I found some photos of places on the Isle of Islay. This photo is of the Dun Nosebridge Hill fort and is really beautiful.
Showing posts with label Isle of Islay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isle of Islay. Show all posts
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Angus Og MacDonald
Angus Og was the second successor to his father Angus Mor MacDonald. His brother Alexander first inherited and on Alexander's death, then Angus Og succeeded them in 1308. During his brothers life, they had both been in favor of the Isles being held under the English crown. Archibald MacDonald in his book, The clan Donald, states that there is a letter written by Angus that states that he and Hugh Bisset had been with the English fleet at the island of Bute and that he and Bisset were awaiting the King of England's commands as to whether they should attack the Lord of Lorn and asks that the king form his own opinion as to whether the Lord of Lorn was loyal to England. He appeared to be loyal to the King of England until the time when Robert the Bruce was forced to take refuge in his lands. After this time he was a supporter of Robert I the Bruce. He seems that he must have truly befriended the Bruce, because at the time he provided aid and shelter to him, Bruce was hiding from the English and there was no benefit for Angus Og to help him.
When Alexander III died, his heir was Margaret, The Maid of Norway. She was Alexander's granddaughter by his daughter Margaret. Margaret had married Eric II of Norway and most likely died giving birth to Margaret, the Maid. When she died on the voyage from Norway to Scotland in 1290.
Previous to this time there existed a dispute over the succession to the throne, between Robert Bruce and the Balliols for the throne. Alexander II had forced them to sign an agreement that his granddaughter would be the heir to the throne.
During the struggle for Scotland's independence, was when Robert the Bruce was forced to seek refuge with Angus Og, who as previously stated willingly gave it to him. Angus hid him in his castle of Saudell in Cantirey, and later moved him to his fortress of Dunvertie on the island of Mull and then when this became unsafe moved him again to the island of Rathlin. At the battle of Bannockburn, Angus Og provided ten thousand men, which he brought to the field with him. Angus and his Islemen were placed on the right flank of Bruce as a permanent mark of distinction for their gallantry in battle. During this time of war in Scotland the MacDoughall's relatives of the MacDonald's and lords of Lorn, were supporters of the Comyns and Balliols, being connected to these families by marriage. This opposition of Bruce caused them to forfeit their lands. Bruce gave the isles of Mull, Jura, Coll and Tiree to Anges Og. These lands had previously been disputed by Angus Og and the MacDoughalls. Angus was also given half of the lordship of Lochaber, which had been forfeited by the Comyn family.
Angus Og married a woman from the family of O'Cahan in Ulster, variously referred to as O'Cathan, or O'Kane. Her first name was probably Agnes, because it was recorded on a Chancery Roll, A.D. 1338, where Agnes, the mother of John of the Isles is granted a safe-conduct protecting her when crossing the Channel fro Ireland as often as she wished to do so. She apparently returned to Ireland to live after her husband's death. Archibald MacDonald says her father was Guy or Conbuidh O'Cathan, one of the great barons of Ulster, Lord of Limvady, and master of the whole County of Derry.
Angus received as part of her dowry, seven score of men, from all of the different surnames under O'Cathan and he settled them on his newly acquired lands.
Angus Og was described as a "personable, modest man,affable,and not disaffected to king or state. His son by O'Cathan's daughter, was named John and he succeeded him to the throne.
Angus Og died at Isla at his palace of Finlagan in the year 1325 and was interred in Icolumbkill inside the chapel of St. Oran in Iona. And his King Robert Bruce died shortly before.
When Alexander III died, his heir was Margaret, The Maid of Norway. She was Alexander's granddaughter by his daughter Margaret. Margaret had married Eric II of Norway and most likely died giving birth to Margaret, the Maid. When she died on the voyage from Norway to Scotland in 1290.
Previous to this time there existed a dispute over the succession to the throne, between Robert Bruce and the Balliols for the throne. Alexander II had forced them to sign an agreement that his granddaughter would be the heir to the throne.
During the struggle for Scotland's independence, was when Robert the Bruce was forced to seek refuge with Angus Og, who as previously stated willingly gave it to him. Angus hid him in his castle of Saudell in Cantirey, and later moved him to his fortress of Dunvertie on the island of Mull and then when this became unsafe moved him again to the island of Rathlin. At the battle of Bannockburn, Angus Og provided ten thousand men, which he brought to the field with him. Angus and his Islemen were placed on the right flank of Bruce as a permanent mark of distinction for their gallantry in battle. During this time of war in Scotland the MacDoughall's relatives of the MacDonald's and lords of Lorn, were supporters of the Comyns and Balliols, being connected to these families by marriage. This opposition of Bruce caused them to forfeit their lands. Bruce gave the isles of Mull, Jura, Coll and Tiree to Anges Og. These lands had previously been disputed by Angus Og and the MacDoughalls. Angus was also given half of the lordship of Lochaber, which had been forfeited by the Comyn family.
Angus Og married a woman from the family of O'Cahan in Ulster, variously referred to as O'Cathan, or O'Kane. Her first name was probably Agnes, because it was recorded on a Chancery Roll, A.D. 1338, where Agnes, the mother of John of the Isles is granted a safe-conduct protecting her when crossing the Channel fro Ireland as often as she wished to do so. She apparently returned to Ireland to live after her husband's death. Archibald MacDonald says her father was Guy or Conbuidh O'Cathan, one of the great barons of Ulster, Lord of Limvady, and master of the whole County of Derry.
Angus received as part of her dowry, seven score of men, from all of the different surnames under O'Cathan and he settled them on his newly acquired lands.
Angus Og was described as a "personable, modest man,affable,and not disaffected to king or state. His son by O'Cathan's daughter, was named John and he succeeded him to the throne.
Angus Og died at Isla at his palace of Finlagan in the year 1325 and was interred in Icolumbkill inside the chapel of St. Oran in Iona. And his King Robert Bruce died shortly before.
Angus Mor MacDonald
Angus Mor, the son of Donald and grandson of Ranald MacSomerled succeeded on his father's death to the lordship of Islay.
During the time when Alexander III was in his minority, Angus Mor MacDonald did not have anything to fear from him. But when Alexander reached adulthood and assumed power. He immediately resumed the ambition of his father to bring the chiefs of the west including Angus Mor, under his control. He determined to do this by whatever means necessary. He seems to have had success through diplomatic means with Angus Mor. He held Angus' son Alexander as hostage and a document was drawn that said Angus forfeited his land if he deserted the King's cause.
During this time, conflict between Scotland and Norway had become ever more likely. They were in dispute as to who had the overlordship of the Isles. The Scottish Earl of Ross, attacked the Isle of Skye, and committed many attrocities there. The Island Chiefs appealed to Haco, King of Denmark for aid. Haco heard of the attrocities against his vassals in the Northern Isles and immediately set sail. Angus Mor of Isla and Kintyre joined the Norwegian forces, as did all of the princes who descended from Somerled, except one named Ewin of Lorn.
King Haco's fleet sailed to Loch Lomond and from there entered the country of Lennox, which was on the far side of the lake, laying waste to everything in their path. Haco's expedition resulted in re-establishing Norwegian authority in the Northern Isles. There were some attempts at peace made between Alexander and Haco, but no agreement was met. The Scottish strategy was to delay. Summer was almost over and winter approaching. Haco was a long way from his home base of operation and was having difficulty supplying a force that far from home. There was to be another large battle before hostilities ceased, the battle of Largs. The battle on land left no decided victor, but the battle at sea was a loss for the Norwegians because story weather forced his fleet away from the coast and dispersed it. Scotland succeeded in acquiring the Isles by diplomatic means, and not military means. Haco died on his voyage home and the King of Scotland was forced to come to an arrangement with his son Magnus.
It took three years for these diplomatic negotiations to end. It was agreed that 4000 merks sterling would be paid to Norway, together with an annual tribute or quit-rent of 100 merks sterling, called the Annual of Norway, to be paid to the Church of Saint Magnus in Orkney. The King of Man would now be the vassal of Alexander, and both sides agreed that if the treaty was broken, they would pay a penalty of 10,000 merks to the Pope. The people who lived on the Isles were allowed to remain or to immigrate to Norway. It is likely that many of them did return to Norway.
Archibald MacDonald says that since Alexander gave such generous terms to the Isles, it is an indication that he was not sure that he could hold possession of them. Angus Mor kept his lands just as they had been before. The Sagas say that he offered to surrender his lands to Haco and that Haco in turn bestowed them back onto him. Other accounts indicate that Isla had been taken from him. Haco would not have taken Angus' lands from him by force if he had wanted his aid in the battle with Scotland. At any rate, Angus Mor appears to have faired the conflict between Scotland and Norway without any lossses. The King of Scotland seems not to have born him any ill will for having supported Haco, as he was in attendance at a convention declaring the Maiden of Norway to be the heiress of the Scottish Crown in 1284.
He seems to have been no less pious than his father and grandfather had been. He confirmed their grants to the Abbey of Saddell and granted it further lands himself by four separate charters. He made a donation to the convent of Paisley of a half a mark of silver and also gave a monastery at the same place the patronage of the Church of Kilkerran, in Kintyre.
It would be fair to say that under the feudal system Angus Mor would have been a vassal of Norway, whom he had held his lands from before Scotland and Norway made their treaty, and simultaneously a vassal to Scottland for his lands on the mainland.
Angus Mor lived part of his life at the Castle of Ardtornish. He married a daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Glenurchy. He occupied his throne for a half a century. Hugh MacDonald of Sleat describes Angus Mor as having " a very amiable and cheerful disposition, and more witty than any could take him to be by his countenance."
They had sons Alexander, his heir and Angus Og, who succeeded when his brother Alexander died. I descend from Angus Og, so that is the point from which I will continue.
Sources:
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles By Alexander Mackenzie
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macdonald/other_isles.htm
The clan Donald By Archibald Macdonald
Britain and Ireland, 900-1300: insular responses to medieval ... by Brendan Smith - 1999
Annals of the Reigns of Malcolm and William Kings of Scotland, A.D. 1153-1214, (Glasgow, 1910) Lawrie, Archibald Campbell
The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard, c. 1100-1336, (Edinburgh, 1997) by Andrew R. McDonald
The wars of Scotland, 1214-1371 - Page 256
by Michael Brown - History - 2004
During the time when Alexander III was in his minority, Angus Mor MacDonald did not have anything to fear from him. But when Alexander reached adulthood and assumed power. He immediately resumed the ambition of his father to bring the chiefs of the west including Angus Mor, under his control. He determined to do this by whatever means necessary. He seems to have had success through diplomatic means with Angus Mor. He held Angus' son Alexander as hostage and a document was drawn that said Angus forfeited his land if he deserted the King's cause.
During this time, conflict between Scotland and Norway had become ever more likely. They were in dispute as to who had the overlordship of the Isles. The Scottish Earl of Ross, attacked the Isle of Skye, and committed many attrocities there. The Island Chiefs appealed to Haco, King of Denmark for aid. Haco heard of the attrocities against his vassals in the Northern Isles and immediately set sail. Angus Mor of Isla and Kintyre joined the Norwegian forces, as did all of the princes who descended from Somerled, except one named Ewin of Lorn.
King Haco's fleet sailed to Loch Lomond and from there entered the country of Lennox, which was on the far side of the lake, laying waste to everything in their path. Haco's expedition resulted in re-establishing Norwegian authority in the Northern Isles. There were some attempts at peace made between Alexander and Haco, but no agreement was met. The Scottish strategy was to delay. Summer was almost over and winter approaching. Haco was a long way from his home base of operation and was having difficulty supplying a force that far from home. There was to be another large battle before hostilities ceased, the battle of Largs. The battle on land left no decided victor, but the battle at sea was a loss for the Norwegians because story weather forced his fleet away from the coast and dispersed it. Scotland succeeded in acquiring the Isles by diplomatic means, and not military means. Haco died on his voyage home and the King of Scotland was forced to come to an arrangement with his son Magnus.
It took three years for these diplomatic negotiations to end. It was agreed that 4000 merks sterling would be paid to Norway, together with an annual tribute or quit-rent of 100 merks sterling, called the Annual of Norway, to be paid to the Church of Saint Magnus in Orkney. The King of Man would now be the vassal of Alexander, and both sides agreed that if the treaty was broken, they would pay a penalty of 10,000 merks to the Pope. The people who lived on the Isles were allowed to remain or to immigrate to Norway. It is likely that many of them did return to Norway.
Archibald MacDonald says that since Alexander gave such generous terms to the Isles, it is an indication that he was not sure that he could hold possession of them. Angus Mor kept his lands just as they had been before. The Sagas say that he offered to surrender his lands to Haco and that Haco in turn bestowed them back onto him. Other accounts indicate that Isla had been taken from him. Haco would not have taken Angus' lands from him by force if he had wanted his aid in the battle with Scotland. At any rate, Angus Mor appears to have faired the conflict between Scotland and Norway without any lossses. The King of Scotland seems not to have born him any ill will for having supported Haco, as he was in attendance at a convention declaring the Maiden of Norway to be the heiress of the Scottish Crown in 1284.
He seems to have been no less pious than his father and grandfather had been. He confirmed their grants to the Abbey of Saddell and granted it further lands himself by four separate charters. He made a donation to the convent of Paisley of a half a mark of silver and also gave a monastery at the same place the patronage of the Church of Kilkerran, in Kintyre.
It would be fair to say that under the feudal system Angus Mor would have been a vassal of Norway, whom he had held his lands from before Scotland and Norway made their treaty, and simultaneously a vassal to Scottland for his lands on the mainland.
Angus Mor lived part of his life at the Castle of Ardtornish. He married a daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Glenurchy. He occupied his throne for a half a century. Hugh MacDonald of Sleat describes Angus Mor as having " a very amiable and cheerful disposition, and more witty than any could take him to be by his countenance."
They had sons Alexander, his heir and Angus Og, who succeeded when his brother Alexander died. I descend from Angus Og, so that is the point from which I will continue.
Sources:
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles By Alexander Mackenzie
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macdonald/other_isles.htm
The clan Donald By Archibald Macdonald
Britain and Ireland, 900-1300: insular responses to medieval ... by Brendan Smith - 1999
Annals of the Reigns of Malcolm and William Kings of Scotland, A.D. 1153-1214, (Glasgow, 1910) Lawrie, Archibald Campbell
The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard, c. 1100-1336, (Edinburgh, 1997) by Andrew R. McDonald
The wars of Scotland, 1214-1371 - Page 256
by Michael Brown - History - 2004
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