Lord of the Isles

Lord of the Isles, a title borne by a race of chiefs who ruled the Western Islands of Scotland with almost regal authority. They were descended from Somerled the Lord of Argyll, on whom David I., having in 1135 expelled the Norwegians from Arran and Bute, conferred these islands. Afterwards, however, he quarrelled with Malcolm IV., and with a powerful force sailed up the Clyde, and, near Renfrew, encountering the royal army under the High Steward of Scotland, was defeated and killed, 1164. His three sons, Dugal, Angus, and Reginald, by his marriage with the daughter of Olaf the Red, the Norwegian king of the Isles, inherited the south isles along with a share of his mainland possessions. One of his grandsons left a daughter and heiress, married to Alexander, son and heir of Walter, High Steward of Scotland, who in her right obtained the isle of Bute. Somerled's sons alternately sided with the Norwegians and the Scots in their contests for the sovereignty of the Western Isles, which repeatedly changed masters. But after the defeat of Haco, his successor in 1266 ceded all the Western Islands to Scotland, on condition that a certain annual sum should be paid to Norway. Henceforward the descendants of Somerled held their possessions as vassals of the Scottish crown. They were represented at this time by three great nobles—the Lord of Lorn, who in the war of independence took part with Comyn and Baliol, Angus of Isla, and Allan of the North Isles, who supported the claims of Bruce. Angus fought at Bannockburn, and it is said that Bruce, when he was about to bring up the reserve, addressed him in words adopted as a motto by some of his descendants, 'My trust is constant in thee.' John, his son and heir, joined the party of Edward Baliol, but he was ultimately pardoned by David II., and confirmed in his possessions. By his first marriage he obtained the isles of Uist, Barra, Eigg, and Rum, and assumed henceforth the title of Lord of the Isles. He married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Robert, High Steward of Scotland (afterwards Robert II.), who bore him three sons. Donald the eldest, second Lord of the Isles, in right of his wife claimed the earldom of Ross in opposition to the Regent Albany, and in attempting to make good that claim he fought in 1411 the celebrated battle of Harlaw. His son Alexander, third Lord of the Isles, was allowed by James I. to inherit the earldom of Ross from his mother; but notwithstanding he took up arms against the king, wasted the crown-lands near Inverness, and burned that town. James promptly attacked and routed the rebels, and their leader was fain to throw himself on the mercy of his sovereign. He presented himself before the king in the church of Holyrood, clothed only in his shirt and drawers, and holding his unsheathed sword by the point, and falling upon his knees, surrendered his sword and implored the royal clemency. His life was spared, but he was imprisoned for two years at Tantallon. During the minority of James II. he held the important office of Justiciar of Scotland north of the Forth. In 1445 he entered into a secret and treasonable league with the Earls of Douglas and Crawford, but died at his castle of Dingwall before any overt acts of rebellion had been committed. His eldest son John succeeded to his titles and estates, and carried on similar insurrectionary proceedings. But after the murder of the Earl of Douglas by James II. he took fright, and entreated the forgiveness of the king, which with some hesitation was granted to him, and he was made one of the wardens of the Marches. After the death of James II., the earl, along with the exiled Douglasses, entered into a treasonable league with Edward IV. of England for the conquest and partition of Scotland, and raised the standard of rebellion. His estates were in consequence forfeited, but on his submission he was restored to the lordship of the Isles; the earldom of Ross was annexed to the crown. In his old age his nephew and heir, apparently with his approbation, at the head of his vassals endeavoured to recover possession of that earldom. James IV., who at this time filled the throne, availed himself of the opportunity to break up that confederacy of the islanders, which had proved so troublesome to the peace of the country; and in the parliament of May 1493 John, fourth and last Lord of the Isles, was forfeited and deprived of title and estates. He retired to the monastery of Paisley, and dying about 1498, was buried beside his ancestor Robert II. In 1540 the Lordship of the Isles was annexed to the Scottish crown, and from it the Prince of Wales derives one of his titles. See A. Mackenzie's History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles (Inv. 1882).