto of Clan Skene is Virtutis Regia Merces (A palace the reward of bravery). It appears on the Clan Skene crest badge: the chief’s heraldic crest set inside a strap and buckle that carries the motto.
In Scotland a crest belongs to the chief, not to everyone with the surname. Clan members may wear the crest badge, with the crest inside the strap and buckle, to show that they belong to the clan. The plain crest without the strap remains the chief’s own.
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View all Skene productsJohn de Skene appears on the Ragman Roll[6]
Robert de Skene receives a charter erecting Skene into a barony[3][6]
Adam de Skene is killed at the Battle of Harlaw[3]
Alexander Skene falls at the Battle of Flodden[3]
Another Alexander Skene dies at the Battle of Pinkie[3]
Arms for Skene of Skene are recorded at the Lyon Court[4]
Chief Danus Skene dies; Dugald Skene of Skene is chief today[7][2]
These family names are connected with Clan Skene. Each list says who records the link.
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Dugald Skene of Skene. The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs lists him as chief; his predecessor, Danus Skene of Skene, died in 2016.
A younger son of the Robertson chief of Struan is said to have killed a wolf that was attacking the king with only his sgian (knife), and was granted the lands of Skene in reward; the family's arms still show wolves' heads on daggers.
Virtutis Regia Merces, 'A palace the reward of bravery'.
Skene, Aberdeenshire, held by the family from a 1318 charter of Robert the Bruce until the senior line became extinct in 1827.
By tradition, yes: the Skenes are said to have begun as a sept of Clan Donnachaidh (Robertson) before taking their own name from the lands of Skene.
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Clan RobertsonTradition holds the Skenes began as a sept of Clan Donnachaidh (Robertson), founded by a younger son of Robertson of Struan.