Angus Og of Islay
Encyclopedia
Aonghas Óg MacDomhnaill (d. 1314x18) (Anglicised: Angus MacDonald the younger) was the son of Aonghas Mór MacDomhnaill
. As Lord of Islay
and chief of Clan Donald
, he was a Hebridean nobleman who participated in the Wars of Scottish Independence
.
and a daughter of Cailean Mór
, and a grandson of Domhnall mac Raghnaill
the eponymous founder of Clan Donald, who in turn was a grandson of Somerled
.
Prior to 1306, Aonghas was with his elder brother Alasdair Óg
, then the Lord of Islay, by being partisan to the Baliol party, the elder brother being attached to that faction by virtue of his marriage to a daughter of Alexander of Argyll
, chief of Clan MacDougall
.
When Robert the Bruce went on the run after the Battle of Methven
, he eventually ended up in Kintyre following his defeat at the hands of John of Lorne in the Battle of Dalrigh.
Aonghas the lord there, and an enemy of Argyll and Lorn, hospitably received the Bruce into his stronghold of Dunaverty Castle
, in August 1306. For greater security Aonghas had Bruce transported to Rathlin Island
, where Bruce was sheltered by Hugh Byset, lord of the island. Aonghas assisted in the 1307 attack upon Carrick
, when the king had landed in his patrimonial district.
When having established his power, King Robert granted Aonghas large fiefdoms: for example, both his elder brother's holdings, including the island of Islay, and much of the holdings of the MacDougalls. This was an important step in the rise of Clan Donald (a junior branch from king Somhairle mac Gillebride) at the expense of Clan MacDougall (who were the senior agnatic heirs of king Somhairle). Alasdair Óg had to surrender to king Robert, and he was kept imprisoned in Dundonald Castle
, Ayrshire
, where he died in 1308. His whole possessions were forfeited and given to his younger brother, Aonghas.
Aonghas fought, with a contingent of Isles warriors, at the Battle of Bannockburn
in support of the Bruce. In recognition of Clan Donald's support King Robert proclaimed that Clan Donald would always occupy the honoured position on the right wing of the Scottish army.
As territorial rewards, the king bestowed upon Aonghas the lordship of Lochaber
(which had belonged to the Comyns), with the lands of Durrour and Glencoe, and the islands of Mull
, Jura
, Coll
Tiree
, etc., from the patrimony of the chiefs of MacDougall.
Aonghas Óg died in 1330 at Finlaggan Castle
on Islay and was buried on Iona.
and senior subking to the King of Tír Eoghain, by his wife, Aonghas of Islay had three children:
He also had an illegitimate son:
Aonghas Mór
Aonghas Mór , also known as Aonghas a Íle and Aonghas mac Domhnaill , was the son of Domhnall mac Raghnaill, eponymous progenitor of Clan Donald.Aonghas Mór has been called "the first MacDonald" by one historian, namely...
. As Lord of Islay
Lord of Islay
The Lord of Islay was a 13th and 14th century titles used by the chief of Clan Donald of Islay before they rose to assume the title "Lord of the Isles". The first person known to style themselves "Lord of Islay" was Aonghas Mór, son of Domhnall the progenitor of the MacDonalds.-List of lords of...
and chief of Clan Donald
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
, he was a Hebridean nobleman who participated in the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
.
Biography
He was the son of Aonghas Mór MacDomhnaillAonghas Mór
Aonghas Mór , also known as Aonghas a Íle and Aonghas mac Domhnaill , was the son of Domhnall mac Raghnaill, eponymous progenitor of Clan Donald.Aonghas Mór has been called "the first MacDonald" by one historian, namely...
and a daughter of Cailean Mór
Cailean Mór
Cailean Mór Caimbeul, also known as Sir Colin Campbell , is one of the earliest attested members of Clan Campbell and an important ancestor figure of the later medieval Earls of Argyll....
, and a grandson of Domhnall mac Raghnaill
Domhnall mac Raghnaill
Domhnall mac Raghnaill was a Hebridean noble in the late 12th- and early 13th-century. He is the eponymous progenitor of Clan Donald . For this reason some traditions accumulated around him in the Later Middle Ages and Early Modern period...
the eponymous founder of Clan Donald, who in turn was a grandson of Somerled
Somerled
Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride...
.
Prior to 1306, Aonghas was with his elder brother Alasdair Óg
Alexander Óg
Alexander Óg , Lord of Islay , was a Hebridean magnate active at the end of the 13th- and beginning of the 14th centuries...
, then the Lord of Islay, by being partisan to the Baliol party, the elder brother being attached to that faction by virtue of his marriage to a daughter of Alexander of Argyll
Alexander of Argyll
Alexander of Argyll or Alexander of Lorne, also known as Alexander MacDougall , was a Scottish magnate from the late 13th and early 14th century, and was chief of Clan MacDougall. Alexander was the son of Ewen MacDougall, Lord of Argyll...
, chief of Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century...
.
When Robert the Bruce went on the run after the Battle of Methven
Battle of Methven
The Battle of Methven took place at Methven in Scotland in 1306, during the Wars of Scottish Independence.-Comyn's Death:In February 1306, Robert Bruce and a small party of his followers killed John Comyn, also known as the Red Comyn, before the high altar of the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries...
, he eventually ended up in Kintyre following his defeat at the hands of John of Lorne in the Battle of Dalrigh.
Aonghas the lord there, and an enemy of Argyll and Lorn, hospitably received the Bruce into his stronghold of Dunaverty Castle
Dunaverty Castle
Dunaverty Castle is located at Southend at the southern end of the Kintyre peninsula in western Scotland. The site was once a fort belonging to the Clan Donald . Little remains of the castle, although the site is protected as a scheduled monument....
, in August 1306. For greater security Aonghas had Bruce transported to Rathlin Island
Rathlin Island
Rathlin Island is an island off the coast of County Antrim, and is the northernmost point of Northern Ireland. Rathlin is the only inhabited offshore island in Northern Ireland, with a rising population of now just over 100 people, and is the most northerly inhabited island off the Irish coast...
, where Bruce was sheltered by Hugh Byset, lord of the island. Aonghas assisted in the 1307 attack upon Carrick
Carrick, Scotland
Carrick is a former comital district of Scotland which today forms part of South Ayrshire.-History:The word Carrick comes from the Gaelic word Carraig, meaning rock or rocky place. Maybole was the historic capital of Carrick. The county was eventually combined into Ayrshire which was divided...
, when the king had landed in his patrimonial district.
When having established his power, King Robert granted Aonghas large fiefdoms: for example, both his elder brother's holdings, including the island of Islay, and much of the holdings of the MacDougalls. This was an important step in the rise of Clan Donald (a junior branch from king Somhairle mac Gillebride) at the expense of Clan MacDougall (who were the senior agnatic heirs of king Somhairle). Alasdair Óg had to surrender to king Robert, and he was kept imprisoned in Dundonald Castle
Dundonald Castle
Dundonald Castle is situated on a hill overlooking the village of Dundonald, between Kilmarnock and Troon in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Dundonald Castle is a fortified tower house built for Robert II on his accession to the throne of Scotland in 1371 and it was used as a royal residence by the early...
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, where he died in 1308. His whole possessions were forfeited and given to his younger brother, Aonghas.
Aonghas fought, with a contingent of Isles warriors, at the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
in support of the Bruce. In recognition of Clan Donald's support King Robert proclaimed that Clan Donald would always occupy the honoured position on the right wing of the Scottish army.
As territorial rewards, the king bestowed upon Aonghas the lordship of Lochaber
Lochaber
District of Lochaber 1975 to 1996Highland council area shown as one of the council areas of ScotlandLochaber is one of the 16 ward management areas of the Highland Council of Scotland and one of eight former local government districts of the two-tier Highland region...
(which had belonged to the Comyns), with the lands of Durrour and Glencoe, and the islands of Mull
Mull
-Places:*Isle of Mull, Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides*Sound of Mull, between the island and the rest of Scotland*Mull , Anglicisation of Gaelic Maol, hill or promontory**Mull of Galloway, Scotland**Mull of Kintyre, Scotland...
, Jura
Jura, Scotland
Jura is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, situated adjacent and to the north-east of Islay. Part of the island is designated as a National Scenic Area. Until the twentieth century Jura was dominated - and most of it was eventually owned - by the Campbell clan of Inveraray Castle on Loch...
, Coll
Coll
Coll is a small island, west of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for Breachacha Castle.-Geography and geology:...
Tiree
Tiree
-History:Tiree is known for the 1st century BC Dùn Mòr broch, for the prehistoric carved Ringing Stone and for the birds of the Ceann a' Mhara headland....
, etc., from the patrimony of the chiefs of MacDougall.
Aonghas Óg died in 1330 at Finlaggan Castle
Finlaggan Castle
Finlaggan Castle , also known as Eilean Mor Castle is a ruined fortified house located on the isle of Eilean Mór on Loch Finlaggan, Islay, Scotland. It was once a residence and stronghold of Lord of the Isles and Clan Macdonald....
on Islay and was buried on Iona.
Family
Aonghas Óg of Islay married Áine Ó Catháin an Irish noblewoman, whose dowry was 140 men from each surname that dwelt in her father's territory. Her father was Chief of the Name of Ó CatháinÓ Cathain
Clan Ó Catháin ....
and senior subking to the King of Tír Eoghain, by his wife, Aonghas of Islay had three children:
- Mary, married John Stewart
- Fionnuala, married Uilleam III, Earl of RossUilleam III, Earl of RossUilleam III of Ross was the fourth successor of Ferchar mac in tSagairt, as Mormaer of Ross .Uilleam came into his inheritance at a torrid time, his father Aodh dying at the Battle of Halidon Hill. Uilleam temporarily lost many of his lands. However, he returned from Norway in 1336 and regained them...
, papal dispensation to marry granted 8th June 1342. - John of Islay, Lord of the IslesJohn of Islay, Lord of the IslesJohn of Islay was the Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald. In 1336, he styled himself Dominus Insularum, "Lord of the Isles"; because this is the first ever recorded instance of the title in use, modern historians count John as the first of the later medieval Lords of the Isles, although...
, the first person to use the title Lord of the IslesLord of the IslesThe designation Lord of the Isles is today a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It emerged from a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of...
He also had an illegitimate son:
- Iain Fraoch MacDonaldIain Fraoch MacDonaldIain Fraoch MacDonald was a younger son of Angus Og of Islay, and founder of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe."Fraoch" is a nickname which means "the snarling" in the Scottish Gaelic language, although it usually means heather -External links:...
, who founded Clan MacDonald of GlencoeClan MacDonald of GlencoeThe MacDonalds of Glencoe also known as Clann Iain Abrach are a branch of Clan Donald.-History:The founder of the MacDonalds of Glencoe was Iain Fraoch MacDonald The MacDonalds of Glencoe also known as Clann Iain Abrach are a branch of Clan Donald.-History:The founder of the MacDonalds of Glencoe...
Sources
- Balfour Paul, Sir JamesJames Balfour PaulSir James Balfour Paul, KCVO was the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the officer responsible for heraldry in Scotland, from 1890 until the end of 1926....
, Scots Peerage IX vols. Edinburgh 1908. - Calendar of entries in the Papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland. : Papal letters, 1198-1404 IV vols. ed. W.H.BlissWilliam Henry BlissWilliam Henry Bliss was an English scholar and Anglican convert to Catholicism.-Early life and education:...
& J.A.Twemlow, London 1893.