Dunyvaig Castle
Encyclopedia
Dunyvaig Castle, is located on the south side of Islay
, on the shore of Lagavulin Bay
, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Port Ellen
. The castle was once a naval base of the Lord of the Isles
, chiefs of Clan Donald
. It was held by the chiefs of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg
.
. Afterwards the castle was leased to the MacDonalds, then the Campbells and back to the MacDonalds.
and garrisoned with royal troops with the constable Andrew Knox. In 1614, the castle was taken by Ranald Og MacDonald
, however was retaken by Angus Og MacDonald
, who attempted to bargain the castles surrender. Knox attempted to retake the castle and was defeated and compelled to retreat. Knox left his son Thomas and his nephew John Knox of Ranfurly as hostages for his good faith. The hostages were freed by John Graham and on 6 January 1615, Sir John Campbell of Calder, with the assistance of Sir Oliver Lambart
, retook the castle.
The castle was seized in 1647 by the Covenanters and passed into the hands of the Campbells of Cawdor, who held it until 1677, when Sir Hugh Campbell pulled down the castle and moved to Islay House.
.
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
, on the shore of Lagavulin Bay
Lagavulin Bay
Lagavulin Bay is a bay on the south of Islay, Scotland....
, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Port Ellen
Port Ellen
Port Ellen is a small town on the island of Islay, in Argyll, Scotland.Port Ellen is named after the wife of the founder, Frederick Campbell of Islay. Its previous name, Leòdamas, is derived from old Norse meaning "Leòd's Harbour"....
. The castle was once a naval base of the Lord of the Isles
Lord of the Isles
The 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...
, chiefs 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...
. It was held by the chiefs of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg
Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg
Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, also known as Clan Donald South, Clan Iain Vor, Clan MacDonald of Islay and Kintyre, MacDonalds of the Glens and sometimes referred to as MacDonnells, is a Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald...
.
12th century
A castle was built on top of a fort or dun. Somerled used the castle as a base for his galleys.15th century
Forfeited in 1493, the castle passed to the MacIans of ArdnamurchanClan MacDonald of Ardnamurchan
The MacDonalds of Ardnamurchan also known as MacIain of Ardnamurchan are a branch of Clan Donald.-Origins of the Clan:The founder of the Macdonalds of Ardnamurchan was Iain Sprangach MacDonald , the third son of Angus Mor MacDonald , 4th chief of the Clan Donald.Iain Sprangach MacDonald was also...
. Afterwards the castle was leased to the MacDonalds, then the Campbells and back to the MacDonalds.
17th century
Surrendered to Andrew Stuart, 3rd Lord Ochiltree and a royal force in 1608 by Angus MacDonald, 8th of DunnyvegAngus MacDonald, 8th of Dunnyveg
-Life:Angus Macdonald went to Islay and Kintyre to renew the conflict with Clan Maclean. In 1579, upon information of mutual hostilities committed by their followers, the king and council commanded Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean and Angus Macdonald of Dunyveg or Isla, to subscribe assurances of indemnity...
and garrisoned with royal troops with the constable Andrew Knox. In 1614, the castle was taken by Ranald Og MacDonald
Ranald Og MacDonald
Ranald Og MacDonald was a son of Angus MacDonald, 8th of Dunnyveg. He captured Dunyvaig Castle in 1614 from the constable Andrew Knox and royal garrison. Dunyvaig was retaken by his brother Angus Og....
, however was retaken by Angus Og MacDonald
Angus Og MacDonald (d.1615)
Angus Og MacDonald was a son of Angus MacDonald, 8th of Dunnyveg and Mary, daughter of Hector Og Maclean of Duart.He retook Dunyvaig Castle which had been taken by his brother Ranald Og. He tried to negiotiate a lease of crown lands on Islay, the rights to Dunyvaig Castle, and a pardon for all...
, who attempted to bargain the castles surrender. Knox attempted to retake the castle and was defeated and compelled to retreat. Knox left his son Thomas and his nephew John Knox of Ranfurly as hostages for his good faith. The hostages were freed by John Graham and on 6 January 1615, Sir John Campbell of Calder, with the assistance of Sir Oliver Lambart
Oliver Lambart, 1st Baron Lambart
Oliver Lambart, 1st Lord Lambart, Baron of Cavan was a military commander and an MP in the Irish House of Commons. He was Governor of Connaught in 1601. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor in 1603. He is buried in Westminster Abbey...
, retook the castle.
The castle was seized in 1647 by the Covenanters and passed into the hands of the Campbells of Cawdor, who held it until 1677, when Sir Hugh Campbell pulled down the castle and moved to Islay House.
Ruins
Today all that remains of the castle are mainly the ruins of the sixteenth century castle, although the site includes a thirteenth century courtyard, and a fifteenth century keepKeep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
.