Raghnall mac Somhairle
Encyclopedia
Ragnall mac Somairle, or Ragnall son of Somairle, was a late 12th century and possibly early 13th century magnate
, seated on the western seaboard of Scotland. He was likely a younger son of Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, Lord of Argyll (d. 1164) and his wife, Ragnhildr, daughter of Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles (d. 1153). The 12th century Kingdom of the Isles
, ruled by Ragnall's father and maternal-grandfather, existed within a hybrid Norse-Gaelic milieu, which bordered an ever strengthening and consolidating Kingdom of Scots.
In the mid 12th century, Somairle rose in power and won the Kingdom of the Isles
from his brother-in-law. After Somairle perished in battle
against the Scots in 1164, much of his kingdom was likely partitioned between his surviving sons. Ragnall's allotment appears to have been in the southern Hebrides
and Kintyre
. In time, Ragnall appears to have risen in power and became the leading member of Somairle's descendants, the meic Somairle (or Clann Somairle). Ragnall is known to have styled himself "King of the Isles, Lord of Argyll and Kintyre" and "Lord of the Isles". His claim to the title of king, like other members of the meic Somairle, is derived through Ragnhildr, a member of the Crovan dynasty
.
Ragnall disappears from record after he and his sons were defeated by his brother Áengus
. Ragnall's death-date is unknown, although dates ranging between 1192–1227 are all possibilities. Surviving contemporary sources reveal that Ragnall was a significant patron of the Church. Although his father appears to have aligned himself with traditional forms of Christianity
, Ragnall's associated himself with newer reformed religious orders from the continent. Ragnall's now non-existent seal, which pictured a knight
on horseback, also indicates that he attempted to present himself as an up-to-date ruler, not unlink his Anglo-French
contemporaries of the bordering Kingdom of Scots.
Ragnall is known to have left two sons, Domnall and Ruaidrí
, who went on to found powerful Hebridean families. Either Ragnall or Ruaidrí had daughters who married Ragnall's first cousins Rögnvaldr and Óláfr, two 13th century kings of the Crovan dynasty.
(d. after 1175), Ragnall, Áengus
(d. 1210), and likely a fourth, Amlaíb. Dubgall appears to have been the couple's eldest son. Little is certain of the origins of Ragnall's father, although his marriage suggests that he belonged to a family of some substance. In the first half of the 12th century, the Hebrides
and the Isle of Man
(Mann) were encompassed within the Kingdom of the Isles
, which was ruled by Somairle's father-in-law, a member of the Crovan dynasty
. Somairle's rise to power may well have begun at about this time, as the few surviving sources from the era suggest that Argyll
may have begun to slip from the control of David I, King of Scots
(d. 1153).
Somairle first appears on record in 1153, when he rose in rebellion against Máel Coluim IV, King of Scots
(d. 1165), in support of his nephews and their father, a certain Máel Coluim who was imprisoned by the like-named king. In the same year, Somairle's father-in-law was murdered, after ruling the Kingdom of the Isles about forty years. Óláfr was succeeded by his son, Guðrøðr; sometime afterwards, Somairle participated in a coup within the kingdom by presenting Dubgall as a potential king. In consequence, Somairle and his brother-in-law fought a naval battle in 1156
, after which much of the Hebrides appear to have fallen under Somairle's control. Two years later, he defeated Guðrøðar outright
and took control of the entire island-kingdom. In 1164, Somairle again rose against the King of Scots, and is recorded in various early sources to have commanded a massive invasion force of men from throughout the Isles, Argyll, Kintyre
, and Scandinavian Dublin. Somairle's host sailed up the Clyde
, and made landfall near what is today Renfrew
, where they were crushed by the Scots
, and he himself was slain. Following Somairle's demise, Guðrøðr returned to the Isles and seated himself on Mann, although the Hebridean-territories won by Somairle in 1156 were retained by his descendants, the meic Somairle.
Although contemporary sources are silent on the matter, it is more than likely that on Somairle's demise, his territory was divided amongst his surviving sons. The precise allotment of lands is unknown; even though the division of lands amongst later generations of meic Somairle can be readily discerned, such boundaries are unlikely to have existed during chaotic 12th century. It is possible that the territory of the first generation of meic Somairle may have stretched from Glenelg in the north, to the Mull of Kintyre
in the south; with Áengus ruling in the north, Dubgall centred in Lorne (with possibly the bulk of the inheritance), and Ragnall in Kintyre
and the southern islands.
. In 1192, the Chronicle of Mann records that Ragnall and his sons were defeated in a particularly bloody battle against Áengus. Although the chronicle does not identify the location of the battle, or elaborate under what circumstances it was fought, it is possible that it took place in the northern part of the meic Somairle domain, where Áengus' lands may have been. It may be that Ragnall's rise in power, possibly at the expense of Dubgall, brought Ragnall in contact with Áengus. Even so, the probability is that his defeat at the hands of his brother marked Ragnall's downfall.
One of several ecclesiastical sources which deal specifically with Ragnall is an undated grant to the Cluniac priory at Paisley
(later known as Paisley Abbey
). The patrons of this religious house were the kindred of the High Steward of Scotland
. Since Ragnall's grant likely dates to after his defeat to Áengus, it may be evidence of an attempt made by Ragnall to secure and alliance with the head of the kindred, Alan fitz Walter, High Stewart of Scotland
(d. 1204). Since Bute
seems to have fallen into Stewart hands at about this time, Walter may have taken advantage of the internal conflict between the meic Somairle; or possibly, he may have been given the island by Ragnall, as payment for military support against Áengus who, by 1192, had gained the upper hand in the conflict.
, Ragnall is styled in Latin
rex insularum, dominus de Ergile et Kyntyre ("King of the Isles, Lord of Argyll and Kintyre"). In what is likely a later charter, he is styled in Latin dominus de Inchegal ("Lord of the Isles"), in his grant to Paisley. Although Ragnall's abandonment of he title "king" in favour of "lord" may not be significant, it could be connected with his defeat to Áengus, or possibly due to the rise in power and expansion of his namesake and first cousin, Rögnvaldr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles. Ragnall's style dominus de Inchegal is not unlike the dominus Insularum used by his great-great-grandson, Eoin Mac Domhnaill, Lord of the Isles
(d. c. 1387), the first of four successive Lords of the Isles.
Ragnall's grant to Paisley is preserved in two documents. One dates from the late 12th century or early 13th century, a later copy of the charter is contained in an instrument which dates to 1426. Appended to the latter document is a description of a seal, which the 15th century notary alleged to have belonged to Ragnall. On one side, the seal is described to have depicted a ship, filled with men at arms. On the reverse side, the seal was said to have depicted an armed man on horseback, with a sword in his hand.
Ragnall is the only member of the meic Somairle known to have styled himself rex insularm ("King of the Isles") in documents. His use of both the title and seal are likely derived from those of the leading members of the Crovan dynasty
, such as his namesake Rögnvaldr, who was styled "King of the Isles" and was said to have borne a similar two-sided seal. The elements contained within the seals of the two men combine a Norse-Gaelic galley
, a symbol of power of the rulers of an island-kingdom; and the Anglo-French knight
, a symbol of feudal society, in which the cult of knighthood
had reached its peak in the 12th and early 13th centuries. The use of such seals by leading Norse-Gaelic lords, seated on the periphery of the kingdoms of Scotland and England, illustrates their desire to present themselves as up-to-date and modern to their contemporaries in Anglo-French society.
In the late 12th century, Haraldr Maddaðarson (d. 1206) set his sights on the Scottish earldom of Ross, and associated himself with the meic Áedha
who were in open rebellion against the King of Scots. To keep Haraldr in check, Uilliam I, King of Scots (d. 1214) launched the first of two expeditions into Haraldr's mainland territory in 1196, with one reaching deep into Caithness. According to John of Fordun
(d. after 1363), Uilliam's first military action subdued Caithness and Sutherland. The Orkneyinga saga records that Rögnvaldr was tasked by Uilliam to intervene on his behalf, and that Rögnvaldr duly gathered an armed host from the Isles, Kintyre, and Ireland, and went into Caithness and subdued the region. The Chronica of Roger of Howden (d. 1201/2) also notes that Rögnvaldr went into Caithness, and records that he bought the title to the earldom. The precise date of Rögnvaldr's venture is uncertain, although it appears to date to about 1200.
Although most scholars regard Ragnall's cousin as the Hebridean-king who assisted the King of Scots against Haraldr, several points have been raised which may suggest that it was actually Ragnall. For example, the saga makes the erroneous statement that the Hebridean-king in question was a son of Ingibjörg, who is much more likely to have been Ragnall's maternal-grandmother than Rögnvaldr's; in addition, the saga notes that the king's military force was gathered in part from Kintyre, which may be more likely of Ragnall than his cousin, since Ragnall is known to have styled himself dominus Ergile et Kyntyre. Also, until recently, the transcription of Howden's account of the episode has stated that the Hebridean-king was in fact a son of Somairle. However, a recent re-analysis of the earliest existent version of Howden's chronicle has shown that its original text was altered to include Somairle's name, and that it originally read in Latin Reginaldus filius rex de Man, thereby revealing that Rögnvaldr Guðrøðarson was indeed the man in question.
, from where he oversaw the foundation of numerous daughter-houses in the surrounding islands and mainland. Men of his own choosing, many of his extended family
, were appointed to administrate these dependent houses; in time, a lasting monastic network—a monastic familia—was centred on the island, led by his successors. With the continued Viking
onslaught in the 9th century, the leadership of the familia relocated to Kells
. In the 12th century, Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháin, Abbot of Derry (d. 1175), the comarba ("successor") of Colum Cille, relocated from Kells to Derry
.
In 1164, the Annals of Ulster indicate that Somairle attempted to reinstate the monastic familia on Iona, under Flaithbertach's leadership. Unfortunately for Somairle, the proposal was met with significant opposition, and with his death in the same year, his intentions ultimately came to nothing. About forty years later, a Benedictine
monastery was founded on Iona. The foundation charter, dating to December 1203, places the monastery under the papal protection of Pope Innocent III
(d. 1216). Although the Book of Clanranald claims that Ragnall founded the monastery, the charter reveals that the monastery received endowments from throughout the meic Somairle domain, indicating that the foundation concerned the leading members of the kindred.
The decision of the meic Somairle to establish a Benedictine house provoked a prompt and violent response from the familia. The Annals of Ulster relate that, after Cellach, Abbot of Iona had built the new monastery on the island in 1204, a large Irish force made landfall and burnt the new buildings to the ground. Immediately afterwards, Cellach was deposed and replaced with a more palatable abbot. Although a contemporary poem echoes the sentiments of the familia, as it portrays Colum Cille cursing the descendants of Somairle, the Benedictine presence on Iona was there to stay. The new monastery nearly obliterated the old monastery of Colum Cille, and sometime after it's foundation, an Augustinian nunnery
was established just south of the site, with Somairle's daughter, Bethóc
, as its first prioress.
, a rather small Cistercian house, situated in the traditional heartland of the meic Somairle. This, now ruinous monastery, is the only Cisterian house known to have been founded in the West Highlands. Surviving evidence from the monastery itself suggests that Ragnall was likely the founder. For example, when the monastery's charters were confirmed in 1393 by Pope Clement VII
(d. 1534), and in 1498 and 1508 by James IV, King of Scots (d. 1513), the earliest grant produced by the house was that of Ragnall; furthermore, the confirmations of 1393 and 1508 specifically state that Ragnall was indeed the founder. Clan tradition preserved in the Book of Clanranald also states that Ragnall was the founder of Saddell Abbey. However, evidence that Somairle was the founder may be preserved in a 13th century French
list of Cistercian houses, which names a certain "Sconedale" under the year 1160, which may well refer to Saddell.
One possibility is that, while Somairle may well have began the planning a Cistercian house at Saddell, it was actually Ragnall who provided it with its first endowments. However, Somairle's attempt to relocate the traditional familia on Iona may be evidence that newer reformed orders of continental Christianity, such as the Cistercians and Benedictines, while acceptable to his immediate descendants, were unpalatable to himself. In contrast to his father, Ragnall's known religious endowments reveal that he was not adverse to such orders. During Somairle's career, he waged war upon the Scots and perished in an invasion of Scotland proper; it may be that Ragnall's ecclesiastical activities were undertaken in part to improve relations with the King of Scots. Additionally, in an age when monasteries were often built by rulers as status symbols of their wealth and power, Ragnall's foundations may have been, in part, an attempt to appear as an up-to-date ruler, or king in his own right.
, probably between 1183 and 1189. In the first half of the 12th century, Óláfr (Somarle's father-in-law) founded the Diocese of the Isles
, by granting the monks of the Savigniac abbey of St Mary of Furness
the right of episcopal election, and endowing this English abbey with lands to establish a daughter-house on Mann. In the mid 12th century, at about the time of Óláfr's death and his son's accession, the diocese became encompassed with the Norwegian Archdiocese of Nidaros
. Although a significant proportion of the Óláfr's former kingdom eventually fell under control of the meic Somairle, there is no evidence that the administration of the diocese was altered. Even so, the right of patronage appears to have been contested between the meic Somairle and their cousins of the Crovan dynasty.
Christian, Bishop of the Isles, an Argyllman, may well have been a meic Somairle candidate in about 1170, although this bishop appears to have been deposed, as Michael (d. 1203), a Manxman
, was made Bishop of the Isles
during Christian's lifetime. The Diocese of Argyll may have been established by the meic Somairle as a means to freely act as religious patrons, like their cousins of the Crovan dynasty. In fact, Rögnvaldr's resurgence of the dynasty's power in the latter 12th century may well have been a factor in the diocese's creation. Also significant is the fact that, when the Benedictine abbey was founded on Iona in about 1203, the community was made subject to the Vatican, thus leaving the Bishop of the Isles with no authority over the sacred island. Although the early diocese suffered from prolonged vacancies, over time it became firmly established on the mainland, with its cathedral nearby on Lismore
, in the heartland of Dubgall's descendants, the meic Dubgaill
.
An independent analysis of the Book of Clanranald has shown that, instead of 1207, it may have dated Ragnall's demise to 1227. However, this date is may very well be too late for man who was an adult in 1164. Ragnall's grant to Paisley may leave clues to his fate. This charter was likely granted at about the same time as another by his son, Domnall, which may be evidence that Ragnall had not been killed in the defeat against Áengus. Also, there is reason to believe that, following his grant to the abbey, Ragnall may have entered into a confraternity with the monks there. If this charter was indeed granted near the end of his life, then Ragnall may have ended his days at the abbey. Since the abbey was not one of the several founded by himself, or the meic Somairle, this may be a clue as to why Ragnall disappears from record after 1192.
, and his like-named son and successor
, both died in 1332. Although, one possibility is that the tradition may refer to an earlier earl—Uilleam mac Donnchada
(d. between 1151–1154). If so, then Ragnall's son, Domnall
, may have been named after Uilleam's son, Domnall (d. 1187), who was one of the leaders of the meic Uilleim
rebellions.
Ragnall is known to have left two sons: Domnall and Ruaidrí
. Domnall's line, the meic Domnaill
or Clann Domnaill, went on to produce the powerful Lords of the Isles, who styled themselves in Latin dominus insularum, while dominating the entire Hebrides and expansive mainland-territory, from the first half of the 14th century to the late 15th century
. Ruaidrí founded the meic Ruaidrí
, a more obscure kindred who were seated in Garmoran
.
It is very likely that either Ragnall or Ruaidrí had daughters who married Rögnvaldr and his younger half-brother, Óláfr Guðrøðarson. The Chronicle of Mann states that Rögnvaldr had Óláfr marry Lauon, the daughter of a certain nobleman from Kintyre, who was also the sister of his own (unnamed) wife. The precise identification of the father-in-law is uncertain, although it is known that both Ragnall and Ruaidrí were styled "Lord of Kintyre" in contemporary sources. It is possible that Óláfr's marriage took place in the 1220s, and that Rögnvaldr may have orchestrated the marriages in an attempt to patch up relations between the meic Somairle and his own kindred. At about this time, Ruaidrí appears to have been forced from Kintyre by Scots forces—an act which may be connected to such an alliance. Unfortunately for Rögnvaldr, Óláfr had his marriage nullified, and later forged a marriage alliance of his own choosing with a Scottish magnate
closely associated with the King of Scots
. Óláfr eventually forced Rögnvaldr from the kingship, took his place as king, and finally slew Rögnvaldr in 1229.
Ragnall is chiefly remembered in early modern
Hebridean tradition as the father of Domnall, the eponymous ancestor of Clann Domnaill, as the clan's genealogical link to Somairle. Unsupported claims made by the History of the MacDonalds present Ragnall as "the most distinguished of the Gall
or Gaedhil
for prosperity, sway of generosity, and feats of arms". Equally uncorroborated is the statement in the Book of Clanranald that he "received a cross from Jerusalem", which may indicate that tradition claimed that Ragnall undertook (or planned to undertake) a pilgrimage
or possibly a Crusade.
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
, seated on the western seaboard of Scotland. He was likely a younger son of Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, Lord of Argyll (d. 1164) and his wife, Ragnhildr, daughter of Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles (d. 1153). The 12th century Kingdom of the Isles
Kingdom of the Isles
The Kingdom of the Isles comprised the Hebrides, the islands of the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Man from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. The islands were known to the Norse as the Suðreyjar, or "Southern Isles" as distinct from the Norðreyjar or Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland...
, ruled by Ragnall's father and maternal-grandfather, existed within a hybrid Norse-Gaelic milieu, which bordered an ever strengthening and consolidating Kingdom of Scots.
In the mid 12th century, Somairle rose in power and won the Kingdom of the Isles
Kingdom of the Isles
The Kingdom of the Isles comprised the Hebrides, the islands of the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Man from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. The islands were known to the Norse as the Suðreyjar, or "Southern Isles" as distinct from the Norðreyjar or Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland...
from his brother-in-law. After Somairle perished in battle
Battle of Renfrew
The Battle of Renfrew in 1164 was a significant engagement near Renfrew, Scotland. The army of King Malcolm IV of Scotland led by Walter fitz Alan was attacked by forces led by Somerled mac Gillebride , including the Celtic King of Mann and the Isles, King of Argyll, Cinn Tìre and Lorne...
against the Scots in 1164, much of his kingdom was likely partitioned between his surviving sons. Ragnall's allotment appears to have been in the southern Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
and Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
. In time, Ragnall appears to have risen in power and became the leading member of Somairle's descendants, the meic Somairle (or Clann Somairle). Ragnall is known to have styled himself "King of the Isles, Lord of Argyll and Kintyre" and "Lord of the Isles". His claim to the title of king, like other members of the meic Somairle, is derived through Ragnhildr, a member of the Crovan dynasty
Crovan dynasty
The Crovan dynasty, from the late 11th century to the mid 13th century, was the ruling family of an insular kingdom known variously in secondary sources as the Kingdom of Mann, the Kingdom of the Isles, and the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles...
.
Ragnall disappears from record after he and his sons were defeated by his brother Áengus
Áonghas mac Somhairle
Aonghas mac Somhairle was a son of Somerled and Ragnhild, . Aonghas succeeded his father, inheriting lands in Garmoran, Skye, Rum, Eigg, Bute and Arran and became known as Lord of Bute and Arran...
. Ragnall's death-date is unknown, although dates ranging between 1192–1227 are all possibilities. Surviving contemporary sources reveal that Ragnall was a significant patron of the Church. Although his father appears to have aligned himself with traditional forms of Christianity
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
, Ragnall's associated himself with newer reformed religious orders from the continent. Ragnall's now non-existent seal, which pictured a knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
on horseback, also indicates that he attempted to present himself as an up-to-date ruler, not unlink his Anglo-French
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
contemporaries of the bordering Kingdom of Scots.
Ragnall is known to have left two sons, Domnall and Ruaidrí
Ruaidhri mac Raghnaill
Ruaidhri mac Raghnaill was a 13th-century Scottish magnate. The son of Raghnall, son of Somerled, he appears to have spent his career fighting, in both Ireland and in Scotland...
, who went on to found powerful Hebridean families. Either Ragnall or Ruaidrí had daughters who married Ragnall's first cousins Rögnvaldr and Óláfr, two 13th century kings of the Crovan dynasty.
Origins of the meic Somairle
Ragnall was a son of Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, Lord of Argyll (d. 1164) and his wife, Ragnhildr, daughter of Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles. Somairle and Ragnhildr had at least three sons: DubgallDubgall mac Somairle
Dubgall mac Somairle was a 12th century Scottish nobleman...
(d. after 1175), Ragnall, Áengus
Áonghas mac Somhairle
Aonghas mac Somhairle was a son of Somerled and Ragnhild, . Aonghas succeeded his father, inheriting lands in Garmoran, Skye, Rum, Eigg, Bute and Arran and became known as Lord of Bute and Arran...
(d. 1210), and likely a fourth, Amlaíb. Dubgall appears to have been the couple's eldest son. Little is certain of the origins of Ragnall's father, although his marriage suggests that he belonged to a family of some substance. In the first half of the 12th century, the Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
and the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
(Mann) were encompassed within the Kingdom of the Isles
Kingdom of the Isles
The Kingdom of the Isles comprised the Hebrides, the islands of the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Man from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. The islands were known to the Norse as the Suðreyjar, or "Southern Isles" as distinct from the Norðreyjar or Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland...
, which was ruled by Somairle's father-in-law, a member of the Crovan dynasty
Crovan dynasty
The Crovan dynasty, from the late 11th century to the mid 13th century, was the ruling family of an insular kingdom known variously in secondary sources as the Kingdom of Mann, the Kingdom of the Isles, and the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles...
. Somairle's rise to power may well have begun at about this time, as the few surviving sources from the era suggest that Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
may have begun to slip from the control of David I, King of Scots
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
(d. 1153).
Somairle first appears on record in 1153, when he rose in rebellion against Máel Coluim IV, King of Scots
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
(d. 1165), in support of his nephews and their father, a certain Máel Coluim who was imprisoned by the like-named king. In the same year, Somairle's father-in-law was murdered, after ruling the Kingdom of the Isles about forty years. Óláfr was succeeded by his son, Guðrøðr; sometime afterwards, Somairle participated in a coup within the kingdom by presenting Dubgall as a potential king. In consequence, Somairle and his brother-in-law fought a naval battle in 1156
Battle of Epiphany
The Battle of Epiphany was a naval battle fought on 5–6 January or 12 January 1156, between the Norse Gofraidh mac Amhlaibh , King of Mann and the Isles and Celtic Somhairle MacGillebride , King of Cinn Tìre , Argyll and Lorne, off the coast of Islay, Scotland.-Background:Olaf I Godredsson , King...
, after which much of the Hebrides appear to have fallen under Somairle's control. Two years later, he defeated Guðrøðar outright
Battle of the Isle of Man (1158)
The Battle of the Isle of Man was a battle fought in 1158 between the Norse Gofraidh mac Amhlaibh , King of Mann and the Isles and Celtic Somhairle MacGillebride , King of Cinn Tìre , Argyll and Lorne, on the Isle of Man....
and took control of the entire island-kingdom. In 1164, Somairle again rose against the King of Scots, and is recorded in various early sources to have commanded a massive invasion force of men from throughout the Isles, Argyll, Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
, and Scandinavian Dublin. Somairle's host sailed up the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, and made landfall near what is today Renfrew
Renfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
, where they were crushed by the Scots
Battle of Renfrew
The Battle of Renfrew in 1164 was a significant engagement near Renfrew, Scotland. The army of King Malcolm IV of Scotland led by Walter fitz Alan was attacked by forces led by Somerled mac Gillebride , including the Celtic King of Mann and the Isles, King of Argyll, Cinn Tìre and Lorne...
, and he himself was slain. Following Somairle's demise, Guðrøðr returned to the Isles and seated himself on Mann, although the Hebridean-territories won by Somairle in 1156 were retained by his descendants, the meic Somairle.
Although contemporary sources are silent on the matter, it is more than likely that on Somairle's demise, his territory was divided amongst his surviving sons. The precise allotment of lands is unknown; even though the division of lands amongst later generations of meic Somairle can be readily discerned, such boundaries are unlikely to have existed during chaotic 12th century. It is possible that the territory of the first generation of meic Somairle may have stretched from Glenelg in the north, to the Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
The Mull of Kintyre is the southwesternmost tip of the Kintyre Peninsula in southwest Scotland. From here, the Antrim coast is visible and an historic lighthouse, the second commissioned in Scotland, guides shipping in the intervening North Channel...
in the south; with Áengus ruling in the north, Dubgall centred in Lorne (with possibly the bulk of the inheritance), and Ragnall in Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
and the southern islands.
Internal conflict
Little is known of Somairle's descendants in the decades following his demise. Dubgall does not appear on record until 1175, far from the Isles in DurhamDurham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. In 1192, the Chronicle of Mann records that Ragnall and his sons were defeated in a particularly bloody battle against Áengus. Although the chronicle does not identify the location of the battle, or elaborate under what circumstances it was fought, it is possible that it took place in the northern part of the meic Somairle domain, where Áengus' lands may have been. It may be that Ragnall's rise in power, possibly at the expense of Dubgall, brought Ragnall in contact with Áengus. Even so, the probability is that his defeat at the hands of his brother marked Ragnall's downfall.
One of several ecclesiastical sources which deal specifically with Ragnall is an undated grant to the Cluniac priory at Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
(later known as Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey is a former Cluniac monastery, and current Church of Scotland parish kirk, located on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, in west central Scotland.-History:...
). The patrons of this religious house were the kindred of the High Steward of Scotland
High Steward of Scotland
The title of High Steward or Great Steward was given in the 12th century to Walter Fitzalan, whose descendants became the House of Stewart. In 1371, the last High Steward inherited the throne, and thereafter the title of High Steward of Scotland has been held as a subsidiary title to that of Duke...
. Since Ragnall's grant likely dates to after his defeat to Áengus, it may be evidence of an attempt made by Ragnall to secure and alliance with the head of the kindred, Alan fitz Walter, High Stewart of Scotland
Alan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland
Alan fitz Walter was hereditary High Steward of Scotland and a crusader.Alan was the eldest son of Walter fitz Alan by his spouse Eschyna de Londoniis, of Molla & Huntlaw, and succeeded, upon his father's death in 1177, as High Steward of Scotland.Alan fitz Walter accompanied Richard the Lionheart...
(d. 1204). Since Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
seems to have fallen into Stewart hands at about this time, Walter may have taken advantage of the internal conflict between the meic Somairle; or possibly, he may have been given the island by Ragnall, as payment for military support against Áengus who, by 1192, had gained the upper hand in the conflict.
Titles and seal
In a charter to Saddell AbbeySaddell Abbey
Saddell Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Argyll, Scotland, founded in 1207 by Raghnall, son of Somairle mac Gille Brigte. It was established by monks from Mellifont Abbey in Ireland. Very little is known about the abbey and its history. It probably enjoyed several centuries of good monastic...
, Ragnall is styled in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
rex insularum, dominus de Ergile et Kyntyre ("King of the Isles, Lord of Argyll and Kintyre"). In what is likely a later charter, he is styled in Latin dominus de Inchegal ("Lord of the Isles"), in his grant to Paisley. Although Ragnall's abandonment of he title "king" in favour of "lord" may not be significant, it could be connected with his defeat to Áengus, or possibly due to the rise in power and expansion of his namesake and first cousin, Rögnvaldr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles. Ragnall's style dominus de Inchegal is not unlike the dominus Insularum used by his great-great-grandson, Eoin Mac Domhnaill, Lord of the Isles
John of Islay, Lord of the Isles
John 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...
(d. c. 1387), the first of four successive Lords of the Isles.
Ragnall's grant to Paisley is preserved in two documents. One dates from the late 12th century or early 13th century, a later copy of the charter is contained in an instrument which dates to 1426. Appended to the latter document is a description of a seal, which the 15th century notary alleged to have belonged to Ragnall. On one side, the seal is described to have depicted a ship, filled with men at arms. On the reverse side, the seal was said to have depicted an armed man on horseback, with a sword in his hand.
Ragnall is the only member of the meic Somairle known to have styled himself rex insularm ("King of the Isles") in documents. His use of both the title and seal are likely derived from those of the leading members of the Crovan dynasty
Crovan dynasty
The Crovan dynasty, from the late 11th century to the mid 13th century, was the ruling family of an insular kingdom known variously in secondary sources as the Kingdom of Mann, the Kingdom of the Isles, and the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles...
, such as his namesake Rögnvaldr, who was styled "King of the Isles" and was said to have borne a similar two-sided seal. The elements contained within the seals of the two men combine a Norse-Gaelic galley
Birlinn
The birlinn was a type of boat used especially in the Hebrides and West Highlands of Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Birlinn is a Norse-Gaelic variant on the Norse longship. Variants of the name in English and Lowland Scots include "berlin" and "birling". It probably derives ultimately from the...
, a symbol of power of the rulers of an island-kingdom; and the Anglo-French knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, a symbol of feudal society, in which the cult of knighthood
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
had reached its peak in the 12th and early 13th centuries. The use of such seals by leading Norse-Gaelic lords, seated on the periphery of the kingdoms of Scotland and England, illustrates their desire to present themselves as up-to-date and modern to their contemporaries in Anglo-French society.
Norse-Gaelic namesake
The fact that two Hebridean rulers, Ragnall and Rögnvaldr, shared the same personal names, the same grand-father, and (at times) the same title, has perplexed modern historians and possibly mediaeval chroniclers as well.In the late 12th century, Haraldr Maddaðarson (d. 1206) set his sights on the Scottish earldom of Ross, and associated himself with the meic Áedha
MacHeths
The MacHeths were a Gaelic kindred who raised several rebellions against the Scotto-Norman kings of Scotland in the 12th and 13th centuries. Their origins have long been debated.-Origins:...
who were in open rebellion against the King of Scots. To keep Haraldr in check, Uilliam I, King of Scots (d. 1214) launched the first of two expeditions into Haraldr's mainland territory in 1196, with one reaching deep into Caithness. According to John of Fordun
John of Fordun
John of Fordun was a Scottish chronicler. It is generally stated that he was born at Fordoun, Mearns. It is certain that he was a secular priest, and that he composed his history in the latter part of the 14th century; and it is probable that he was a chaplain in the St Machar's Cathedral of...
(d. after 1363), Uilliam's first military action subdued Caithness and Sutherland. The Orkneyinga saga records that Rögnvaldr was tasked by Uilliam to intervene on his behalf, and that Rögnvaldr duly gathered an armed host from the Isles, Kintyre, and Ireland, and went into Caithness and subdued the region. The Chronica of Roger of Howden (d. 1201/2) also notes that Rögnvaldr went into Caithness, and records that he bought the title to the earldom. The precise date of Rögnvaldr's venture is uncertain, although it appears to date to about 1200.
Although most scholars regard Ragnall's cousin as the Hebridean-king who assisted the King of Scots against Haraldr, several points have been raised which may suggest that it was actually Ragnall. For example, the saga makes the erroneous statement that the Hebridean-king in question was a son of Ingibjörg, who is much more likely to have been Ragnall's maternal-grandmother than Rögnvaldr's; in addition, the saga notes that the king's military force was gathered in part from Kintyre, which may be more likely of Ragnall than his cousin, since Ragnall is known to have styled himself dominus Ergile et Kyntyre. Also, until recently, the transcription of Howden's account of the episode has stated that the Hebridean-king was in fact a son of Somairle. However, a recent re-analysis of the earliest existent version of Howden's chronicle has shown that its original text was altered to include Somairle's name, and that it originally read in Latin Reginaldus filius rex de Man, thereby revealing that Rögnvaldr Guðrøðarson was indeed the man in question.
Iona Abbey
In the 6th century, exiled-Irishman Colum Cille (d. 527) seated himself on IonaIona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
, from where he oversaw the foundation of numerous daughter-houses in the surrounding islands and mainland. Men of his own choosing, many of his extended family
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
, were appointed to administrate these dependent houses; in time, a lasting monastic network—a monastic familia—was centred on the island, led by his successors. With the continued Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
onslaught in the 9th century, the leadership of the familia relocated to Kells
Abbey of Kells
The Abbey of Kells is a former monastery located in Kells, County Meath, Ireland, 40 miles north of Dublin. It was founded in the early ninth century, and the Book of Kells was kept there during the later medieval and early modern periods before finally leaving the Abbey in the 1650s...
. In the 12th century, Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháin, Abbot of Derry (d. 1175), the comarba ("successor") of Colum Cille, relocated from Kells to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
.
In 1164, the Annals of Ulster indicate that Somairle attempted to reinstate the monastic familia on Iona, under Flaithbertach's leadership. Unfortunately for Somairle, the proposal was met with significant opposition, and with his death in the same year, his intentions ultimately came to nothing. About forty years later, a Benedictine
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
monastery was founded on Iona. The foundation charter, dating to December 1203, places the monastery under the papal protection of Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
(d. 1216). Although the Book of Clanranald claims that Ragnall founded the monastery, the charter reveals that the monastery received endowments from throughout the meic Somairle domain, indicating that the foundation concerned the leading members of the kindred.
The decision of the meic Somairle to establish a Benedictine house provoked a prompt and violent response from the familia. The Annals of Ulster relate that, after Cellach, Abbot of Iona had built the new monastery on the island in 1204, a large Irish force made landfall and burnt the new buildings to the ground. Immediately afterwards, Cellach was deposed and replaced with a more palatable abbot. Although a contemporary poem echoes the sentiments of the familia, as it portrays Colum Cille cursing the descendants of Somairle, the Benedictine presence on Iona was there to stay. The new monastery nearly obliterated the old monastery of Colum Cille, and sometime after it's foundation, an Augustinian nunnery
Iona Nunnery
The Iona Nunnery was an Augustinian convent located on the island of Iona in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. It was established sometime after the foundation of the nearby Benedictine monastery in 1203. Bethóc, daughter of Somerled, was first prioress. The ruins of the nunnery...
was established just south of the site, with Somairle's daughter, Bethóc
Bethóc, Prioress of Iona
Bethóc ingen Somairle was a 13th century prioress, considered to have been the first of Iona Nunnery. She was a daughter of Somairle mac Gilla Brigte....
, as its first prioress.
Saddell Abbey
Either Ragnall or his father could have founded Saddell AbbeySaddell Abbey
Saddell Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Argyll, Scotland, founded in 1207 by Raghnall, son of Somairle mac Gille Brigte. It was established by monks from Mellifont Abbey in Ireland. Very little is known about the abbey and its history. It probably enjoyed several centuries of good monastic...
, a rather small Cistercian house, situated in the traditional heartland of the meic Somairle. This, now ruinous monastery, is the only Cisterian house known to have been founded in the West Highlands. Surviving evidence from the monastery itself suggests that Ragnall was likely the founder. For example, when the monastery's charters were confirmed in 1393 by Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
(d. 1534), and in 1498 and 1508 by James IV, King of Scots (d. 1513), the earliest grant produced by the house was that of Ragnall; furthermore, the confirmations of 1393 and 1508 specifically state that Ragnall was indeed the founder. Clan tradition preserved in the Book of Clanranald also states that Ragnall was the founder of Saddell Abbey. However, evidence that Somairle was the founder may be preserved in a 13th century French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
list of Cistercian houses, which names a certain "Sconedale" under the year 1160, which may well refer to Saddell.
One possibility is that, while Somairle may well have began the planning a Cistercian house at Saddell, it was actually Ragnall who provided it with its first endowments. However, Somairle's attempt to relocate the traditional familia on Iona may be evidence that newer reformed orders of continental Christianity, such as the Cistercians and Benedictines, while acceptable to his immediate descendants, were unpalatable to himself. In contrast to his father, Ragnall's known religious endowments reveal that he was not adverse to such orders. During Somairle's career, he waged war upon the Scots and perished in an invasion of Scotland proper; it may be that Ragnall's ecclesiastical activities were undertaken in part to improve relations with the King of Scots. Additionally, in an age when monasteries were often built by rulers as status symbols of their wealth and power, Ragnall's foundations may have been, in part, an attempt to appear as an up-to-date ruler, or king in his own right.
Diocese of Argyll
Either Dubgall or Ragnall were instrumental in the creation of the Diocese of ArgyllDiocese of Argyll
The Diocese of Argyll was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese in Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Diocese was led by the Bishop of Argyll, and was based at Lismore....
, probably between 1183 and 1189. In the first half of the 12th century, Óláfr (Somarle's father-in-law) founded the Diocese of the Isles
Diocese of the Isles
The Diocese of the Isles or Sodor was one of the thirteen dioceses of medieval Scotland. The original seat of the bishopric appears to have been at Peel, on St Patrick's Isle, where indeed it continued to be under English overlordship; the Bishopric of the Isles as it was after the split was...
, by granting the monks of the Savigniac abbey of St Mary of Furness
Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey, or St. Mary of Furness is a former monastery situated on the outskirts of the English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The abbey dates back to 1123 and was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country, behind only Fountains Abbey in North...
the right of episcopal election, and endowing this English abbey with lands to establish a daughter-house on Mann. In the mid 12th century, at about the time of Óláfr's death and his son's accession, the diocese became encompassed with the Norwegian Archdiocese of Nidaros
Archdiocese of Nidaros
The Archdiocese of Nidaros was the metropolitan see covering Norway in the later Middle Ages. The see was the Nidaros Cathedral, in the city of Nidaros...
. Although a significant proportion of the Óláfr's former kingdom eventually fell under control of the meic Somairle, there is no evidence that the administration of the diocese was altered. Even so, the right of patronage appears to have been contested between the meic Somairle and their cousins of the Crovan dynasty.
Christian, Bishop of the Isles, an Argyllman, may well have been a meic Somairle candidate in about 1170, although this bishop appears to have been deposed, as Michael (d. 1203), a Manxman
Manx people
The Manx are an ethnic group coming from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea in northern Europe. They are often described as a Celtic people, though they have had a mixed background including Norse and English influences....
, was made Bishop of the Isles
Bishop of the Isles
The Bishop of the Isles or Bishop of Sodor was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Sodor, one of Scotland's thirteen medieval bishoprics. The bishopric, encompasing both the Hebrides and Mann, probably traces its origins as an ecclesiastical unity to the careers of Olaf, King of the Isles,...
during Christian's lifetime. The Diocese of Argyll may have been established by the meic Somairle as a means to freely act as religious patrons, like their cousins of the Crovan dynasty. In fact, Rögnvaldr's resurgence of the dynasty's power in the latter 12th century may well have been a factor in the diocese's creation. Also significant is the fact that, when the Benedictine abbey was founded on Iona in about 1203, the community was made subject to the Vatican, thus leaving the Bishop of the Isles with no authority over the sacred island. Although the early diocese suffered from prolonged vacancies, over time it became firmly established on the mainland, with its cathedral nearby on Lismore
Lismore, Scotland
Lismore is a partially Gaelic speaking island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. This fertile, low-lying island was once a major centre of Celtic Christianity, with a monastery founded by Saint Moluag and the seat of the Bishop of Argyll.-Geography:...
, in the heartland of Dubgall's descendants, the meic Dubgaill
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...
.
Death
The year and circumstances of Ragnall's death are uncertain, as surviving contemporary sources failed to mark his demise. According to 17th and 18th century Hebridean-tradition preserved in the Book of Clanranald, Ragnall may have died in 1207. However, without corroborating evidence, such a late tradition cannot be accepted. Moreover, this particular tradition misplaces his father's death by sixteen years, which may indicate that Ragnall himself was slain some sixteen years earlier. If so, Ragnall's death may be related to his defeat suffered at the hands of brother, in 1192. However, the Chronicle of Mann, which records the 1192 conflict, gives no hint of Ragnall's demise. Another possibility is that Ragnall may have been slain sometime around 1209–1210, during yet more internal conflict amongst the meic Somairle.An independent analysis of the Book of Clanranald has shown that, instead of 1207, it may have dated Ragnall's demise to 1227. However, this date is may very well be too late for man who was an adult in 1164. Ragnall's grant to Paisley may leave clues to his fate. This charter was likely granted at about the same time as another by his son, Domnall, which may be evidence that Ragnall had not been killed in the defeat against Áengus. Also, there is reason to believe that, following his grant to the abbey, Ragnall may have entered into a confraternity with the monks there. If this charter was indeed granted near the end of his life, then Ragnall may have ended his days at the abbey. Since the abbey was not one of the several founded by himself, or the meic Somairle, this may be a clue as to why Ragnall disappears from record after 1192.
Family and legacy
"Fonia", the name of Ragnall's wife recorded in their grant to Paisley, may be an attempt to represent a Gaelic name in Latin. According to late Hebridean tradition, preserved in the garbled History of the MacDonalds, Ragnall was married to "MacRandel's daughter, or, as some say, to a sister of Thomas Randel, Earl of Murray". This tradition cannot be correct due to its chronology, since Thomas Randolph, the first Earl of MorayEarl of Moray
The title Earl of Moray has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland.Prior to the formal establishment of the peerage, Earl of Moray, numerous individuals ruled the kingdom of Moray or Mormaer of Moray until 1130 when the kingdom was destroyed by David I of Scotland.-History of the...
, and his like-named son and successor
Thomas Randolph, 2nd Earl of Moray
Thomas Randolph, 2nd Earl of Moray , a Scottish military commander, held his title for just 23 days.The son of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, a companion-in-arms of King Robert the Bruce, he succeeded his father on July 20, 1332....
, both died in 1332. Although, one possibility is that the tradition may refer to an earlier earl—Uilleam mac Donnchada
William fitz Duncan
William fitz Duncan was a Scottish prince, a territorial magnate in northern Scotland and northern England, a general and the legitimate son of king Donnchad II of Scotland by Athelreda of Dunbar.In 1094, his father Donnchad II was killed by Mormaer Máel Petair of...
(d. between 1151–1154). If so, then Ragnall's son, Domnall
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...
, may have been named after Uilleam's son, Domnall (d. 1187), who was one of the leaders of the meic Uilleim
Meic Uilleim
The Meic Uilleim were the Gaelic descendants of William fitz Duncan, grandson of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, king of Scots. They were excluded from the succession by the descendants of Máel Coluim's son David I during the 12th century and raised a number of rebellions to vindicate their claims to...
rebellions.
Ragnall is known to have left two sons: Domnall and Ruaidrí
Ruaidhri mac Raghnaill
Ruaidhri mac Raghnaill was a 13th-century Scottish magnate. The son of Raghnall, son of Somerled, he appears to have spent his career fighting, in both Ireland and in Scotland...
. Domnall's line, the meic Domnaill
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...
or Clann Domnaill, went on to produce the powerful Lords of the Isles, who styled themselves in Latin dominus insularum, while dominating the entire Hebrides and expansive mainland-territory, from the first half of the 14th century to the late 15th century
Scotland in the Late Middle Ages
Scotland in the late Middle Ages established its independence from England under figures including William Wallace in the late 13th century and Robert Bruce in the 14th century...
. Ruaidrí founded the meic Ruaidrí
Clan Macruari
Clan Macruari was a Scottish clan. The founder of Clan Macruari is Ruaidhri mac Raghnaill, a son of Raghnall mac Somhairle who was a son of Somhairle mac Gillebride. The lands of Clan Macruari were in Bute, Uist, Barra, Eigg, Rùm, and Garmoran....
, a more obscure kindred who were seated in Garmoran
Garmoran
Garmoran is an area of western Scotland. It lies at the south-western edge of the present Highland Region. It includes Knoydart, Morar, Moidart, Ardnamurchan, and the Small Isles....
.
It is very likely that either Ragnall or Ruaidrí had daughters who married Rögnvaldr and his younger half-brother, Óláfr Guðrøðarson. The Chronicle of Mann states that Rögnvaldr had Óláfr marry Lauon, the daughter of a certain nobleman from Kintyre, who was also the sister of his own (unnamed) wife. The precise identification of the father-in-law is uncertain, although it is known that both Ragnall and Ruaidrí were styled "Lord of Kintyre" in contemporary sources. It is possible that Óláfr's marriage took place in the 1220s, and that Rögnvaldr may have orchestrated the marriages in an attempt to patch up relations between the meic Somairle and his own kindred. At about this time, Ruaidrí appears to have been forced from Kintyre by Scots forces—an act which may be connected to such an alliance. Unfortunately for Rögnvaldr, Óláfr had his marriage nullified, and later forged a marriage alliance of his own choosing with a Scottish magnate
Fearchar, Earl of Ross
Fearchar of Ross or Ferchar mac in tSagairt , was the first Mormaer or Earl of Ross we know of from the thirteenth century, whose career brought Ross into the fold of the Scottish kings for the first time, and who is remembered as the founder of the Earldom of Ross.-Origins:The traditional...
closely associated with the King of Scots
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
. Óláfr eventually forced Rögnvaldr from the kingship, took his place as king, and finally slew Rögnvaldr in 1229.
Ragnall is chiefly remembered in early modern
Early modern period
In history, the early modern period of modern history follows the late Middle Ages. Although the chronological limits of the period are open to debate, the timeframe spans the period after the late portion of the Middle Ages through the beginning of the Age of Revolutions...
Hebridean tradition as the father of Domnall, the eponymous ancestor of Clann Domnaill, as the clan's genealogical link to Somairle. Unsupported claims made by the History of the MacDonalds present Ragnall as "the most distinguished of the Gall
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
or Gaedhil
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
for prosperity, sway of generosity, and feats of arms". Equally uncorroborated is the statement in the Book of Clanranald that he "received a cross from Jerusalem", which may indicate that tradition claimed that Ragnall undertook (or planned to undertake) a pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
or possibly a Crusade.