Eóghan of Argyll
Encyclopedia
Eóghan MacDubhghaill was a 13th century Scottish nobleman and warrior who was styled "King of the Isles", "Lord of Argyll". He was the son of Donnchadh
, son of Dubhghall
, son of Somhairle mac Gille Brighde
.
According to Scandinavia
n sources, after the death of Harald Olafsson in 1248, King Haakon IV of Norway
appointed Eóghan as King of the Isles, though within a year that title went to Dubhghall mac Ruaidhri.
In response to Eóghan's assumption of this title perhaps, in 1249 King Alexander II of Scotland
launched an expedition against Eóghan after the latter refused to renounce his homage to King Haakon IV of Norway
. Alexander II fell ill and died on this expedition, but Eóghan seems to have been temporarily deprived of his Argyll possessions.
In 1250, Eóghan tried to obtain rulership of the Isle of Man
, but was expelled by the inhabitants. He then travelled to Norway, hoping for recognition as King of the Isles. This attempt was unsuccessful. By 1255, King Henry III of England
had secured a deal for Eóghan whereby he regained Lorne and came into full Scottish allegiance.
When Haakon campaigned against the Scots in 1263, Eóghan refused the Norwegian king service and remained a Scottish loyalist. After Haakon's defeat at the Battle of Largs
, Eóghan regained formal recognition as ruler of the Isles. His last recorded appearance is in 1268.
Eóghan's son Alexander
followed him as Lord of Argyll
. His daughter Mary married Magnus Olafsson
, King of Mann
, and secondly Maol Íosa II, Earl of Strathearn
.
He may have been the Mac Somurli responsible for the death of Jordan de Exeter
during a pirate raid in Connemara
in 1258.
Donnchadh of Argyll
Donnchadh of Argyll or Donnchadh mac Dubhghaill was a late 12th and early 13th century Scottish noble. He was the son of Dubhghall mac Somhairle, son of Somhairle mac Gille Bhrighde...
, son of Dubhghall
Dubgall mac Somairle
Dubgall mac Somairle was a 12th century Scottish nobleman...
, son of Somhairle mac Gille Brighde
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...
.
According to Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n sources, after the death of Harald Olafsson in 1248, King Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon Haakonarson , also called Haakon the Old, was king of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak....
appointed Eóghan as King of the Isles, though within a year that title went to Dubhghall mac Ruaidhri.
In response to Eóghan's assumption of this title perhaps, in 1249 King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
launched an expedition against Eóghan after the latter refused to renounce his homage to King Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon Haakonarson , also called Haakon the Old, was king of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak....
. Alexander II fell ill and died on this expedition, but Eóghan seems to have been temporarily deprived of his Argyll possessions.
In 1250, Eóghan tried to obtain rulership of 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...
, but was expelled by the inhabitants. He then travelled to Norway, hoping for recognition as King of the Isles. This attempt was unsuccessful. By 1255, King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
had secured a deal for Eóghan whereby he regained Lorne and came into full Scottish allegiance.
When Haakon campaigned against the Scots in 1263, Eóghan refused the Norwegian king service and remained a Scottish loyalist. After Haakon's defeat at the Battle of Largs
Battle of Largs
The Battle of Largs was an engagement fought between the armies of Norway and Scotland near the present-day town of Largs in North Ayrshire on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland on 2 October 1263. It was the most important military engagement of the Scottish-Norwegian War. The Norwegian forces were...
, Eóghan regained formal recognition as ruler of the Isles. His last recorded appearance is in 1268.
Eóghan's son Alexander
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...
followed him as Lord of Argyll
Lord of Argyll
The sovereign or feudal lordship of Argyle was the holding of the senior branch of descendants of king Somhairle, this branch becoming soon known as Clan MacDougallConstruction of the Lordship of Argyll-Lorne essentially started with Donnchad mac Dubgaill....
. His daughter Mary married Magnus Olafsson
Magnus III of the Isle of Man
Magnús Óláfsson was a mid 13th century Manx-Hebridean king, the son of Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles. Magnús and Óláfr descended from a long line of Norse-Gaelic kings who ruled the Isle of Mann and parts of the Hebrides. Several leading members of the Crovan dynasty, such as Óláfr, styled...
, King of Mann
King of Mann
The King of Mann was the title taken between 1237 and 1504 by the various rulers, both sovereign and suzerain, over the Kingdom of Mann – the Isle of Man which is located in the Irish Sea, at the centre of the British Isles....
, and secondly Maol Íosa II, Earl of Strathearn
Maol Íosa II, Earl of Strathearn
Maol Íosa II of Strathearn who ruled Strathearn 1245–1271, is the fifth known Mormaer of Strathearn, but of course this is simply a source problem and in no way means that he actually was the fifth....
.
He may have been the Mac Somurli responsible for the death of Jordan de Exeter
Jordan de Exeter
Jordan de Exeter was an Anglo-Norman knight, Sheriff of Connacht, and ancestor of the Clan Siurtain Gaileng/Mac Siurtain/Mac Jordan of Connacht.-Life and family:...
during a pirate raid in Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
in 1258.