Rob Roy's sporran
subject: Highlands
description: This heavy brass sporran cantle with an incised pattern once belonged to the legendary Highland outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor (1671 - 1734). Tradition has it that this sporran was given to him by a wee girl who brought him food while he was in hiding during his years as an outlaw. MacGregor was a staunch Jacobite, a soldier, businessman, cattle-rustler and outlaw. But, above all he was a folk hero, whose transformation into a larger-than-life figure began with Daniel Defoe's fictionalised biography "Highland Rogue". This was published while Rob Roy's was still alive and led to his Royal Pardon in 1726 that allowed him to live out his final years quietly, literally a legend in his own lifetime.
creator: Scottish
source: objects,highlandlife
date: 18th century
contributor: eulac3d
type: Physical Object