Ragnald III of the Isle of Man
Encyclopedia
Ragnall I Haraldsson referred to in some texts as Reginald, was ruler of the Isle of Man for a brief period in 1164.
Ragnall's father, Olave the Red was King of Man and the Isles from 1112–1152. Olave's son and Ragnall's half-brother Godred the Black succeeded him to the title. However Godred's dictatorial style appears to have made him very unpopular with the Islesmen and the ensuing conflicts were the beginning of the end for Mann and The Isles as a coherent territory under the rule of a single magnate. The powerful barons of the isles began plotting with an emerging and forceful figure - Somerled
, the self-styled Lord of Argyle. Somerled's parental origins are obscure, but it is known that he had married Ragnhildis, daughter of Olave the Red and Godred's half-sister. Godred engaged Somerled's forces in a naval battle in 1156. There was no clear victor, but it was subsequently agreed that Godred would remain the ruler of Mann, the northern Inner Hebrides
and the Outer Hebrides
, whilst Somerled's young sons would nominally control the southern Inner Hebrides, Kintyre
and the islands of the Clyde
under their father's supervision. Two years later Somerled's invasion of the Isle of Man caused Godred to flee to Norway, leaving the former as undisputed ruler of the entire realm.
Somerled met his death in 1164 and at this point Godred re-took possession of his pre-1158 territories and the southern isles were distributed amongst Somerled's sons as previously agreed.
According to the The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys Ragnald, took control of the Isle of Man for a brief time in 1164. However he was overcome by Godred, who resumed his kingship of the isle and the north isles, handing it on to his son Raghnall mac Gofraidh in 1187.
Ragnall's father, Olave the Red was King of Man and the Isles from 1112–1152. Olave's son and Ragnall's half-brother Godred the Black succeeded him to the title. However Godred's dictatorial style appears to have made him very unpopular with the Islesmen and the ensuing conflicts were the beginning of the end for Mann and The Isles as a coherent territory under the rule of a single magnate. The powerful barons of the isles began plotting with an emerging and forceful figure - 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...
, the self-styled Lord of Argyle. Somerled's parental origins are obscure, but it is known that he had married Ragnhildis, daughter of Olave the Red and Godred's half-sister. Godred engaged Somerled's forces in a naval battle in 1156. There was no clear victor, but it was subsequently agreed that Godred would remain the ruler of Mann, the northern Inner 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 the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
, whilst Somerled's young sons would nominally control the southern Inner Hebrides, 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 islands of the Clyde
Islands of the Clyde
The Islands of the Firth of Clyde are the fifth largest of the major Scottish island groups after the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. They are situated in the Firth of Clyde between Ayrshire and Argyll. There are about forty islands and skerries, of which only six are inhabited and...
under their father's supervision. Two years later Somerled's invasion of the Isle of Man caused Godred to flee to Norway, leaving the former as undisputed ruler of the entire realm.
Somerled met his death in 1164 and at this point Godred re-took possession of his pre-1158 territories and the southern isles were distributed amongst Somerled's sons as previously agreed.
According to the The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys Ragnald, took control of the Isle of Man for a brief time in 1164. However he was overcome by Godred, who resumed his kingship of the isle and the north isles, handing it on to his son Raghnall mac Gofraidh in 1187.
In the same year there was a battle at Ramsey between Reginald, brother of Godred, and the Manxmen, and through the treachery of a certain Viscount the Manxmen were put to flight and Reginald began to reign. On the fourth, day, however, Godred returned from Norway with a large body of troops, and seizing his brother, mutilated, and deprived him of his sight.