| Many historians have incorrectly portrayed Inverlochy | | | | ability to repel, and defeat, the invaders spread across |
| Castle has having been first built in the 13th Century by | | | | Europe. Because of this notoriety, Charlemagne visited |
| the Comyns (Cummings). The structure built by the | | | | Achaius, and proposed a treaty. |
| Comyns of Badenoch is nothing more than a | | | | The treaty, signed in Achaius' second year of rule, was |
| refinement of the castle originally constructed in the 8th | | | | an agreement stating that should either ruler be |
| Century for King Achaius. | | | | attacked by England, the other would come to his aid. |
| Achaius is derived from the Latin Eochaidh. The name | | | | As a showing of solidarity between Scotland and |
| Eocho or Eochu was anglicised to Eochy, and further | | | | France, King Achaius took for his standard a yellow |
| developed into Eochaid and Eochaidh. It is also said to | | | | background featuring the Red Lion Rampant in the |
| be based upon the Greek Achaeans or Achaioi. It is | | | | fore. Rampant means the lion is standing upright, on its |
| this lineage from which Achaius' name was founded. | | | | back legs. Two circles of fleurs-de-lis, the French |
| Many Scots Gaelic names surround this line, including | | | | emblem, surround the red lion. This combination of |
| geographical landmarks and cities, all of whom are | | | | Scottish and French symbols represented the alliance |
| prefixed with the word Achna. | | | | between Charlemagne and Achaius. |
| The Scottish meaning of Achaius is: horse friend, or | | | | Charlemagne was so impressed with Achaius that he |
| friend of a horse. This is said to be a fitting name for | | | | offered the hand of his daughter in marriage, thus |
| King Achaius as his rule was enforced through the use | | | | sealing the deal. The two went on to marry, have |
| of cavalry, his family reign brought on through the use | | | | three sons and one daughter. |
| of armed riders, and their great fondness of horses as | | | | Charlemagne, further enamoured by Achaius and his |
| witnessed by extensive stables. | | | | troops, went on to employ Scottish bodyguards. It was |
| King Achaius was the Pictish King of Scots, ruling from | | | | about this time that King Achaius established the Most |
| 797 through to 819. Although he had several fortified | | | | Noble Order of the Thistle. Achaius appointed 12 |
| strongholds and castles throughout the Highlands of | | | | others to join him in The Order, making the total of |
| Scotland, his primary residence was at what is shall be | | | | Knights 13. This number was selected to be symbolic |
| referred to as Early Inverlochy Castle. There is little | | | | of Christ and his 12 apostles. For several hundred |
| information regarding the exact date of the | | | | years afterward, there were never more than 13 |
| construction or demise of this fortress, but many | | | | Knights. King George IV changed this law, thus allowing |
| scholars do accept the facts of his rule and the its | | | | more than 13 Knights in The Order. |
| whereabouts, noting the destruction by Danish | | | | Early Inverlochy Castle continued for many decades |
| invaders. | | | | after the rule of King Achaius, before its destruction by |
| Inverlochy has strategic significance, as it was | | | | Danish invasion somewhere between the 10th and 11th |
| accessible by sea, via Loch Linnhe and the River | | | | Century. It was later rebuilt in the early 13th Century by |
| Lochy. The site of Early Inverlochy Castle was ideal, | | | | Comyns of Badenoch, and named Inverlochy Castle. |
| as it was bordered along one side by a river, and the | | | | In 1836 Lord Abinger built a new Victorian chalet and |
| remaining sides by a moat. The moat has since filled | | | | named it Inverlochy Castle, a few miles from the ruins |
| with silt and then dirt, but its placement is obvious when | | | | of the 'true' Inverlochy Castle, in Torlundy. Lord |
| viewing the site. | | | | Abinger's decision to name his new home, which is a |
| Roads leading away from Inverlochy Castle carried | | | | present day hotel, Inverlochy Castle has sparked a |
| visitors, troops, and residents in one direction to a | | | | naming controversy. There is now Early Inverlochy |
| smallish settlement, later to be founded as Fort William, | | | | Castle, home to King Achaius, Old Inverlochy Castle, |
| and in the opposite direction, towards present day | | | | built by the Comyns, and Inverlochy Castle, the hotel |
| Inverness. | | | | built by Lord Abinger. |
| King Achaius is most widely known for his alliance with | | | | Regardless of its name, the ruins of Old Inverlochy |
| Charlemagne. Scotland, under Achaius, and France, | | | | Castle are just a few minutes from Fort William, in the |
| Germany, Italy, under Charlemagne, were under | | | | Lochaber Region of the Scottish Highlands, and |
| constant siege from the Saxons. Word of Achaius | | | | definitely worth a day trip to enjoy. |