A chieftain is the leader of a wolf clan. In the clan, they have the highest rank, and they would only submit to other wolves when either they were coming into other clans territory, or when they encounter the Fengo, the highest ranking wolf of the Beyond. Fengos are the 'chieftains' of the Sacred Watch. They reside in their clans Carreg Gaer pack.
History
It is unknown how the wolves started the Great Chain, (which is most likely when the wolves created chieftains) which names all the ranks and the order of everything's importance, starting from Lupus as the highest and the soil as the lowest. All that is known is that the wolves already had their social structure and clan separation when they moved to the Beyond in the time of the Long Cold.
Duncan MacDuncan was one of many wise chieftains.
The Great Chain
Chieftains are fifth in the order of the Great Chain, with ceilidh fyre (lightning) above them and Lords below them. The Great Chain is the wolves of the Beyond's social structure.
Succession
In the event of a Chieftain's passing or retirement, one of his/her suitable pups is chosen to succeed him/her in the leadership of his/her Clan. However, if a chieftain has no offspring alive when he/she passes away, it is normally a high-ranking Lord whom takes over the role (as inferred in Watch Wolf, "Escape of the She-Wolves"). It is also possible that a pupless Chieftain may have a close relative assume the position post-mortem, but no example of this is seen in either series.
Known Chieftains
- Fengo (the Watch; deceased; reincarnated as Faolan)
- Finbar (the Watch; deceased)
- Hamish (the Watch; deceased)
- Dunleavy MacHeath the first (deceased)
- Dunleavy MacHeath (deceased)
- Dunbar MacHeath (deceased)
Namaras are the only female chieftains.
- Liam MacDuncan (deceased)
- Duncan MacDuncan (deceased)
- Namara MacNamara (deceased)
- Gyllbane MacNamara (deceased)
- Galana MacNamara (deceased)
- Duffin MacDuff (most likely deceased)
- Angus MacAngus (deceased)
- Donegel MacDonegel (most likely deceased)
- O'Meg MacDuncan (the Watch; deceased)
- Pegoth MacDuncan (the Watch; deceased)
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Trivia
- "Chieftain" means "leader of a group/clan" in actual reality