Hugh of Sleat, also known as Uisdean, MacDonald was an illegitmate son of Alexander MacDonald, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross. Hugh's clan would become known as Clan Uisdean, or Clan Donald North.
Sources vary as to whether his mother was Elizabeth Seton or a daughter of Gillepatrick Roy, son of Rory, son of the Green Abbot of Applecross.
He was probably born in Dingwall Castle, not far from Inverness Scotland, which became the possession of his father Alexander MacDonald when he became Earl of Ross.
Some sources say he died at Paisley Abbey, Paisley, Scottland, and was buried at a place called Sand, on the island of North Uist. This place is called Clachan Shannda. Clachan means, a small village with a church. Shannda means, Sand or Sand Island in Norse. Alexander MacKenzie, wrote that he died in 1498.
Hugh received a charter from his brother John, for the lands of Sleat on the Isle of Skye, which lies off the western coast of Scotland. This happened in about 1449, when his brother was about 15 and Hugh was around 13. Despite the spelling, Sleat is pronounced "slate".
Besides Sleat,Hugh held lands under his brother John, in Uist, Benbecula and Garmoran.
the Orkney Islands with William Macleaod of Dunvegan and Harris and other chieftains in 1460.
Hugh was a powerful warrior and not only maintained his own rights, but ravaged
There are different opinions as to when Hugh became "of Sleat", but he signed a charter of his brother's in 1461 as Hugh of Sleat. Hugh received a royal confirmation of his lands in 1476, and it was reconfirmed on paper in 1495.
Hugh had six or seven other sons by different women, and at least one daughter.
Hugh's first wife was Fynvola Macian, daughter of Alexander Macian of Ardnamurchan,by whom he had a son named John, who was his heir. This John died without issue. John of Sleat, resigned his lands into the hands of James IV in 1505. He supposedly did this because he had no heirs and disliked his brothers. His resignation left his brothers with no legal title to their lands for a while.
Hugh had a son by the daughter of Gunn in Caithness. He was named Donald Gallach, which means of Caithness. History of the Western Highlands and Isles says that they were married.
Donald Gallach, became the heir after the death of his brother.
The History of the MacDonalds and Lords of the Isles says that he had a son named Donald Herrach, by a daughter of Macleod of Harris, who was the progenitor of the MacDonalds of Balranald and others in the Western Isles. Also listed is a son named Gillespic Dubh(Archibald).
The Black Book of Clanranald names the first four sons of Hugh: Eoin mac Huistiuin (John MacUisdean); Domhnall Gallach mac Huisdiuin (Donald MacUisdean); Domnhnall Hearach mc Huisdiuin (Donald Harris); and Giolla Asbuig mc huisdiuin (Archibald McUisdean)
When Hugh's brother John died, Hugh and his descendants, by virtue of being nearest realtive, became rightful representatives of the family. Hugh's great grandson Donald claimed right to the title, Lord of the Isles, but James V refused to restore the title, believing that its suppression was advisable in order to keep peace in the country, being well aware that this Donald's forebears had been very rebellious.
The descendants of Hugh incresed rapidly in the sixteenth century, and were known as Clan Huistein, or children of Hugh and sometimes Clan Donald north. The name of Clan Donald may have begun because the next six chiefs after Hugh's son John were all named Donald, and North being added to distinguish them from the Clan Ian Vor of Isla and Kintyre who were known as Clandonald also. The direct line of the MacDonald clan became extinct in the 16th century and since that time MacDonald of Sleat has been called in Gaelic, MacDhonuill na'n Eileen, or in English, MacDonald of the Isles.
All of Hugh's sons died violent deaths in the contest over his title, Chief of Clan Donald of Sleat. However, his line has carried down through Clan Donald to the present day. Lord Godfrey Macdonald is Chief of all Clan Donald, and Sir Ian Macdonald is Chief of Sleat. Sir Ian is also Premier Baron of Nova Scotia. Both men descend from Hugh.
Donald Gallach's son, Alexander, took the names of Hugh to Ireland, in 1565, to fight for his first cousin, Sorley Boy McDonnell, leader of Clan Donald South. Sorley Boy "and others" were the earliest known people to be noted as being "of the Scotch-Irish race", in a manifesto from Queen Elizabeth I, of 1573. In Ireland, the McQuiston, Hutchinson, and Houston names thrived as early members of the Scotch-Irish race, until immigration began, in earnest, to America.
Castle Uisdean was the last castle built on the Isle of Skye, by one of Hugh's descendants It is located on the Trotternish Peninsula of Skye, whereas Hugh of Sleat ruled from the Sleat Peninsula of Skye, at Dunscaith Castle.
The McQuiston Church, which still stands in Belfast, was once the largest Presbyterian congregation, with over 1600 children in Sunday School. McQuistons currently play major roles in peace efforts in Northern Ireland and the preservation of ancient Irish architecture. A McQuiston in Scotland is also instrumental in the historic preservation of DunDonald Castle.
In America, the legacy and family line of Uisdean is still alive and well.
From Hugh's line came Captain Jack McQuesten, Father of Alaska, Father of the Yukon. Jack was a principal grubstaker for hundreds of Yukon gold miners. He was a friend of the great American author, Jack London; he helped the Smithsonian collect rare samples of animals from Alaska; he was considered the expert on the border between Alaska and the Yukon Territory; and there is some evidence that Yukon Jack whiskey is named for him.
Hugh's descendants also played a substantial role in the American Revolutionary War. James McQuiston was a "spy on the western frontier" of Pennsylvania, for the Colonial Army. His first cousin, Thomas McCuistion, fought at the first battle of the Revolution, at Alamance County, North Carolina, in 1771. Thomas and his family fought at the last big battle of the Revolution, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, (also in North Carolina) where one quarter of Cornwallis's crack troops were decimated. Cornwallis took over the McCuistion homestead as his headquarters, just before the battle, as indicated in his own tactical log of the campaign.
There is also evidence that President Andrew Jackson may have had connections to Hugh of Sleat's family through his mother's Hutchinson name, and through his likely great grandmother, Jean McCuistion. Jackson also has another Clan Donald name in his lineage, that of Mary McRandall, so it seems without a doubt that he was of Clan Donald in one way or another. His best friend and protege, Sam Houston, was also very likely of Hugh of Sleat's family, as perhaps was Stephen F. Austin, another great Texas hero. Robert McCuistion, son of Thomas, was the first financier of Texas, giving Sam Houston a McCuistion family treasure worth approximately $25,000, in the money of the day, in return for 10,000 acres (40 km²) of Texas, the deed for which still exists.
His Sleat land was in the hands of the McDonalds of Sleat line until 1971, approximately 522 years. The Clan Donald Center on Skye still stands on Sleat land.
The Celtic magazine - Page 218
by Alexander Mackenzie, Alexander Macgregor -1880
Hugh, often called “Austin” and “Augustine,” being a corruption of the Gaelic equivaletn of Hugh, i.e., Huistean or Uistean. He was styled Lord of Sleat, and married, first, Finvola, daughter of MacIan of Ardnamurchan, by whom he had John, his heir, who died withut issue. He married secondly, a lady of the Clan Gunn in Caithness, by whom he had issue, who carried on the succession, and whose descendants are now held, by general concurrence, to represrnt, as heirs male, John, lat Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, forfeited in these honors, respectively, in 1475 and 1494. A question has been raised about the legitimacy of Celestine(Hugh's brother) and Hugh, as well as of Hugh's descndants, especially Donald Gallach, from whom is descended the present Lord MacDonald of the Isles. Respecting Hugh, after describing the results of a successful raid under him to Orkney, Hugh MacDonald says, that “Having routed the enemy, Austin (Hugh) and his party began to ravage the country, that being the only reward they had for their pains and fatigue, with whih, having loaded their galleys, they returned home. Austine having halted at Caithness, he got a son by the Crowner of Caithness's daughter, of the name of Gun, which at the time was a very flourishing name there, descended of the Danes. This son was called Donald Gallich, being brought up in that country in his younger years; for the ancient Scots, until this day call the couty of Caithness Gallibh.”
Sources:
Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_of_Sleat
History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland, from A.D. ...
by Donald Gregory - 1836
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles
By Alexander Mackenzie
http://www.macdonald.com/sleat.html
Guide to the highlands and islands of Scotland, including Orkney and Zetland ... - Page 577
by George Anderson, Peter Anderson - 1851
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal - Page 111
by William Chambers, Robert Chambers - London (England) - 1852
Showing posts with label Lords of the Isles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lords of the Isles. Show all posts
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Alexander MacDonald of Islay, Lord of the the Isles
Alexander MacDonald of Islay, Lord of the the Isles
Alexander of Islay or Alexander MacDonald succeeded his father, Donald or Domhnall MacDonald, as Lord of the Isles. And then attained the title of Earl of Ross, which his father had sought unsuccessfully. Donald MacDonald had contended with the Duke of Albany for this earldom, while the Duke was Regent to the throne of Scotland, which he had been due to James I being in English captivity. Donald had taken forces to Ross and conquered it in battle, but had been unable to hold it. The Regent, the Duke of Albany had given it to his son the Duke of Buchan and when this son was later killed at the battle of Verneuil, it had reverted back to the crown.
Robert, The Duke of Albany died in 1420 and was succeeded in the Regency by his son Murdoch. He was not as able to effect a strong government as his father had been and the kingdom deteriorated into chaos. Murdoch fearing for the kingdom decided to negotiate for the release of James I who was being held by the English. A ranson was agreed on and James was sent home to his throne.
When James I returned to Scotland, he found that the Duke of Albany controlled too much of his kingdom and he determined to remove some of that power from him. This made James and Alexander MacDonald natural allies against a common foe.
Alexander MacDonald attended a parliament in May 1425-6 here the Duke of Albany and his son were ordered to be executed. With the Duke of Albany out of the way, this removed the need for Alexander to ally himself with the king of Scotland. Some writers believe that James acknowledged Alexander's control of the Earldom of Ross in reward for his support against the Duke of Albany. The Scottish historian Richard Oram, believed that Alexander assumed this earldom to which James was entitled to hold as a way of provoking him and asserting his independence from him. Archibald MacDonald wrote that Alexander and his mother Mary were entitled to the earldom, since she was the next in line of succession. Alexander referred to himself as Master of Ross in the records concerning the execution of the Duke of Albany. There is a charter at the island of Finlaggan in Yle and one bestowing lands of Barra and ofBoisdale in South Uist in which he referrs to himself as Master of Ross. Whether or not they had been given the title by James I, they considered that it was legally theirs and if the king was keeping the earldom from them, they would have considered it an illegal move.
James I was not happy with Alexander's uncle John Mor MacDonald because he was harboring and protecting the son of the executed Duke of Albany named James Mor (James the Fat).
The History of the MacDonalds says that James I attempted to make a deal with John Mor MacDonald in which he probably offered him the lordship of the Isles. Archibald MacDonald wrote that the rationalization fro giving John Mor MacDonald(also know as Tainistear) Alexander's possessions was that John Mor was more closely related to the Crown than Alexander was. But John Mor was loyal to his nephew and kinsman and refused to negotiate as long as Alexander was being held captive. James I's plans also backfired when he sent James Campbell to arrest John Mor MacDonald and in the process John was killed. John Mor MacDonald was summoned to a meeting at Ard Dubh point in Isla. James tried to remove himself from any blame in this and had James Campbell hanged. Anger over the murder of John Mor was causing a political uproar among James I's lords.
Archibald MacDonald wrote that the Highlands had lapsed into a virtual state of independence. The barons in Scotland's Highlands had become so powerful that many of them were virtually a law unto themselves. King James I's policy was to restore law and order to his kingdom, by curbing the power of his barons. James decided to start with the Highlands. He marched to Inverness at the head of a large army, which included most of the barons of the Lowlands. Then he convened a Parliament, and summoned the barons and others to be present.
Apparently, when the barons came, they brought with them large bodies of men, who were under them. Angus Dubh MacAoidh, Chief of the Mackays, who had fought at Dingwall when Alexander's father Donald MacDonald had invaded and taken possession of Ross. He led 4000 men. Kenneth Mor MacKenzie and his son in law John Ross came with 2000 men. William Leslie, Angus de Moravia, and Matheson, led 2000 men as well. John Macarthur of the Campbell clan, came from Argyllshire with 1000 men. The Clan Donald was represented by Alexander, Lord of the Isles and Alexander MacGorrie of GarmoranAll together, this was a massive convention of lords and their forces. At the time of this Parliament there was an ongoing dispute over Alexander MacGorrie's lordship of Garmoran. John MacAurthur from Clan Campbell believed he had a right to a part of it based on an old charter.
When the men from Clan MacDonald arrived at the Parliament, they were immediately captured. Some of them were imprisoned and some of them were murdered without benefit of trial of any sort. Alexander MacGorrie was one of those who was murdered. James imprisoned Alexander, his mother Mary(probably because it was through her that Alexander had a claim to the earldom of Ross) and around fifty others who were Alexander MacDonald's allies. This included his uncle and heir-designate John Mór, in the tower of Inverness Castle.
Among the other prisoners were Alexander's most important Ross allies; men such as Aonghas Dubh MacAoidh, the chief of the MacKays of Strathnaver. Mackay's son Niall Og, who was the daughter of Foulis Munro, from one of Ross' most important families. George Munro, who was the head of the Munros was also arrested. William Leslie and John de Ross of Balnagown, two important landowners and kinsmen of Mary were also imprisoned, as were the heads of the Wester Ross Lochalsh MacMhathain (Matheson) and the Kintail MacChoinnich (MacKenzie) kindreds. Most of these men, including John Mór, seem to have been released within a short time, although James took a few back to the south with him.
Alexander was not imprisoned for more than a few months. He accompanied James from Iverness to Perth. where March 1, 1427, he received a royal rebuke in front of "the whole estates of the realm". After being rebuked for his past behavior and offenses, he was made to promise his good behavior, and restored to favor and given his liberty. His mother was kept as a hostage for assurance of this continued good behavior in the island of Incholm, in the Firth of Forth.
The King's actions did not put down the rebellion of the Highlanders, it just mad them that more rebellious. Alexander did not just forget the murder of his relatives and the treatment of himself and his mother. Shortly after he was released from prison, Alexander was a war with the king. Domhnall Ballach the son of the murdered John Mor would have been keen to seek revenge and they were supported by their uncle Alasdair Carrach a younger son of their grandfather. They helped convince Alexander to go to war. He raised 10,000 men from the Isles and from Ross and invaded the mainland in 1429.
Alexander attacked Inverness in the Spring of 1429. Just as his father had done when he invaded the mainland, Alexander burnt Inverness and lay to waste the lands around it. Like his father before, Alexander did not manage to take possession of Inverness and so he went back to Lochaber which was used by his family as a base of operations, when they were on the mainland.
The King's army soon persued him there. The Camerons and the Mackintoshes deserted and went over to the King's side. This made the attack impossible to resist, so Alexander had to seek terms for peace. James I insisted on an unconditional surrender.
Alexander was not yet prepared to give unconditional surrender, so he returned to the Isles. He considered escape to the north of Ireland.
At the same time this was going on, James I had a serious threat to his place on the throne. James Mor, the son of the murdered Murdoch, was being supported as the backing of the former vassals of his father in Lennox, Menteith and Fife as a replacement to James I. James Mor had the support of the King of England, who was angry that James I would not recognize him as his superior and because James had not kept the terms that had been negotiated for his realsease from imprisonment in England. Alexander MacDonald now also supported him for king.
A fleet of men went from Scotland to Ireland,to bring James Mor back from his banishment so that he could be made king. But he died before he could return.
In the summer of 1429, James I raised an army and marched through Atholl and Badenoch, and somewhere near the border of Badenoch and Lochaber, they met Alexander MacDonald. When they saw the king's banner, the Chattan and Cameron clans defected to the king's side. Alexander was then defeated in battle. Alexander escaped capture, but the king continued his march and seized the castles of Urquart and Dingwall. James I now sent an expedition armed with artillery to the Hebrides.
Alexander MacDonald found himself in a difficult spot and decided to surrender on August 27, 1429 at Hollyrood Abbey, near Edinburgh. King James was advised by his barons to give Alexander grace. He sent him to Tantallon Castle in the custody of William Douglas, Earl of Angus.
With Alexander MacDonald in his custody, King James put the northern campaign under the control of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. He also made Alan Stewart Earl of Caithness and he was to aid the Earl of Mar. The royal earldoms of Ross and Buchan were put under the command of the Earl of Mar, as well as the castle of Urquart. Alasdair Carrach's lordship of Lochaber was put under Mar's command in 1431.
James used marriages to put more lordships under the control of those loyal to him. The earl of Mar received a papal dispensation about 1432 to marry Margaret Seton, the mother of the heiress of the earldom of Moray, so that he could administer it in their right. Another marriage was arranged between Lochlan MacLean of the Macleans of Duart a vassal and kinsman of the Lords of the Isle, to the Earl of Mar's daughter in order to give him influence over the lordship of the Isle itself.
Clan Donald resented the humilation their chieftain had received. The leaders of the clan decided to strike a blow for their honor and for revenge. The whole Clan MacDonald was called together, under Donald Balloch, Lord of Dunnyveg, son of John Mor MacDonald, who had been assasinated by James Campbell.
The Earl of Mar decided that the main campaign against the Highlanders should be at Lochaber, where he hoped to establish himself in the lordship that he had been given by the king. Possibly because they had recently been beaten, the Earl of Mar, underestimated the enemy that was marching to meet his troops. He sat in his tent and played card.
Alexander MacDonald was able to get a message to his kinsmen and those loyal to him tofact the enemy with bravery, whatever the consequences to him might be. When the Islemen met the King's army under the command of Mar. it resulted in the utter defeat and slaughter of Mars forces. The Earl of Mar was wounded by an arrow in the leg and took refuge in the hills. The Earl fled through Badenoch in disguise, taking shelter in a hut in the hills.
After defeating the King's troops, Donald Balloch took a large amount of booty back to the Isles with him. From there he went by ship to his Irish lands.
King James was angry when he heard of the defeat at Inverlocy and he got Parliament to impose a tax to defray the cost of a new campaign against the Highlanders. He went to Dunstaffnage Castle in the area of Oban, intending to go to the Isles to extract reveng on Donald Balloch and his allies. Alexander MacDonald said that the Scottish historians were mistaken when they reported that 300 of Donald Balloch's men surrendered and were all either beheaded or hanged and that Donald Balloch's head was sent as a present from Ireland.
He says that Donald Balloch was alive and well enought to fight in the Scottish civil war, long afterwards. A human head was sent, and mistakenly believed to be Donald's. According to his account Donald Balloch married the O' Niell's Daughter in Ireland.
In October, 1431, James II,the heir to the throne was born and as part of the celebration, amnesty was granted to several political prisoners. Alexander MacDonald was one of them. He was free, and his dignities and possessions were restored to him.
After his release, Alexander's life was fairly peaceful. James I, however, was assassinated February 21, 1437. Sometime during that year Alexander MacDonald signed a charter as the Earl of Ross. This suggests that the Regents of the young king James II gave him the earldom. These Regents were Alexander Livingstone of Calendar and William Crichton. They appointed Archibald, Earl of Douglas Lieutenant-General of Scotland. Archibald was a friend of Alexander MacDonald. Archibald's influence may have helped achieve Alexander's advancement to Earl of Ross, and to Justiciar or High Sheriff of the region north of the Forth, within a year of the death of James I.
The position of Justiciar gave Alexander command over the town of Inverness, where many of his courts were held. This is ironic considering he had burnt it down as had his father before him.
After becoming, at last, Earl of Ross, it appears that Alexander spent his remaining years consolidating his earldom. There are charters signed by him from the castles of Dingwall and Inverness, which indicate these were his chief residences. Alexander had bastard sons Uisdean (Hugh of Sleat) who received Sleat, and Gilleasbeaig (Celsestine) who was given Lochalsh.
Alexander MacDonald of Islay, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross, died at Dingwall in May 1449. He was buried in Fortrose Cathedral. He had two mistresses. A daughter of MacPhee, by whom he sired several bastard sons. And another named Elizabeth Seton, the daughter of Alexander Seton, Lord of Gordon and Huntly, who bore him John MacDonald who succeeded Alexander at the age of 15.
Sources:
The Lordship of the Isles, by Richard Oram
Annals of the Four Masters, http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G100005D/text006.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_of_Islay,_Earl_of_Ross
The clan Donald
By Archibald Macdonald
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/ghi/alexanderofislay.html
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macdonald/other_isles.htm
Alexander of Islay or Alexander MacDonald succeeded his father, Donald or Domhnall MacDonald, as Lord of the Isles. And then attained the title of Earl of Ross, which his father had sought unsuccessfully. Donald MacDonald had contended with the Duke of Albany for this earldom, while the Duke was Regent to the throne of Scotland, which he had been due to James I being in English captivity. Donald had taken forces to Ross and conquered it in battle, but had been unable to hold it. The Regent, the Duke of Albany had given it to his son the Duke of Buchan and when this son was later killed at the battle of Verneuil, it had reverted back to the crown.
Robert, The Duke of Albany died in 1420 and was succeeded in the Regency by his son Murdoch. He was not as able to effect a strong government as his father had been and the kingdom deteriorated into chaos. Murdoch fearing for the kingdom decided to negotiate for the release of James I who was being held by the English. A ranson was agreed on and James was sent home to his throne.
When James I returned to Scotland, he found that the Duke of Albany controlled too much of his kingdom and he determined to remove some of that power from him. This made James and Alexander MacDonald natural allies against a common foe.
Alexander MacDonald attended a parliament in May 1425-6 here the Duke of Albany and his son were ordered to be executed. With the Duke of Albany out of the way, this removed the need for Alexander to ally himself with the king of Scotland. Some writers believe that James acknowledged Alexander's control of the Earldom of Ross in reward for his support against the Duke of Albany. The Scottish historian Richard Oram, believed that Alexander assumed this earldom to which James was entitled to hold as a way of provoking him and asserting his independence from him. Archibald MacDonald wrote that Alexander and his mother Mary were entitled to the earldom, since she was the next in line of succession. Alexander referred to himself as Master of Ross in the records concerning the execution of the Duke of Albany. There is a charter at the island of Finlaggan in Yle and one bestowing lands of Barra and ofBoisdale in South Uist in which he referrs to himself as Master of Ross. Whether or not they had been given the title by James I, they considered that it was legally theirs and if the king was keeping the earldom from them, they would have considered it an illegal move.
James I was not happy with Alexander's uncle John Mor MacDonald because he was harboring and protecting the son of the executed Duke of Albany named James Mor (James the Fat).
The History of the MacDonalds says that James I attempted to make a deal with John Mor MacDonald in which he probably offered him the lordship of the Isles. Archibald MacDonald wrote that the rationalization fro giving John Mor MacDonald(also know as Tainistear) Alexander's possessions was that John Mor was more closely related to the Crown than Alexander was. But John Mor was loyal to his nephew and kinsman and refused to negotiate as long as Alexander was being held captive. James I's plans also backfired when he sent James Campbell to arrest John Mor MacDonald and in the process John was killed. John Mor MacDonald was summoned to a meeting at Ard Dubh point in Isla. James tried to remove himself from any blame in this and had James Campbell hanged. Anger over the murder of John Mor was causing a political uproar among James I's lords.
Archibald MacDonald wrote that the Highlands had lapsed into a virtual state of independence. The barons in Scotland's Highlands had become so powerful that many of them were virtually a law unto themselves. King James I's policy was to restore law and order to his kingdom, by curbing the power of his barons. James decided to start with the Highlands. He marched to Inverness at the head of a large army, which included most of the barons of the Lowlands. Then he convened a Parliament, and summoned the barons and others to be present.
Apparently, when the barons came, they brought with them large bodies of men, who were under them. Angus Dubh MacAoidh, Chief of the Mackays, who had fought at Dingwall when Alexander's father Donald MacDonald had invaded and taken possession of Ross. He led 4000 men. Kenneth Mor MacKenzie and his son in law John Ross came with 2000 men. William Leslie, Angus de Moravia, and Matheson, led 2000 men as well. John Macarthur of the Campbell clan, came from Argyllshire with 1000 men. The Clan Donald was represented by Alexander, Lord of the Isles and Alexander MacGorrie of GarmoranAll together, this was a massive convention of lords and their forces. At the time of this Parliament there was an ongoing dispute over Alexander MacGorrie's lordship of Garmoran. John MacAurthur from Clan Campbell believed he had a right to a part of it based on an old charter.
When the men from Clan MacDonald arrived at the Parliament, they were immediately captured. Some of them were imprisoned and some of them were murdered without benefit of trial of any sort. Alexander MacGorrie was one of those who was murdered. James imprisoned Alexander, his mother Mary(probably because it was through her that Alexander had a claim to the earldom of Ross) and around fifty others who were Alexander MacDonald's allies. This included his uncle and heir-designate John Mór, in the tower of Inverness Castle.
Among the other prisoners were Alexander's most important Ross allies; men such as Aonghas Dubh MacAoidh, the chief of the MacKays of Strathnaver. Mackay's son Niall Og, who was the daughter of Foulis Munro, from one of Ross' most important families. George Munro, who was the head of the Munros was also arrested. William Leslie and John de Ross of Balnagown, two important landowners and kinsmen of Mary were also imprisoned, as were the heads of the Wester Ross Lochalsh MacMhathain (Matheson) and the Kintail MacChoinnich (MacKenzie) kindreds. Most of these men, including John Mór, seem to have been released within a short time, although James took a few back to the south with him.
Alexander was not imprisoned for more than a few months. He accompanied James from Iverness to Perth. where March 1, 1427, he received a royal rebuke in front of "the whole estates of the realm". After being rebuked for his past behavior and offenses, he was made to promise his good behavior, and restored to favor and given his liberty. His mother was kept as a hostage for assurance of this continued good behavior in the island of Incholm, in the Firth of Forth.
The King's actions did not put down the rebellion of the Highlanders, it just mad them that more rebellious. Alexander did not just forget the murder of his relatives and the treatment of himself and his mother. Shortly after he was released from prison, Alexander was a war with the king. Domhnall Ballach the son of the murdered John Mor would have been keen to seek revenge and they were supported by their uncle Alasdair Carrach a younger son of their grandfather. They helped convince Alexander to go to war. He raised 10,000 men from the Isles and from Ross and invaded the mainland in 1429.
Alexander attacked Inverness in the Spring of 1429. Just as his father had done when he invaded the mainland, Alexander burnt Inverness and lay to waste the lands around it. Like his father before, Alexander did not manage to take possession of Inverness and so he went back to Lochaber which was used by his family as a base of operations, when they were on the mainland.
The King's army soon persued him there. The Camerons and the Mackintoshes deserted and went over to the King's side. This made the attack impossible to resist, so Alexander had to seek terms for peace. James I insisted on an unconditional surrender.
Alexander was not yet prepared to give unconditional surrender, so he returned to the Isles. He considered escape to the north of Ireland.
At the same time this was going on, James I had a serious threat to his place on the throne. James Mor, the son of the murdered Murdoch, was being supported as the backing of the former vassals of his father in Lennox, Menteith and Fife as a replacement to James I. James Mor had the support of the King of England, who was angry that James I would not recognize him as his superior and because James had not kept the terms that had been negotiated for his realsease from imprisonment in England. Alexander MacDonald now also supported him for king.
A fleet of men went from Scotland to Ireland,to bring James Mor back from his banishment so that he could be made king. But he died before he could return.
In the summer of 1429, James I raised an army and marched through Atholl and Badenoch, and somewhere near the border of Badenoch and Lochaber, they met Alexander MacDonald. When they saw the king's banner, the Chattan and Cameron clans defected to the king's side. Alexander was then defeated in battle. Alexander escaped capture, but the king continued his march and seized the castles of Urquart and Dingwall. James I now sent an expedition armed with artillery to the Hebrides.
Alexander MacDonald found himself in a difficult spot and decided to surrender on August 27, 1429 at Hollyrood Abbey, near Edinburgh. King James was advised by his barons to give Alexander grace. He sent him to Tantallon Castle in the custody of William Douglas, Earl of Angus.
With Alexander MacDonald in his custody, King James put the northern campaign under the control of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. He also made Alan Stewart Earl of Caithness and he was to aid the Earl of Mar. The royal earldoms of Ross and Buchan were put under the command of the Earl of Mar, as well as the castle of Urquart. Alasdair Carrach's lordship of Lochaber was put under Mar's command in 1431.
James used marriages to put more lordships under the control of those loyal to him. The earl of Mar received a papal dispensation about 1432 to marry Margaret Seton, the mother of the heiress of the earldom of Moray, so that he could administer it in their right. Another marriage was arranged between Lochlan MacLean of the Macleans of Duart a vassal and kinsman of the Lords of the Isle, to the Earl of Mar's daughter in order to give him influence over the lordship of the Isle itself.
Clan Donald resented the humilation their chieftain had received. The leaders of the clan decided to strike a blow for their honor and for revenge. The whole Clan MacDonald was called together, under Donald Balloch, Lord of Dunnyveg, son of John Mor MacDonald, who had been assasinated by James Campbell.
The Earl of Mar decided that the main campaign against the Highlanders should be at Lochaber, where he hoped to establish himself in the lordship that he had been given by the king. Possibly because they had recently been beaten, the Earl of Mar, underestimated the enemy that was marching to meet his troops. He sat in his tent and played card.
Alexander MacDonald was able to get a message to his kinsmen and those loyal to him tofact the enemy with bravery, whatever the consequences to him might be. When the Islemen met the King's army under the command of Mar. it resulted in the utter defeat and slaughter of Mars forces. The Earl of Mar was wounded by an arrow in the leg and took refuge in the hills. The Earl fled through Badenoch in disguise, taking shelter in a hut in the hills.
After defeating the King's troops, Donald Balloch took a large amount of booty back to the Isles with him. From there he went by ship to his Irish lands.
King James was angry when he heard of the defeat at Inverlocy and he got Parliament to impose a tax to defray the cost of a new campaign against the Highlanders. He went to Dunstaffnage Castle in the area of Oban, intending to go to the Isles to extract reveng on Donald Balloch and his allies. Alexander MacDonald said that the Scottish historians were mistaken when they reported that 300 of Donald Balloch's men surrendered and were all either beheaded or hanged and that Donald Balloch's head was sent as a present from Ireland.
He says that Donald Balloch was alive and well enought to fight in the Scottish civil war, long afterwards. A human head was sent, and mistakenly believed to be Donald's. According to his account Donald Balloch married the O' Niell's Daughter in Ireland.
In October, 1431, James II,the heir to the throne was born and as part of the celebration, amnesty was granted to several political prisoners. Alexander MacDonald was one of them. He was free, and his dignities and possessions were restored to him.
After his release, Alexander's life was fairly peaceful. James I, however, was assassinated February 21, 1437. Sometime during that year Alexander MacDonald signed a charter as the Earl of Ross. This suggests that the Regents of the young king James II gave him the earldom. These Regents were Alexander Livingstone of Calendar and William Crichton. They appointed Archibald, Earl of Douglas Lieutenant-General of Scotland. Archibald was a friend of Alexander MacDonald. Archibald's influence may have helped achieve Alexander's advancement to Earl of Ross, and to Justiciar or High Sheriff of the region north of the Forth, within a year of the death of James I.
The position of Justiciar gave Alexander command over the town of Inverness, where many of his courts were held. This is ironic considering he had burnt it down as had his father before him.
After becoming, at last, Earl of Ross, it appears that Alexander spent his remaining years consolidating his earldom. There are charters signed by him from the castles of Dingwall and Inverness, which indicate these were his chief residences. Alexander had bastard sons Uisdean (Hugh of Sleat) who received Sleat, and Gilleasbeaig (Celsestine) who was given Lochalsh.
Alexander MacDonald of Islay, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross, died at Dingwall in May 1449. He was buried in Fortrose Cathedral. He had two mistresses. A daughter of MacPhee, by whom he sired several bastard sons. And another named Elizabeth Seton, the daughter of Alexander Seton, Lord of Gordon and Huntly, who bore him John MacDonald who succeeded Alexander at the age of 15.
Sources:
The Lordship of the Isles, by Richard Oram
Annals of the Four Masters, http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G100005D/text006.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_of_Islay,_Earl_of_Ross
The clan Donald
By Archibald Macdonald
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/ghi/alexanderofislay.html
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macdonald/other_isles.htm
High Cross of Kildalton
Inside the grounds of the roofless Kildalton Church you will find Islay's most famous treasure, the 9th century High Cross of Kildalton, hewn from a single slab of local stone and a masterpiece of stone carving.
The style of the Cross is closely related to those found on Iona and must have been carved on Islay by a stonemason from Iona. This style of cross with a ring around the top cross is sometimes known as a Celtic Cross or High Cross and strengthens the stone arms of the cross.
Donald or Domhnall MacDonald of Islay, Lord of the Isles
John of Isla MacDonald was succeeded by his eldest son by his second marriage to Margaret Stewart. His father had previously made provision for his sons by his first marriage. His eldest son John, whose mother was Amy McRuarie was given the lands of Garmoran and the North Isles which had been the lands of his mother's clan and were near to half of his father's holdings. In addition to this he received the lands of Swynort, Letter-Lochletter, Ardgowar, Hawleste, and 60 marklands in Lochaber. In this charter from the crown of Scotland, he is to hold these lands of his father John and his heirs. In effect he was to be a vassal of his younger half-brother. So, although he was the eldest of the living sons of John of Isla, Reginald was not his heir. Reginald was Donald's vassal and Reginald's descendants were the vassals of Donald's descendants.
Archibald MacDonald says in his book that the Book of Clanranald says that Reginald was High Steward of the Isles and that he gave over all the rights and privileges of the lordship of the Isles to Donald at Kildonan, in Eigg, and that Donald was nominated MacDonald and Donald of Isla, in presence of the principal men of the Isles. Donald was now feudal superior to his brothers and also chief of Clan Donald. The principal men of the clan could elect whomever they chose to be their chief. The Book of Clanranald states that Reginald died in 1386, and it appears from a charter in July of 1389, that his younger full brother Godfrey inherited his possessions. He kept these possessions even though they were conferred on Reginald's heirs by Robert III. I have not found any sources which say whether or not Reginald's heirs contested Godfrey taking their father's lands. But if they did, they must not have been successful in regaining them.
Donald besides being the superior lord of the Clan MacDonald and all its territories also received the lands of Colonsay and others not given to the younger sons in the grants. John Mor Tainistear, was the second son by the second marriage of John of Isla and Donald's younger brother. He received a grant of 120 marklands in Kintyre and 60 marklands in Isla. He was the founder of the MacDonald's of Dunnyveg and the Glens, which he gained by his marriage to Margery Bisset. John lived in the Castle of Dun-Naomhaig on Isla, but Donald lived in Finlaggan Castle on Isla. John and Donald's younger brother Angus died young without issue. Their next younger brother was named Alasdair, known as Alasdair Carrach, who was the founder of the family of MacDonalds of Keppoch. He was given lands in Mull and also the lands of Lochaber,
Archibald MacDonald says that there was still another younger brother called Hugh. He was granted a charter of the whole thanage of Glentilt, and referred to as the brother of Reginald of the Isles. Since these lands were granted by the Steward, Archibald assumes that he was Steward's grandson.
To return to Donald, Lord of the Isles, as previously mentioned in the story of his father, John of Isla. Doanld was given as a hostage in the year 1369 in order to ensure his father's good behavior. Donald was probably about ten years of age at that time, assuming that John's second marriage took place in 1358.
In 1378 a safe conduct was granted to him by Richard II whom he had been visiting in England. The document refers to him as the brother of John of Isla, clerk, John having been educated for the church. In 1382, Hugh of the Isles visited England, probably as an ambassador from his father, and was given a safe conduct and an escort of six men. In 1388 Donald visited the English,with his brother John Mor and his elder half-brother Godfrey, at which time, they were received as independent princes. While they were in England, they entered an allegiance with Richard II and John, now Bishop of the Isles is a party to this agreement.
In 1400 Donald and his brother John are given safe conduct and an escort of 80 horsemen. Just by the fact that their escorts seem to be growing in size, it can be surmised that Donald and his brother were being treated with increasing distinction by the English.
Donald and his two brothers visited England again in 1400, and returned in 1405 and 1408 to renew their allegiance to the King of England. Donald and his brothers remained on friendly terms with Richard II and when he was removed from the throne and sent to Pontefract Castle and Henry of Lancaster was placed on the throne in his place, he escaped from his captors and traveled disguised as a beggar to Finlaggan Castle in Isla where he was recognized by John Mor's wife. He was shown kindness and hospitality as well as asylum until a safer asylum could be secured for him with the king of Scotland.
Donald and his brothers being so friendly to the English over their own Scottish royal relatives caused them to be accuse of not having enough filial affection for their mother, who was the king's sister. It is most probably that this insinuation against their honor was really aimed at requiring them to be less independent of the Scottish throne and to add insult to injury, the king ordered the Earl of Fife to protect his sister. The interference into their business and the inference that their mother needed to be protected from them caused them to immediately rebel against the king. This enmity towards the crown may have been responsible for Donald and his brother joining in the conflict over the Earldom of Ross. The Earl of Ross died in 1394. Donald's brother Alasdair Carrach, with the aid of Donald joined in the fighting and took possession of the Castle of Uruquart, which was part of this earldom. Alasdair was imprisoned as a result of this. Donald was required to be his jailer and when he released his brother a year later, Donald was summoned to appear before Parliament to answer for his prisoner in order that the king might make a show of royal anger.
When Robert III of Scotland died, and the Duke of Albany was made Regent of the Kingdom, Donald does not appear to have either supported or opposed it, because it was not having any effect on his family's interests or on his own independence.
When it was rumored that Euphemia Lesley, daughter of Alexander Lesley, Earl of Ross might give up her rights, he again took an interest in Scottish politics. The earldom of Ross was partly made up of lands that had at one time belonged to his family in Argyle. But his claim to the Earldom of Ross came from his marriage to Lady Margaret Lesley, who was the nearest living relative in line of succession after Euphemia Lesley. The Duke of Albany who was Regent of the throne was the other chief contender for the Earldom of Ross. Aside from gaining a valuable property, it would have been in his interests to keep Donald of Isla or his brothers from gaining the earldom, in order to curb any increase in their power, which he would have perceived as a threat.
Donald's wife Margaret would have been the heir to the earldom if Euphemia died without naming an heir. The Duke of Albany by some means influenced her to enter a convent and dedicate her life to heavenly pursuits. As long was not of a legal age to resign her rights to the earldom and remained in the convent, the Duke had only to bide his time. Donald's position however became that if Euphemia had given herself as the bride of heaven that she should be considered legally dead, in which case he and his wife had the right to the earldom, since she had not named an heir before entering the convent. Donald was prepared to fight for what he believed rightfully his. The whole clan MacDonald from the Isles and from his holdings on the mainland gathered in preparation to fight with him. Donald MacDonald and his fleet arrived on the West Coast of Rossshire and landed at Strome. They marched through the glens of Ross and soon reached the vicinity of Dingwall. But they were met by the largest clan living in this vicinity, the clan of Mackay. Angus Dubh Mackay intended to stop them from going any further. Donald MacDonald and his forces routed Mackay's clan. Angus Dubh Mackay was taken prisoner and his brother Rory was killed. Donald took possession of the Castle of Dingwall and garrisoned it and then continued on his march toward Inverness. On the way, at Beauly, he stopped and diverted his troops to the Catle Downie and then went from there on to Inverness. He planted his standard in the Highland Capital and summoned all the fighting men of Ross to his banner. And they readily took up his cause and joined him. Instead of staying and defending what he had gained, Donald marched on toward the east in the hopes of raising even more troops on his way. He knew that eventually the Duke of Albany would meet him with his own forces, and he had threatened to burn down Abardeen and this may have been another reason for marching in that direction. When the people of Aberdeen learned that he and his 10,000 troops were marching in their direction with the intent to burn it down, they would have been thrown into a panic.
Eventually, Donald MacDonald arrived at Harlow and was met by his cousin the Earl of Mar. The men of Abardeen assembled under the leadership of the Earl of Mar. The Earl of Mar marched by Inverury and sighted the enemy near the village of Harlow, about ten miles from Abardeen.
The two forces met in bloody and fierce battle and fought all day and did not cease fighting until darkness fell, The force commanded by Mar had been annihilated. The Scottish version of what happened was that Donald retreated from his fear of this army he had just defeated, which makes no sense. Some writers believe that he had expected to have reinforcement from the English. But if he had, he now knew that it was not coming. With all of the Lowlanders now against him, he would have been aware of how difficult it would be to keep the forces which he had gathered from scattering and dispersing for a very long time, and he most likely felt it prudent to return to his own Island stronghold, instead of waiting for or pursuing further conflict with the Duke of Albany.
When the Duke of Albany heard of the defeat at Harlow he hastened to Ross and went to Dingwall and took possession of the castle and established his own authority through Ross, displacing any authority that Donald may have gained. Donald's domain on the Island was impenetrable because his fleets were superior to the Scottish fleet. The Duke of Albany knew that there was only one place where Donald was vulnerable, at his mainland holding of Argyll. He took an army there in order to attack it. Donald, however was able to repel him and the Duke did not succeed in humbling him.
Archibald MacDonald says that John of Fordun recorded that Donald made a treaty with the Duke of Albany and submitted himself to be a vassal and gave hostages to ensure it. He also says that no record of this is in the national records and no other chronicler of the time mentions it. There are records that show that Albany made a campaign against Donald but none that show this treaty. There is record of the Duke complaining because he had not been reimbursed for his expenses. Although Donald did not succeed in his attempt for the earldom of Ross, he remained unaffected in his own island principality.
Donald MacDonald is said to have joined a religious order and spent his last years in religious duty, dying about 1423. He was buried at Iona.
Sources:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macdonald/other_isles.htm
The clan Donald
By Archibald Macdonald - 1896
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles: with genealogies ... -
by Alexander Mackenzie - 1881
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domhnall_of_Islay,_Lord_of_the_Isles
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/ghi/donaldofislay.html
Archibald MacDonald says in his book that the Book of Clanranald says that Reginald was High Steward of the Isles and that he gave over all the rights and privileges of the lordship of the Isles to Donald at Kildonan, in Eigg, and that Donald was nominated MacDonald and Donald of Isla, in presence of the principal men of the Isles. Donald was now feudal superior to his brothers and also chief of Clan Donald. The principal men of the clan could elect whomever they chose to be their chief. The Book of Clanranald states that Reginald died in 1386, and it appears from a charter in July of 1389, that his younger full brother Godfrey inherited his possessions. He kept these possessions even though they were conferred on Reginald's heirs by Robert III. I have not found any sources which say whether or not Reginald's heirs contested Godfrey taking their father's lands. But if they did, they must not have been successful in regaining them.
Donald besides being the superior lord of the Clan MacDonald and all its territories also received the lands of Colonsay and others not given to the younger sons in the grants. John Mor Tainistear, was the second son by the second marriage of John of Isla and Donald's younger brother. He received a grant of 120 marklands in Kintyre and 60 marklands in Isla. He was the founder of the MacDonald's of Dunnyveg and the Glens, which he gained by his marriage to Margery Bisset. John lived in the Castle of Dun-Naomhaig on Isla, but Donald lived in Finlaggan Castle on Isla. John and Donald's younger brother Angus died young without issue. Their next younger brother was named Alasdair, known as Alasdair Carrach, who was the founder of the family of MacDonalds of Keppoch. He was given lands in Mull and also the lands of Lochaber,
Archibald MacDonald says that there was still another younger brother called Hugh. He was granted a charter of the whole thanage of Glentilt, and referred to as the brother of Reginald of the Isles. Since these lands were granted by the Steward, Archibald assumes that he was Steward's grandson.
To return to Donald, Lord of the Isles, as previously mentioned in the story of his father, John of Isla. Doanld was given as a hostage in the year 1369 in order to ensure his father's good behavior. Donald was probably about ten years of age at that time, assuming that John's second marriage took place in 1358.
In 1378 a safe conduct was granted to him by Richard II whom he had been visiting in England. The document refers to him as the brother of John of Isla, clerk, John having been educated for the church. In 1382, Hugh of the Isles visited England, probably as an ambassador from his father, and was given a safe conduct and an escort of six men. In 1388 Donald visited the English,with his brother John Mor and his elder half-brother Godfrey, at which time, they were received as independent princes. While they were in England, they entered an allegiance with Richard II and John, now Bishop of the Isles is a party to this agreement.
In 1400 Donald and his brother John are given safe conduct and an escort of 80 horsemen. Just by the fact that their escorts seem to be growing in size, it can be surmised that Donald and his brother were being treated with increasing distinction by the English.
Donald and his two brothers visited England again in 1400, and returned in 1405 and 1408 to renew their allegiance to the King of England. Donald and his brothers remained on friendly terms with Richard II and when he was removed from the throne and sent to Pontefract Castle and Henry of Lancaster was placed on the throne in his place, he escaped from his captors and traveled disguised as a beggar to Finlaggan Castle in Isla where he was recognized by John Mor's wife. He was shown kindness and hospitality as well as asylum until a safer asylum could be secured for him with the king of Scotland.
Donald and his brothers being so friendly to the English over their own Scottish royal relatives caused them to be accuse of not having enough filial affection for their mother, who was the king's sister. It is most probably that this insinuation against their honor was really aimed at requiring them to be less independent of the Scottish throne and to add insult to injury, the king ordered the Earl of Fife to protect his sister. The interference into their business and the inference that their mother needed to be protected from them caused them to immediately rebel against the king. This enmity towards the crown may have been responsible for Donald and his brother joining in the conflict over the Earldom of Ross. The Earl of Ross died in 1394. Donald's brother Alasdair Carrach, with the aid of Donald joined in the fighting and took possession of the Castle of Uruquart, which was part of this earldom. Alasdair was imprisoned as a result of this. Donald was required to be his jailer and when he released his brother a year later, Donald was summoned to appear before Parliament to answer for his prisoner in order that the king might make a show of royal anger.
When Robert III of Scotland died, and the Duke of Albany was made Regent of the Kingdom, Donald does not appear to have either supported or opposed it, because it was not having any effect on his family's interests or on his own independence.
When it was rumored that Euphemia Lesley, daughter of Alexander Lesley, Earl of Ross might give up her rights, he again took an interest in Scottish politics. The earldom of Ross was partly made up of lands that had at one time belonged to his family in Argyle. But his claim to the Earldom of Ross came from his marriage to Lady Margaret Lesley, who was the nearest living relative in line of succession after Euphemia Lesley. The Duke of Albany who was Regent of the throne was the other chief contender for the Earldom of Ross. Aside from gaining a valuable property, it would have been in his interests to keep Donald of Isla or his brothers from gaining the earldom, in order to curb any increase in their power, which he would have perceived as a threat.
Donald's wife Margaret would have been the heir to the earldom if Euphemia died without naming an heir. The Duke of Albany by some means influenced her to enter a convent and dedicate her life to heavenly pursuits. As long was not of a legal age to resign her rights to the earldom and remained in the convent, the Duke had only to bide his time. Donald's position however became that if Euphemia had given herself as the bride of heaven that she should be considered legally dead, in which case he and his wife had the right to the earldom, since she had not named an heir before entering the convent. Donald was prepared to fight for what he believed rightfully his. The whole clan MacDonald from the Isles and from his holdings on the mainland gathered in preparation to fight with him. Donald MacDonald and his fleet arrived on the West Coast of Rossshire and landed at Strome. They marched through the glens of Ross and soon reached the vicinity of Dingwall. But they were met by the largest clan living in this vicinity, the clan of Mackay. Angus Dubh Mackay intended to stop them from going any further. Donald MacDonald and his forces routed Mackay's clan. Angus Dubh Mackay was taken prisoner and his brother Rory was killed. Donald took possession of the Castle of Dingwall and garrisoned it and then continued on his march toward Inverness. On the way, at Beauly, he stopped and diverted his troops to the Catle Downie and then went from there on to Inverness. He planted his standard in the Highland Capital and summoned all the fighting men of Ross to his banner. And they readily took up his cause and joined him. Instead of staying and defending what he had gained, Donald marched on toward the east in the hopes of raising even more troops on his way. He knew that eventually the Duke of Albany would meet him with his own forces, and he had threatened to burn down Abardeen and this may have been another reason for marching in that direction. When the people of Aberdeen learned that he and his 10,000 troops were marching in their direction with the intent to burn it down, they would have been thrown into a panic.
Eventually, Donald MacDonald arrived at Harlow and was met by his cousin the Earl of Mar. The men of Abardeen assembled under the leadership of the Earl of Mar. The Earl of Mar marched by Inverury and sighted the enemy near the village of Harlow, about ten miles from Abardeen.
The two forces met in bloody and fierce battle and fought all day and did not cease fighting until darkness fell, The force commanded by Mar had been annihilated. The Scottish version of what happened was that Donald retreated from his fear of this army he had just defeated, which makes no sense. Some writers believe that he had expected to have reinforcement from the English. But if he had, he now knew that it was not coming. With all of the Lowlanders now against him, he would have been aware of how difficult it would be to keep the forces which he had gathered from scattering and dispersing for a very long time, and he most likely felt it prudent to return to his own Island stronghold, instead of waiting for or pursuing further conflict with the Duke of Albany.
When the Duke of Albany heard of the defeat at Harlow he hastened to Ross and went to Dingwall and took possession of the castle and established his own authority through Ross, displacing any authority that Donald may have gained. Donald's domain on the Island was impenetrable because his fleets were superior to the Scottish fleet. The Duke of Albany knew that there was only one place where Donald was vulnerable, at his mainland holding of Argyll. He took an army there in order to attack it. Donald, however was able to repel him and the Duke did not succeed in humbling him.
Archibald MacDonald says that John of Fordun recorded that Donald made a treaty with the Duke of Albany and submitted himself to be a vassal and gave hostages to ensure it. He also says that no record of this is in the national records and no other chronicler of the time mentions it. There are records that show that Albany made a campaign against Donald but none that show this treaty. There is record of the Duke complaining because he had not been reimbursed for his expenses. Although Donald did not succeed in his attempt for the earldom of Ross, he remained unaffected in his own island principality.
Donald MacDonald is said to have joined a religious order and spent his last years in religious duty, dying about 1423. He was buried at Iona.
Sources:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macdonald/other_isles.htm
The clan Donald
By Archibald Macdonald - 1896
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles: with genealogies ... -
by Alexander Mackenzie - 1881
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domhnall_of_Islay,_Lord_of_the_Isles
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/ghi/donaldofislay.html
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Donald, son of Ranald MacSomerled
The history of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles by Alexander Mackenzie states that there were two families that descended from Reginald, King of Isla; that of his son Donald,and that of Ruari, also known as Roderick, which later descendants called themselves Macruari.
The Irish historians record them as being very warlike, and not prone to seek peace.Donald inherited the lordship of South Kintyre, Isla and some other islands. Roderick received North Kintyre, Bute and the lands of Garmoran, from Ardnamurchan to Glenelg, which had formerly been the possessions of his uncle, Angus MacSomerled. The Isles and other possessions of Somerled had been first divided amongst his three sons, then redistributed between the two surviving sons Dugall and Ranald and now had been divided a third time. The Isle of Bute was originally inherited by Somerled's son Angus, but he died and his sons left no male heirs, so the island was taken by Ranald and it thus passed to his son Ruarie, who was also called Roderick.
One of Angus' sons left a daughter named Jane, who married Alexander, the son of Walter the High Steward of Scotland. Alexander claimed Bute in her right and the dispute was eventually settled by Ruari being expelled from Bute, which was immediately seized by the Scots. Ruari's lineage ceased in the male line about three generations later, continued by a female named Amie, who married John of Isla, who was a great grandson of Donald of Isla. This in effect brought two lines of descent into one descent from the House of Somerled.
Alexander II inherited the throne of Scotland in 1214 and almost immediately, the MacWilliams and MacHeaths rose in a rebellion and they were helped by the grandsons of Somerled. Peace was regained by 1221, and Alexander then proceeded to attack Argyll intending to conquer it and bring the house of Somerled into subjection. Fate was not entirely on Alexander's side. A storm drove his fleet back and winter was soon approaching, so they abandoned their goal temporarily. The next year Alexander started out on a new expedition. It appears from the accounts of John of Fordun and Wyntoun, that he was successful in removing some of the descendants of Somerled from their lands, forcing them to take refuge in Galloway or with others who were kin to them. Many of them submitted and gave large sums of money and hostages to ensure their future allegiance. If there were indeed a conquest of Argyll in 1222, it does not seem to have affected Donald and his sons. Alexander had caused diplomatic problems with the king of Norway, who considered part. But, again in 1249, Alexander II took a large force to the islands again, hoping to use to his advantage the recent death of the king of Norway.
He sailed toward Kintyre expecting Donald of Isla to see him and be in awe of such a large fleet. But Alexander was mistaken and Donald did not give up. Alexander sought alliance with Ewin of Lorn, but was eventually thwarted from his goal by death. He died at the age of 52 without having conquered Donald and his land. Ewin of Lorn also took advantage of the death of the king of Norway and attacked the Isle of Man and declared himself its king. Haco the King of Norway received word of this invasion by Ewin or Lorn and asked for the aid of Donald of Isla and hsi brother Roderick. They promplty gave Haco their aid, and with the help of the men of Man, expelled Ewin, who took refuge in his own lands. This aid rendered by Donald and Roderick formed an alliance between the ruling family of Isla and the Norwegian king.
Since Alexander II's successor, his son Alexander III was a child at the time of his death and Ewin of Lorn had been defeated, Donald of Isla had no more enemies to defeat and lived the remainder of his rule in relative peace. Although this does not mean he was not a violent man. It is said that he killed his uncle Dugall over a territorial dispute and that he beheaded a messenger that was sent from Alexander II demanding his allegiance. He also had his cousin Callum Aluinn put to death and his uncle Gillies banished to Ireland.
Apparently in his later years, he was filled with guilt over some of his deeds and made a pilgrimage to Rome, accompanied by seven priests. He made his confession to the Pope and received forgiveness from the church. He also gifted the church with lands as his father before him had done.
There is a legend that the Clan Donald takes its motto Air muir's tir or per mare oer terras from an incident Donald was involved in. He was supposedly in a contest with a rival clan for possession of land on Skye. It was decided that whoever put his hand on the shore first would win the land.At the last moment Donald's galley was overtaken and he was about to lose. He was so competitive that he cut off his own hand and flung it to shore and won the triumph. According to History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles, he died in 1289 at Shippinage and was buried at Icolumkill. But The clan Donald by Archibald MacDonald, states that this date is incorrect, because his son Angus was head of the family for many years before this.
Donald is the man whom all MacDonald's receive their name, possibly aided by the fact that fixed surnames began to be the custom in the Highlands at about this time. In other words, men prior to this time tended to be called by their father's name, which changed from generation to generation. But at this time, families began to take the name of the family leader at that time and to stick with it from there on out. Whereas a man named John who had a son named William, this son would previously have been called William Johnson and having a son of his own named Donald who would have called himself Donald Williamson; now the custom would be for William and his son Donald to bear the surname Johnson. The houses of the other branches of descent from Somerled would have been independent of each other and would have taken different surnames in order to avoid confusion.
Donald left two sons Angus Mor MacDonald and Alexander, who was said to be the ancestor of the MacAlisters of Loup, The Alexanders of Menstrie , Earls of Stirling. Angus being the eldest, succeeded his father. These sons were by his wife, who was a daughter of Walter, the High Steward of Scotland.
Sources:
Skye By Derek Cooper
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles By Alexander Mackenzie
The Irish historians record them as being very warlike, and not prone to seek peace.Donald inherited the lordship of South Kintyre, Isla and some other islands. Roderick received North Kintyre, Bute and the lands of Garmoran, from Ardnamurchan to Glenelg, which had formerly been the possessions of his uncle, Angus MacSomerled. The Isles and other possessions of Somerled had been first divided amongst his three sons, then redistributed between the two surviving sons Dugall and Ranald and now had been divided a third time. The Isle of Bute was originally inherited by Somerled's son Angus, but he died and his sons left no male heirs, so the island was taken by Ranald and it thus passed to his son Ruarie, who was also called Roderick.
One of Angus' sons left a daughter named Jane, who married Alexander, the son of Walter the High Steward of Scotland. Alexander claimed Bute in her right and the dispute was eventually settled by Ruari being expelled from Bute, which was immediately seized by the Scots. Ruari's lineage ceased in the male line about three generations later, continued by a female named Amie, who married John of Isla, who was a great grandson of Donald of Isla. This in effect brought two lines of descent into one descent from the House of Somerled.
Alexander II inherited the throne of Scotland in 1214 and almost immediately, the MacWilliams and MacHeaths rose in a rebellion and they were helped by the grandsons of Somerled. Peace was regained by 1221, and Alexander then proceeded to attack Argyll intending to conquer it and bring the house of Somerled into subjection. Fate was not entirely on Alexander's side. A storm drove his fleet back and winter was soon approaching, so they abandoned their goal temporarily. The next year Alexander started out on a new expedition. It appears from the accounts of John of Fordun and Wyntoun, that he was successful in removing some of the descendants of Somerled from their lands, forcing them to take refuge in Galloway or with others who were kin to them. Many of them submitted and gave large sums of money and hostages to ensure their future allegiance. If there were indeed a conquest of Argyll in 1222, it does not seem to have affected Donald and his sons. Alexander had caused diplomatic problems with the king of Norway, who considered part. But, again in 1249, Alexander II took a large force to the islands again, hoping to use to his advantage the recent death of the king of Norway.
He sailed toward Kintyre expecting Donald of Isla to see him and be in awe of such a large fleet. But Alexander was mistaken and Donald did not give up. Alexander sought alliance with Ewin of Lorn, but was eventually thwarted from his goal by death. He died at the age of 52 without having conquered Donald and his land. Ewin of Lorn also took advantage of the death of the king of Norway and attacked the Isle of Man and declared himself its king. Haco the King of Norway received word of this invasion by Ewin or Lorn and asked for the aid of Donald of Isla and hsi brother Roderick. They promplty gave Haco their aid, and with the help of the men of Man, expelled Ewin, who took refuge in his own lands. This aid rendered by Donald and Roderick formed an alliance between the ruling family of Isla and the Norwegian king.
Since Alexander II's successor, his son Alexander III was a child at the time of his death and Ewin of Lorn had been defeated, Donald of Isla had no more enemies to defeat and lived the remainder of his rule in relative peace. Although this does not mean he was not a violent man. It is said that he killed his uncle Dugall over a territorial dispute and that he beheaded a messenger that was sent from Alexander II demanding his allegiance. He also had his cousin Callum Aluinn put to death and his uncle Gillies banished to Ireland.
Apparently in his later years, he was filled with guilt over some of his deeds and made a pilgrimage to Rome, accompanied by seven priests. He made his confession to the Pope and received forgiveness from the church. He also gifted the church with lands as his father before him had done.
There is a legend that the Clan Donald takes its motto Air muir's tir or per mare oer terras from an incident Donald was involved in. He was supposedly in a contest with a rival clan for possession of land on Skye. It was decided that whoever put his hand on the shore first would win the land.At the last moment Donald's galley was overtaken and he was about to lose. He was so competitive that he cut off his own hand and flung it to shore and won the triumph. According to History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles, he died in 1289 at Shippinage and was buried at Icolumkill. But The clan Donald by Archibald MacDonald, states that this date is incorrect, because his son Angus was head of the family for many years before this.
Donald is the man whom all MacDonald's receive their name, possibly aided by the fact that fixed surnames began to be the custom in the Highlands at about this time. In other words, men prior to this time tended to be called by their father's name, which changed from generation to generation. But at this time, families began to take the name of the family leader at that time and to stick with it from there on out. Whereas a man named John who had a son named William, this son would previously have been called William Johnson and having a son of his own named Donald who would have called himself Donald Williamson; now the custom would be for William and his son Donald to bear the surname Johnson. The houses of the other branches of descent from Somerled would have been independent of each other and would have taken different surnames in order to avoid confusion.
Donald left two sons Angus Mor MacDonald and Alexander, who was said to be the ancestor of the MacAlisters of Loup, The Alexanders of Menstrie , Earls of Stirling. Angus being the eldest, succeeded his father. These sons were by his wife, who was a daughter of Walter, the High Steward of Scotland.
Sources:
Skye By Derek Cooper
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles By Alexander Mackenzie
Reginald or Ranald MacSomerled
In continuation of the history of Clan McDonald, originally Cholla,
I previously noted that Malcolm IV died in the year following Sumerled's assassination and that there were sons left to inherit his kingdom. Besides his sons, Ranald,Angus and Dugald, his nephews, sons of his wife Regnhilde's brother Godred, also believed they had a claim to at least the half of the kingdom which Sumerled had taken from Godred, the Isle of Mann. Malcolm IV was succeeded by his brother William the Lion, whom I also descend from. I sometimes find it interesting just how many of my ancestors hated each other.
In this case it seems that there was no open hostility, because during William the Lion's reign,there were no further efforts on his part to take possession of the kingdom Somerled left to his sons. And apparently, they did not try to attack the mainland either.
The territory left behind by Somerled extended from the Butt of Lewis to the southerly point of Man. After his death, his brother in law whom he had taken the Isle of Man from, returned to resume possession of it and the Northern Isles of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra and some lesser isles.
His son Ranald or Reginald inherited Kintyre and Isla, the lands of Clan Cholla, Dughall inherited Lorn, Mull, and Jura; Angus received Bute and a part of Arran, and the Rough bounds extending from Ardnamurchan to Glenelg. The remainder of the North Oithir from Glenelg to Lochbroom were given to the Lay Abbot of Applecross. These lands held by the three brothers were an independent principality, not held by Scotland and owing no allegiance to Norway.
Reginald drove his brother, Angus out of Arran and Bute and then followed Angus and his sons to Garmoran which was the northern possession of Angus in1192. They fought a battle and Angus was the victor. Eighteen years later, Angus and his three sons were killed by the men of Skye, which island was in the possession of the Norwegian King of Man and the Isles. These Norsemen most likely invaded Moidart, part of Angus' possessions. With their deaths, Reginald or Ranald and his son Roderick inherited his brothers lands. Some of the lands were also given to Ranald and Angus' other brother Dugall, but they continued to fight over the ownership of Mull for more than 100 years.
Ranald was recorded to have been a popular leader, "feared in war, but loved in peace". According to the History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles By Alexander Mackenzie Reginald or Ranald was the first called Lord of the Isles, whether he assumed the name or was given it by his followers is unclear. Both Ranald and his brother Dugall were called King of the Isles and their cousin Reginald, son of Godred was called King of Man and the Isles. It appears that the term king was used among the Norwegians not just to mean a supreme ruler, but to also mean a prince of royal blood or a magnate.
Archibald MacDonald says it is unclear which of Somerled's sons was the eldest, because at that time the law of primogeniture was not in effect in the isles. However, he does think that Dugall was the second son and as such would have been the natural choice to inherit his mother's right to the Isle of Man when the barons of Man rose against Godred in 1155. He seems to be justifiable of the opinion that Ranald was his father's successor to the domains of Oirthirghael. He inherited the lands that had been connected to their family and its seat, those of Kintyre and Isla, and presumably, the prestige that went with them. Archibald MacDonald also points to the fact that the historians of the time, give preferencial treatment to Ranald and his sons over those of Dugall.
Whichever view prevails concerning which son was the eldest, Reginald or Ranald is most likely the progenitor of the MacDonald Clan. Ranald died in 1207, the date is given in the Book of Clanranald. He married Fonia, who was the daughter of the Earl of Moray, who would have been close relation.The History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles, states that this was Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray.His father, Somerled's sister had married the Earl of Moray. They had three sons, Donald,Roderick, and Dugall. According to the Antiquities of Arran, by John MacArthur, the monastery of the Holy Isle was established on the Islet of Lamlash and was subject to the Cistercian monastery of Kintyre which his father Somerled had established and been buried in.
Sources:
The clan Donald By Archibald Macdonald
The Antiquities of Arran by John M'Arthur - 1861
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles By Alexander Mackenzie
I previously noted that Malcolm IV died in the year following Sumerled's assassination and that there were sons left to inherit his kingdom. Besides his sons, Ranald,Angus and Dugald, his nephews, sons of his wife Regnhilde's brother Godred, also believed they had a claim to at least the half of the kingdom which Sumerled had taken from Godred, the Isle of Mann. Malcolm IV was succeeded by his brother William the Lion, whom I also descend from. I sometimes find it interesting just how many of my ancestors hated each other.
In this case it seems that there was no open hostility, because during William the Lion's reign,there were no further efforts on his part to take possession of the kingdom Somerled left to his sons. And apparently, they did not try to attack the mainland either.
The territory left behind by Somerled extended from the Butt of Lewis to the southerly point of Man. After his death, his brother in law whom he had taken the Isle of Man from, returned to resume possession of it and the Northern Isles of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra and some lesser isles.
His son Ranald or Reginald inherited Kintyre and Isla, the lands of Clan Cholla, Dughall inherited Lorn, Mull, and Jura; Angus received Bute and a part of Arran, and the Rough bounds extending from Ardnamurchan to Glenelg. The remainder of the North Oithir from Glenelg to Lochbroom were given to the Lay Abbot of Applecross. These lands held by the three brothers were an independent principality, not held by Scotland and owing no allegiance to Norway.
Reginald drove his brother, Angus out of Arran and Bute and then followed Angus and his sons to Garmoran which was the northern possession of Angus in1192. They fought a battle and Angus was the victor. Eighteen years later, Angus and his three sons were killed by the men of Skye, which island was in the possession of the Norwegian King of Man and the Isles. These Norsemen most likely invaded Moidart, part of Angus' possessions. With their deaths, Reginald or Ranald and his son Roderick inherited his brothers lands. Some of the lands were also given to Ranald and Angus' other brother Dugall, but they continued to fight over the ownership of Mull for more than 100 years.
Ranald was recorded to have been a popular leader, "feared in war, but loved in peace". According to the History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles By Alexander Mackenzie Reginald or Ranald was the first called Lord of the Isles, whether he assumed the name or was given it by his followers is unclear. Both Ranald and his brother Dugall were called King of the Isles and their cousin Reginald, son of Godred was called King of Man and the Isles. It appears that the term king was used among the Norwegians not just to mean a supreme ruler, but to also mean a prince of royal blood or a magnate.
Archibald MacDonald says it is unclear which of Somerled's sons was the eldest, because at that time the law of primogeniture was not in effect in the isles. However, he does think that Dugall was the second son and as such would have been the natural choice to inherit his mother's right to the Isle of Man when the barons of Man rose against Godred in 1155. He seems to be justifiable of the opinion that Ranald was his father's successor to the domains of Oirthirghael. He inherited the lands that had been connected to their family and its seat, those of Kintyre and Isla, and presumably, the prestige that went with them. Archibald MacDonald also points to the fact that the historians of the time, give preferencial treatment to Ranald and his sons over those of Dugall.
Whichever view prevails concerning which son was the eldest, Reginald or Ranald is most likely the progenitor of the MacDonald Clan. Ranald died in 1207, the date is given in the Book of Clanranald. He married Fonia, who was the daughter of the Earl of Moray, who would have been close relation.The History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles, states that this was Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray.His father, Somerled's sister had married the Earl of Moray. They had three sons, Donald,Roderick, and Dugall. According to the Antiquities of Arran, by John MacArthur, the monastery of the Holy Isle was established on the Islet of Lamlash and was subject to the Cistercian monastery of Kintyre which his father Somerled had established and been buried in.
Sources:
The clan Donald By Archibald Macdonald
The Antiquities of Arran by John M'Arthur - 1861
History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles By Alexander Mackenzie
History of Clan McDonald
I have researched my descent from the MacDonald Clan and chose to begin with Somerled, who was an ancient King of the Isles, meaning the islands off the Scottish mainland.
I have referred to several sources for this information, but when you go back as far as the 12th century, mistakes are inevitable, so please keep in mind, the possibility of human error.
Somerled was a ruler of the Scottish Isles durint the 12th century called variously, ri Innse Gall (King of the Hebrides in Gaelic) Sumarlioi (in Old Norse) Somhairle (Scottish Gaelic) and in English, Sorley. He was also the King of Kintyre(Cinn Tire)
The following account of the life of Somerled is taken from The clan Donald by Archibald McDonald and gives us insight into the times in which Somerled was born and lived.
"In the 11th century the Irish and Highland Seanachies throw faint rays of light upon the position and prospects of the Clan Cholla. During the first half of than century it appears that Gilledomnan, the grandfather of Somerled, was a person of consequence, and held sway over a considerable portion of Argyll. That he was a leader of some note may be inferred from the circumstance of his daughter having been the wife of Harold, one of the Kings of Norway. In his time the fortunes of the family were probably at the lowest ebb. Able hitherto to hold their own against the Scandinavian assaults, the latter seemed destined to obtain a permanent supremacy, and Gilledomnan was finally driven from his territories and took refuge in Ireland, where, after devoting the latter part of his life to pious duties, he very probably lived till his death.
Gillebride, the son of Gilledomnan,who had fled with his father to Ireland, now made a vigorous effort to recover the inheritance of his sires. Being among his Irish kindred of the Clan Cholla, in the County of Fermanagh, it was determined to placea force of 400 or 500 men at his disposal to aid him in vindicating his rights. Accompanied by this warrior band, Gillebride landed in Argyll, and made a gallant attempt to dislodge the ivader; yet the Norseman had by this time obtained such a firm hold of the country, that Gillebride and his followers were obliged ultimately to retire into the woods and caves of Morvern. From his compulsory seclusion in a cave on the shores of Loch Linnhe,this Gaelic leader came to be known as Gillebride na h-uaimh. Gregory, without any authority, save one dark hint from the historian of Sleat, attributes Gillebride's defeat and consequent seculusion to his alleged action after the death of Malcolm Canmore, in supporting the claims of Donald Bane to the throne against the Anglo-Saxon party. This statement does not possess much historical probability. It was the aim of Gillebride's life to regain possession of his ancestral domains from the hands of the usurping Norseman; it was against them that all his efforts were directed, and his intervention at any time in the internal quarrels of the Scottish State is in the highest degree unlikely.
From this time Gillebride seems to have made no further effort to regain the territory of his fathers in the region of Oirthirghael. It is therefore clear that a crisis has arrived in the history of the Western Gael, as well as in the fortunes of the Clan Cholla. The Norseman is on the eve, not only of expelling him from the Isles, but of crushing his prestige and authority on the mainland as well. It was at this critical moment, when Teutonic ascendancy in the West seemed on the eve of asserting itself finally and triumphantly, that Somerled arose. Gillebride and his cave vanish into the unknown, and his warlike son steps upon the scene of history, to become the terror of the Norseman and the Achilles of his race.
The events of Somerled's life are, like his genealogy, shrouded in the mists of unverifiable tradition. They belong to that borderland of history and legend on which the chronicler can with difficulty find a secure resting-place for the sole of his foot. Yet amid the shifting debris of old-world history, there are certain main outlines and facts which have crystallised themselves as genuine and authentic, and afford indications of an impressive and commanding personality issuing out of the dim past, possessing immense force of character, high military talents, great energy and ambition, combined with a large measure of that political sagacity and prudence which constitute a ruler and leader of men.
All we know of the early history of this renowned Gaelic hero is derived exclusively from tradition. Hugh MacDonald, the Sleat historian, who flourished in the latter half of the seventeenth century, embodied that tradition in a MS. history,written in the year 1680, and is responsible for almost every word that has been written since his time upon Somerled's early career. Save when he is tempted to exalt his own branch at the expense of others, he is, though not strictly accurate, still a fairly reliable exponent of the history and traditions of his Clan. (The Sleat historian says that Somerled was "a well-tempered man, in body shapely, of a fair piercing eye, of middle stature and of quick discernment." But in Highland tradition he is called Somhairle Mor MacGillebhride. The word Mor, may have meant that he was a great man in deed rather than a great man in size.)
When Somerled first comes upon the scene, he is living with his father in his cave amid the wilds of Movern, an unambitious young man, devoted to fishing and hunting, and as yet apparently without any intention of thrusting himself forward as a leader of men. But the exigencies of the time soon transformed this Celtic Nimrod into a hero. Amid his devotion to the chase, he must have had many hours of reflection upon the fallen fortunes of his family, and unsuspected depths in his nature were stirred up by the tale of their misfortunes. The faded glory of the once kingly house, with all the humiliating conditions that accompanied its downfall, seized with irresistible force upon his imagination, and the resolve to build up again its ruined state became the passion of his life. Often must he have wished that the day might come when he could strike a blow for freedom and the right. That day at length came, and it found Somerled ready."
The writer goes on to say that at this time the natives of Argyll had tried to free themselves from the suppression of the Norse Vikings. The Vikings prepared their forces to once and for all establish rule over them. The Norse had galley ships all along the western sea, and they used them to attack the shores of Oirthirfghael. The result of the fighting was defeat for the native tribes, all except a tribe called the MacInneses. They had lost their leader but had found a new leader, who was tall and a valiant fighter who had fought well. His name was Somhairle Mor Mac Ghillebhride, more commonly known as Somerled.
At a later time, led by Somhairle Mor Mac Ghillebhride, they made another effort to gain their independence. They held a council to decide how they would proceed. The Crann tara was sent through the land, and all of the men of Argyll, came to the rendezvous to the east of Benmore. Instead of being united in their cause, the leaders of the different tribes fought amongst themselves over who would be the chief leader. They at one point began to draw their weapons against each other, but an old chief rose up and demanded that they listen to him. He pointed out to them how dangerous it was for them to be divided amongst themselves. He suggested that they elect from their gathered tribes someone they all had confidence in and recommended to them Somerled, reminding them of how he had proven his prowess in the recent conflict with the Vikings. They all saw the wisdom of the old man's words and agreed to be led by Somerled.
Apparently, Somerled was not present at the meeting of these tribes, because they all sent dispatches to him offering him the position as their leader. He hesitated to accept, but in the end, despite the strength of his enemy, he accepted.
He had a plan. He ordered every man to kill his cow and skin it. The Gaels then waited for the approaching Vikings. Somerled ordered his army to march around their encampment. Then he ordered them to put on the cow hides to disguise themselves and repeat the process. Then he ordered them to remove the cow hides and march around a third time. His purpose was to make his army appear to be three different divisions, and therefore much larger than it really was. His strategy worked and them enemy fell into a great confusion and while they were in a panic, he ordered his army to attack. They slaughtered them and thus routed, he followed them as they ran to the north bank of the Sheill where their ships were anchored. With this great victory, Somerled began his career in triumph.
He did not stop there, though. He followed the enemy into the territory they held, while his army was still full of great moral, due to their recent success in battle. He drove the Vikings out of Oirthirghael tp Innse-Gall. These battles represented the first success against the Vikings that had occurred for hundreds of years.
Having won back the mainland territory that had belonged to his forebears, Somerled either assumed or was given the title of Thane or Regulus of Argyll.
He next set his eyes upon the Kingdom of Man and the Isles. Olav the Red, King of Man and the Isles, not sure that he could keep possession of his kingdom, offered Somerled his daughter in marriage. This seemed to have worked, for Somerled was said to have been truly in love with Ragnhildis. The historian of Sleat told the story of how Somerled won his bride.
King Olav was encamped in Storna Bay and Somerled was also in that area. Somerled met with Olav, without disclosing who he really was. He told him that he had been sent by the Thane of Argyll, who would accompany him on his expedition, in exchange for his daughter in marriage. Olav recognised him and refused to give him his daughter, but welcomed his aid in battle. Olav had a foster-brother named Maurice MacNeill, who was Somerled's friend who offered to help Somerled to gain Ragnhildis as his bride.
Maurice bored holes in the bottom of King Olav's ship, saving the plugs so that the could be used to stop up the holes when needed. For the present time, he filled the holes with butter. When they set sail the next day, all appeared well. When they reach the point of Ardnamurchan, they encountered rough waters and the waves began to wash away the butter in the holes of Olav's ship and it began to leak water. This put the king and everyone on board in danger of drowning.
Olav called to Somerled and his men, who were following in their ship, for help.
Somerled refused to help, unless Olav agreed to give him his daughter in marriage. Olav swore an oath and was then helped on board Somerled's galley. Maurice MacNeill fixed Olav's ship, and he was able to go on his way in his repaired ship. Legend says that from that time on the descendants of Maurice called themselves by the name MacIntyres, which means the sons of the wright.
Whether or not the story is true, it seems more likely that Olav would have been happy to have made an alliance with Somerled, given his army's superior strength. He would not have wanted him to be an enemy. By whatever means the marriage was agreed upon, it did take place in 1140 according to the Chronicles of Man, who records it as being the point that began the downfall of the Kingdom of the Isles.
In about 1153, Olav, King of Man and the Isles was murdered by his nephews, the sons of Harold. They had been raised in Dublin, but now asserted their claim to half of the Kingdom of Man. Olav had a son named Godred (also known as Goraidh mac Amhlaibh, Amhlaibh being another form of Olav), who was in Norway at the time his father was assassinated. He set sail for his kingdom and was welcomed by the people as their new king. He executed his cousins for the murder of his father. Sometime early in his reign, Godred was asked to come to the Kingdom of Dublin, which was at that time a Norwegian kingdom. The people of Dublin asked him to stop some uprisings, restore peace, and assume the throne of Dublin. He allowed his successes at home and in Dublin to go to his head and became a tyrant. The men of the Isles joined together against him. These people of the Isles were of mainly Celtic heritage. They were not happy with the Norwegian ruling family of which Godred was the latest. They were in favor of Somerled and the claim he had to the throne, by his marriage to Godred's sister.
One of these nobles of the Isles suggested to Somerled that his son Dugall should be the new King of the Isles. Somerled gladly accepted the invitation by the Islesmen, and Somerled's son was proclaimed king. Dughall was a boy at the time, but he was carried through the Isles,being declared King of the Isles all the way. Hostages were taken from the Islesmen in order to ensure their loyalty to their new king, Dughall.
One of these Islemen, defected and went to the Isle of Man and told Godred what was occurring in the Isles. Godred gathered a fleet and sailed to the Isles intending to crush this rebellion, and maintain his rule over the Isles. Somerled, gathered a fleet of about 80 ships and met Godred's forces. A long and bloody battle took place. At the end, Godred was forced to seek peace with Somerled, the Thane of Argyll. A treaty was made in which the Isles was given into the possession of Somerled. But within two years, war broke out again. This time Somerled invaded the Isle of Man and defeated Godred and Godred thus defeated fled to Norway to seek help from his overlord against his brother in law, Somerled. For six, years, the kingdom of Man and the Isles was ruled over by Somerled.
The next conflict that Somerled became involved in was over the Earldom of Moray. A young man calling himself Wymund who was a Cistercian monk in a monastery in Furness was placed in charge of a new monastery established by Olav, King of Man, in Russin. He was well liked by the Norsemen and they made him their Bishop. While in this new position, Wymund announced himself to be the son of Angus, Earl of Moray. Angus had been killed in 1130. This announcement of his true parentage, also declared Wymund to be the rightful heir to the earldom of Moray, which had been taken by the king of Scotland. The King of Man and Somerled, both accepted the Wymund's claim as valid. Wymund assumed the name of Malcolm Macheth. And began to take steps to regain his earldom. At about this time, he married Somerled's sister. He assembled a fleet in the Isle of Man and sailed to the Western Isles receiving a friendly welcome from Somerled. He then he invaded the Scottish mainland. The Norwegian Earl of Orkney also gave him his support, securing the alliance by marrying Wymund's sister.
This marriage and his own marriage to Somerled's sister,gave him ties to two powerful kingdoms. and the alliance helped him to proceed in his quest to regain the earldom of Moray, from David I of Scotland. He was eventually taken prisoner while crossing the river Cree in Galloway. Davin ordered his eyes to be put out and imprisoned him in the castle of Roxburgh. Ancient tradition decreed a man unfit to rule if he was not whole and fit in body, so a man who had been blinded, would in effect no longer be a threat. When he was later released from Roxburgh, he again took up the life of a monk and retired to the monastery of Biland in Yorkshire.
The sons of Malcolm, formerly known as Weymund, took refuge with their uncle, Somerled. The Thane of Argyll, was however, occupied with his own troubles with the Norsemen. In 1153 Malcolm IV was the new king of Scotland and Somerled's nephews, the sons of Malcolm Macheath were renewing their rebellion with the aid of Somerled. He was not only supporting his nephews interests, but also his own. King Malcolm's advisers were plotting against his own kingdom. Somerled and his nephews were at war for three years with the King of Scotland. They took the king's son Donald prisoner and sent him to Roxburgh Castle.
Malcolm IV made the decision to seek peace and a treaty was made stipulating that Donald be released and Malcolm Macheath declared the Earl of Ross. This peace, made in 1157 between Somerled and the King of Scotland lasted about seven years, but hostilities broke out again in 1164. The Chroniclers of Man and the Scottish historians say that Somerland had decided to try and conquer the whole country of Scotland. The king of Scotland, likewise, desired to conquer those parts of Scotland that he did not already control including Somerled's Argyll, as before stated, urged on by his advisers.
Malcolm IV invaded Galloway and Moray in 1160 and removed the native population giving the land to his people to populate and occupy. Somerled invaded Scotland's mainland in 1164, with a force of 15,0000 men from Ireland, Argyllshire and the Isles. He had a fleet of 164 ships which sailed up the Clyde to Greenock and landed at the bay of St. Lawrence.
From there they marched to Renfrew to meet the king's army. The chronicler's of the time indicate that Malcolm IV's army was outnumbered, but in spite of this Somerled was killed and his army was disbanded. According to the historical tradition, Malcolm IV's advisers seeing that they were outnumbered and thus likely to lose, decided to assassinate Somerled. They bribed a man who was a relative of Somerled, named Maurice Macneill. He entered the tent of Somerled, who had no reason to fear a relative. Maurice stabbed him in the heart. When the army learned of their leader's death dispersed and returned to their ships.
The Scottish account says that they defeated Somerled's army, nearly annihilating them. The author of The Clan Donald, asked a very good question, If that is so, why did they not then proceed to take control of the Isles? Somerled's sons Reginald, Dugall and Angus maintained possession of their father's kingdom. Somerled's body was taken to Saddel where he had established a monastery, which was later completed by his son Reginald.
Upon his death there were several lords who contested right to his kingdom. There were two main families, comprising one was the sons of Somerled and comprising the other were the descendants of Goraidh MacAmhlaibh who was Somerled's brother in law through his wife Regnhilde. Somerled's enemy King Malcolm IV of Scotland died during the year following Somerled's death, he was succeeded by his brother William the Lion. This seems to be as good a place to end the tale of Somerled.
Sources:
The Clan Donald by Archibald Macdonald - 1896
http://dna-project.clan-donald-usa.org/DNAmain3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerled
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Somerled.html
http://www.macdonald.com/clan.html
The Foundations of Society and the Land: A Review of the Social Systems of the Middle Ages in Great Britain .... by John Wynne Jeudwine -1918
The History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland from A.D. 1493... by Archibald Gregory
An Historical and Statistical Account of the Isle of Man, from the Earliest... Joseph Train 1845
I have referred to several sources for this information, but when you go back as far as the 12th century, mistakes are inevitable, so please keep in mind, the possibility of human error.
Somerled was a ruler of the Scottish Isles durint the 12th century called variously, ri Innse Gall (King of the Hebrides in Gaelic) Sumarlioi (in Old Norse) Somhairle (Scottish Gaelic) and in English, Sorley. He was also the King of Kintyre(Cinn Tire)
The following account of the life of Somerled is taken from The clan Donald by Archibald McDonald and gives us insight into the times in which Somerled was born and lived.
"In the 11th century the Irish and Highland Seanachies throw faint rays of light upon the position and prospects of the Clan Cholla. During the first half of than century it appears that Gilledomnan, the grandfather of Somerled, was a person of consequence, and held sway over a considerable portion of Argyll. That he was a leader of some note may be inferred from the circumstance of his daughter having been the wife of Harold, one of the Kings of Norway. In his time the fortunes of the family were probably at the lowest ebb. Able hitherto to hold their own against the Scandinavian assaults, the latter seemed destined to obtain a permanent supremacy, and Gilledomnan was finally driven from his territories and took refuge in Ireland, where, after devoting the latter part of his life to pious duties, he very probably lived till his death.
Gillebride, the son of Gilledomnan,who had fled with his father to Ireland, now made a vigorous effort to recover the inheritance of his sires. Being among his Irish kindred of the Clan Cholla, in the County of Fermanagh, it was determined to placea force of 400 or 500 men at his disposal to aid him in vindicating his rights. Accompanied by this warrior band, Gillebride landed in Argyll, and made a gallant attempt to dislodge the ivader; yet the Norseman had by this time obtained such a firm hold of the country, that Gillebride and his followers were obliged ultimately to retire into the woods and caves of Morvern. From his compulsory seclusion in a cave on the shores of Loch Linnhe,this Gaelic leader came to be known as Gillebride na h-uaimh. Gregory, without any authority, save one dark hint from the historian of Sleat, attributes Gillebride's defeat and consequent seculusion to his alleged action after the death of Malcolm Canmore, in supporting the claims of Donald Bane to the throne against the Anglo-Saxon party. This statement does not possess much historical probability. It was the aim of Gillebride's life to regain possession of his ancestral domains from the hands of the usurping Norseman; it was against them that all his efforts were directed, and his intervention at any time in the internal quarrels of the Scottish State is in the highest degree unlikely.
From this time Gillebride seems to have made no further effort to regain the territory of his fathers in the region of Oirthirghael. It is therefore clear that a crisis has arrived in the history of the Western Gael, as well as in the fortunes of the Clan Cholla. The Norseman is on the eve, not only of expelling him from the Isles, but of crushing his prestige and authority on the mainland as well. It was at this critical moment, when Teutonic ascendancy in the West seemed on the eve of asserting itself finally and triumphantly, that Somerled arose. Gillebride and his cave vanish into the unknown, and his warlike son steps upon the scene of history, to become the terror of the Norseman and the Achilles of his race.
The events of Somerled's life are, like his genealogy, shrouded in the mists of unverifiable tradition. They belong to that borderland of history and legend on which the chronicler can with difficulty find a secure resting-place for the sole of his foot. Yet amid the shifting debris of old-world history, there are certain main outlines and facts which have crystallised themselves as genuine and authentic, and afford indications of an impressive and commanding personality issuing out of the dim past, possessing immense force of character, high military talents, great energy and ambition, combined with a large measure of that political sagacity and prudence which constitute a ruler and leader of men.
All we know of the early history of this renowned Gaelic hero is derived exclusively from tradition. Hugh MacDonald, the Sleat historian, who flourished in the latter half of the seventeenth century, embodied that tradition in a MS. history,written in the year 1680, and is responsible for almost every word that has been written since his time upon Somerled's early career. Save when he is tempted to exalt his own branch at the expense of others, he is, though not strictly accurate, still a fairly reliable exponent of the history and traditions of his Clan. (The Sleat historian says that Somerled was "a well-tempered man, in body shapely, of a fair piercing eye, of middle stature and of quick discernment." But in Highland tradition he is called Somhairle Mor MacGillebhride. The word Mor, may have meant that he was a great man in deed rather than a great man in size.)
When Somerled first comes upon the scene, he is living with his father in his cave amid the wilds of Movern, an unambitious young man, devoted to fishing and hunting, and as yet apparently without any intention of thrusting himself forward as a leader of men. But the exigencies of the time soon transformed this Celtic Nimrod into a hero. Amid his devotion to the chase, he must have had many hours of reflection upon the fallen fortunes of his family, and unsuspected depths in his nature were stirred up by the tale of their misfortunes. The faded glory of the once kingly house, with all the humiliating conditions that accompanied its downfall, seized with irresistible force upon his imagination, and the resolve to build up again its ruined state became the passion of his life. Often must he have wished that the day might come when he could strike a blow for freedom and the right. That day at length came, and it found Somerled ready."
The writer goes on to say that at this time the natives of Argyll had tried to free themselves from the suppression of the Norse Vikings. The Vikings prepared their forces to once and for all establish rule over them. The Norse had galley ships all along the western sea, and they used them to attack the shores of Oirthirfghael. The result of the fighting was defeat for the native tribes, all except a tribe called the MacInneses. They had lost their leader but had found a new leader, who was tall and a valiant fighter who had fought well. His name was Somhairle Mor Mac Ghillebhride, more commonly known as Somerled.
At a later time, led by Somhairle Mor Mac Ghillebhride, they made another effort to gain their independence. They held a council to decide how they would proceed. The Crann tara was sent through the land, and all of the men of Argyll, came to the rendezvous to the east of Benmore. Instead of being united in their cause, the leaders of the different tribes fought amongst themselves over who would be the chief leader. They at one point began to draw their weapons against each other, but an old chief rose up and demanded that they listen to him. He pointed out to them how dangerous it was for them to be divided amongst themselves. He suggested that they elect from their gathered tribes someone they all had confidence in and recommended to them Somerled, reminding them of how he had proven his prowess in the recent conflict with the Vikings. They all saw the wisdom of the old man's words and agreed to be led by Somerled.
Apparently, Somerled was not present at the meeting of these tribes, because they all sent dispatches to him offering him the position as their leader. He hesitated to accept, but in the end, despite the strength of his enemy, he accepted.
He had a plan. He ordered every man to kill his cow and skin it. The Gaels then waited for the approaching Vikings. Somerled ordered his army to march around their encampment. Then he ordered them to put on the cow hides to disguise themselves and repeat the process. Then he ordered them to remove the cow hides and march around a third time. His purpose was to make his army appear to be three different divisions, and therefore much larger than it really was. His strategy worked and them enemy fell into a great confusion and while they were in a panic, he ordered his army to attack. They slaughtered them and thus routed, he followed them as they ran to the north bank of the Sheill where their ships were anchored. With this great victory, Somerled began his career in triumph.
He did not stop there, though. He followed the enemy into the territory they held, while his army was still full of great moral, due to their recent success in battle. He drove the Vikings out of Oirthirghael tp Innse-Gall. These battles represented the first success against the Vikings that had occurred for hundreds of years.
Having won back the mainland territory that had belonged to his forebears, Somerled either assumed or was given the title of Thane or Regulus of Argyll.
He next set his eyes upon the Kingdom of Man and the Isles. Olav the Red, King of Man and the Isles, not sure that he could keep possession of his kingdom, offered Somerled his daughter in marriage. This seemed to have worked, for Somerled was said to have been truly in love with Ragnhildis. The historian of Sleat told the story of how Somerled won his bride.
King Olav was encamped in Storna Bay and Somerled was also in that area. Somerled met with Olav, without disclosing who he really was. He told him that he had been sent by the Thane of Argyll, who would accompany him on his expedition, in exchange for his daughter in marriage. Olav recognised him and refused to give him his daughter, but welcomed his aid in battle. Olav had a foster-brother named Maurice MacNeill, who was Somerled's friend who offered to help Somerled to gain Ragnhildis as his bride.
Maurice bored holes in the bottom of King Olav's ship, saving the plugs so that the could be used to stop up the holes when needed. For the present time, he filled the holes with butter. When they set sail the next day, all appeared well. When they reach the point of Ardnamurchan, they encountered rough waters and the waves began to wash away the butter in the holes of Olav's ship and it began to leak water. This put the king and everyone on board in danger of drowning.
Olav called to Somerled and his men, who were following in their ship, for help.
Somerled refused to help, unless Olav agreed to give him his daughter in marriage. Olav swore an oath and was then helped on board Somerled's galley. Maurice MacNeill fixed Olav's ship, and he was able to go on his way in his repaired ship. Legend says that from that time on the descendants of Maurice called themselves by the name MacIntyres, which means the sons of the wright.
Whether or not the story is true, it seems more likely that Olav would have been happy to have made an alliance with Somerled, given his army's superior strength. He would not have wanted him to be an enemy. By whatever means the marriage was agreed upon, it did take place in 1140 according to the Chronicles of Man, who records it as being the point that began the downfall of the Kingdom of the Isles.
In about 1153, Olav, King of Man and the Isles was murdered by his nephews, the sons of Harold. They had been raised in Dublin, but now asserted their claim to half of the Kingdom of Man. Olav had a son named Godred (also known as Goraidh mac Amhlaibh, Amhlaibh being another form of Olav), who was in Norway at the time his father was assassinated. He set sail for his kingdom and was welcomed by the people as their new king. He executed his cousins for the murder of his father. Sometime early in his reign, Godred was asked to come to the Kingdom of Dublin, which was at that time a Norwegian kingdom. The people of Dublin asked him to stop some uprisings, restore peace, and assume the throne of Dublin. He allowed his successes at home and in Dublin to go to his head and became a tyrant. The men of the Isles joined together against him. These people of the Isles were of mainly Celtic heritage. They were not happy with the Norwegian ruling family of which Godred was the latest. They were in favor of Somerled and the claim he had to the throne, by his marriage to Godred's sister.
One of these nobles of the Isles suggested to Somerled that his son Dugall should be the new King of the Isles. Somerled gladly accepted the invitation by the Islesmen, and Somerled's son was proclaimed king. Dughall was a boy at the time, but he was carried through the Isles,being declared King of the Isles all the way. Hostages were taken from the Islesmen in order to ensure their loyalty to their new king, Dughall.
One of these Islemen, defected and went to the Isle of Man and told Godred what was occurring in the Isles. Godred gathered a fleet and sailed to the Isles intending to crush this rebellion, and maintain his rule over the Isles. Somerled, gathered a fleet of about 80 ships and met Godred's forces. A long and bloody battle took place. At the end, Godred was forced to seek peace with Somerled, the Thane of Argyll. A treaty was made in which the Isles was given into the possession of Somerled. But within two years, war broke out again. This time Somerled invaded the Isle of Man and defeated Godred and Godred thus defeated fled to Norway to seek help from his overlord against his brother in law, Somerled. For six, years, the kingdom of Man and the Isles was ruled over by Somerled.
The next conflict that Somerled became involved in was over the Earldom of Moray. A young man calling himself Wymund who was a Cistercian monk in a monastery in Furness was placed in charge of a new monastery established by Olav, King of Man, in Russin. He was well liked by the Norsemen and they made him their Bishop. While in this new position, Wymund announced himself to be the son of Angus, Earl of Moray. Angus had been killed in 1130. This announcement of his true parentage, also declared Wymund to be the rightful heir to the earldom of Moray, which had been taken by the king of Scotland. The King of Man and Somerled, both accepted the Wymund's claim as valid. Wymund assumed the name of Malcolm Macheth. And began to take steps to regain his earldom. At about this time, he married Somerled's sister. He assembled a fleet in the Isle of Man and sailed to the Western Isles receiving a friendly welcome from Somerled. He then he invaded the Scottish mainland. The Norwegian Earl of Orkney also gave him his support, securing the alliance by marrying Wymund's sister.
This marriage and his own marriage to Somerled's sister,gave him ties to two powerful kingdoms. and the alliance helped him to proceed in his quest to regain the earldom of Moray, from David I of Scotland. He was eventually taken prisoner while crossing the river Cree in Galloway. Davin ordered his eyes to be put out and imprisoned him in the castle of Roxburgh. Ancient tradition decreed a man unfit to rule if he was not whole and fit in body, so a man who had been blinded, would in effect no longer be a threat. When he was later released from Roxburgh, he again took up the life of a monk and retired to the monastery of Biland in Yorkshire.
The sons of Malcolm, formerly known as Weymund, took refuge with their uncle, Somerled. The Thane of Argyll, was however, occupied with his own troubles with the Norsemen. In 1153 Malcolm IV was the new king of Scotland and Somerled's nephews, the sons of Malcolm Macheath were renewing their rebellion with the aid of Somerled. He was not only supporting his nephews interests, but also his own. King Malcolm's advisers were plotting against his own kingdom. Somerled and his nephews were at war for three years with the King of Scotland. They took the king's son Donald prisoner and sent him to Roxburgh Castle.
Malcolm IV made the decision to seek peace and a treaty was made stipulating that Donald be released and Malcolm Macheath declared the Earl of Ross. This peace, made in 1157 between Somerled and the King of Scotland lasted about seven years, but hostilities broke out again in 1164. The Chroniclers of Man and the Scottish historians say that Somerland had decided to try and conquer the whole country of Scotland. The king of Scotland, likewise, desired to conquer those parts of Scotland that he did not already control including Somerled's Argyll, as before stated, urged on by his advisers.
Malcolm IV invaded Galloway and Moray in 1160 and removed the native population giving the land to his people to populate and occupy. Somerled invaded Scotland's mainland in 1164, with a force of 15,0000 men from Ireland, Argyllshire and the Isles. He had a fleet of 164 ships which sailed up the Clyde to Greenock and landed at the bay of St. Lawrence.
From there they marched to Renfrew to meet the king's army. The chronicler's of the time indicate that Malcolm IV's army was outnumbered, but in spite of this Somerled was killed and his army was disbanded. According to the historical tradition, Malcolm IV's advisers seeing that they were outnumbered and thus likely to lose, decided to assassinate Somerled. They bribed a man who was a relative of Somerled, named Maurice Macneill. He entered the tent of Somerled, who had no reason to fear a relative. Maurice stabbed him in the heart. When the army learned of their leader's death dispersed and returned to their ships.
The Scottish account says that they defeated Somerled's army, nearly annihilating them. The author of The Clan Donald, asked a very good question, If that is so, why did they not then proceed to take control of the Isles? Somerled's sons Reginald, Dugall and Angus maintained possession of their father's kingdom. Somerled's body was taken to Saddel where he had established a monastery, which was later completed by his son Reginald.
Upon his death there were several lords who contested right to his kingdom. There were two main families, comprising one was the sons of Somerled and comprising the other were the descendants of Goraidh MacAmhlaibh who was Somerled's brother in law through his wife Regnhilde. Somerled's enemy King Malcolm IV of Scotland died during the year following Somerled's death, he was succeeded by his brother William the Lion. This seems to be as good a place to end the tale of Somerled.
Sources:
The Clan Donald by Archibald Macdonald - 1896
http://dna-project.clan-donald-usa.org/DNAmain3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerled
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Somerled.html
http://www.macdonald.com/clan.html
The Foundations of Society and the Land: A Review of the Social Systems of the Middle Ages in Great Britain .... by John Wynne Jeudwine -1918
The History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland from A.D. 1493... by Archibald Gregory
An Historical and Statistical Account of the Isle of Man, from the Earliest... Joseph Train 1845
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