Ragnald IV of the Isle of Man
Encyclopedia
Rögnvaldr Guðrøðarson was a late 12th century and early 13th century sea-king who ruled a kingdom
which encompassed the Isle of Man
(Mann) and parts of the Hebrides
. There is no doubt that he was an elder son of Guðrøðr Óláfsson, King of the Isles, although the identity of his mother is not as certain.
A 13th century poem concerning Raghnall states that he has "broken the gate of Magh Domhna" ("the plain of Domhna") and describes him as "ri an Domnan" ("the "King of Domna"). Although the precise meaning of the text is not clear, Domhna is cognate with the Early Celtic dumnos and means the "deep-sea isle" which Watson (1926) equates with the Outer Hebrides
.
was their father's intended successor. Raghnall was not happy with that prospect, and succeeded his father to the Manx kingdom during Olaf's minority, and was seen by some as an usurper of the throne. Olaf became overlord of Lewis and presented Raghnall with constant opposition, claims, and internecine war.
From the middle of the 12th century until 1217 the suzerainty
, because Norway had become a prey to civil dissensions, had remained of a very shadowy character. But after that date it became a reality and Norway consequently came into collision with the growing power of Scotland
.
In 1219, Raghnall resigned his Manx rulership to the Holy See
, imitating King John of England
, though he remained as king of the island.
Early in the 13th century, Raghnall did homage to King John of England
(reigned 1199–1216). That is the first we hear of English intervention in the affairs of Manx kingdom. A period of Scots domination would precede the establishment of full English control. During the whole of the Scandinavian period the isles remained nominally under the suzerainty
of the kings of Norway
, but the Norwegians only occasionally asserted it with any vigour.
(d. 1206) set his sights on the Scottish earldom of Ross, and associated himself with the meic Áedha
, a kindred who were in open rebellion against the King of Scots. To keep Haraldr in check, William 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 the 14th century chronicler John of Fordun
(d. after 1363), William's first military action subdued Caithness and Sutherland. The Orkneyinga saga
, likely composed early in the first quarter of the 13th century, records that William tasked Rögnvaldr to intervene into Caithnesss on his behalf. Rögnvaldr duly gathered an armed host from the Isles, Kintyre, and Ireland; he then his troops into Caithness and subdued the region. With the coming of winter, the saga records that Rögnvaldr returned to the Isles, after having left three stewards
in Caithness. Haraldr then had one of these stewards murdered, which brought him into direct conflict with William, who forced him into submission. Rögnvaldr's involvement in Caithness is also noted by the contemporary English chronicler Roger of Howden (d. 1201/2), in his Chronica. According to Roger, after two rounds of negotiations between Haraldr and William failed, Rögnvaldr intervened and bought Caithness from William. The precise date of Rögnvaldr's venture is uncertain, although it appears to occurred in about 1200.
The fact that two Hebridean rulers, Rögnvaldr and his first cousin Ragnall mac Somairle
(d. between 1192–1227), shared the same personal names, the same grandfather, and (at times) the same title, has perplexed modern scholars and possibly mediaeval chroniclers as well. Although most scholars regard Rögnvaldr as the Hebridean-king who assisted the William against Haraldr, several scholars have suggested that it was actually Ragnall. Until recently, the transcription of Roger's account of the episode has indicated that the Hebridean-king was in fact a son of the Hebridean-king Somairle mac Gilla Brigte (d. 1164). However, a recent re-analysis of the earliest existent version of Roger'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 was indeed the man in question.
Another perplexing point is the fact that the saga makes the erroneous statement that Rögnvaldr was a son of Ingibjörg, daughter of Hákon Pálsson, Earl of Orkney (d. c. 1126). In fact, Ingibjörg was one of two known wives of Rögnvaldr's paternal-grandfather, Óláfr, and she is much more likely to have been a grandmother of Ragnall, as Rögnvaldr likely descends from Óláfr's other wife, Affraic, daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway (d. 1161). Although not descended from previous Earls of Orkney, Rögnvaldr was related to these Norse magnates by right of his grandfather's marriage to Ingibjörg—a relationship which may well have influenced William in using Rögnvaldr against Haraldr. Although it has been suggested that Rögnvaldr may have acted as an Earl of Caithness for a short time, the surviving evidence merely suggests that he was appointed by William to administrate the province.
(22 April 1206). Rögnvaldr is known to have met and rendered homage to John during his Easter sojourn, since the English king ordered the Sheriff of Lancaster
, on 28 April, to assign thirty marcates of land to Rögnvaldr. Accordingly, the Lancashire Pipe Rolls
show that the sheriff associated twenty librates of land with Rögnvaldr during the year spanning Michaelmas
1205 and Michaelmas 1206. Since the rolls do not name any estate associated with Rögnvaldr, he does not appear to have been assigned any lands, but rather a charge upon the ferm of the county. The next day, John ordered his treasurer to pay thirty marks to Rögnvaldr. About a year later, on 17 June 1207, John ordered the sheriff to assign Rögnvaldr with twenty liberates of land, which is again confirmed by the Lancashire Pipe Rolls.
In 1210, the Chronicle of Mann reports that John led five hundred ships to Ireland. While Rögnvaldr and his men were absent from Mann, the chronicle states that part of John's forces landed and ravaged the island in a fortnight, before leaving Mann with certain hostages. Since John and Rögnvaldr were clearly on friendly terms between 1205 and 1207, John's assault on Mann does not appear to connected to Rögnvaldr's campaigning with de Courcy. Instead, the ravaging of Mann may very well be related to John's sour relations with the de Lacys and the de Braoses
. Various historical sources relate how William de Braose
(d. 1211), his wife and family, fled from John to Ireland, where they were harboured by the de Lacys; and how John's 1210 arrival in Ireland caused the de Braoses to flee towards Scotland, where they were apprehended in Galloway, by Donnchad, Earl of Carrick (d. 1250). The link between the flight of the de Braoses and Rögnvaldr appears in the Histoire des ducs de Normandie et des rois d'Angleterre, an particularly important contemporary source for this period, which states that while en route to Scotland, the de Braoses stayed on Mann for four days. Possibility significant is a report in the Annals of Loch Cé, which records that John sent men to ravage Mann after he attacked Carrickfergus. John himself stated that he learned of the capture of de Braose's wife and children while at Carrickfergus, which may hint that the the attack on Mann was punitive in nature.
Although it is impossible to know whether Rögnvaldr sanctioned the arrival of the fleeing de Braoses, their close connections with the de Lacys, and Rögnvaldr's close connection with de Courcy (who had been forced from his Irish lands by the same family), make it somewhat unlikely. English records for the year 1210 reveal that a certain Richard de Muroil was paid to guard John's supply on Mann. One possibility is that, following the island's ravaging, John may have taken advantage of Mann for use as a depot for his Irish operations. However, considering the favourable relations known to have existed between Rögnvaldr and John, it may be more likely that the latter's use of the island was part of an agreed alliance between the two monarchs.
. However, in the mid 12th century during his visit to Norway, Rögnvaldr's father is regarded to have become a vassal
of Ingi Haraldsson, King of Norway. What is certain is that the 12th century Norman
chronicler Robert of Torigni
(d. 1186) noted a meeting between Henry II, King of England (d. 1189), William I of Scotland, and the Bishop of the Isles
, where it was stated that the Kings of the Isles paid the Kings of Norway ten marks of gold on their accession to the Norwegian throne. Robert also recorded that the King of the Isles was not obliged to render any other tribute until the next Norwegian king succeeded. Unfortunately for Rögnvaldr, while still bound to the King of England in 1210, he appears to have found himself the target of renewed Norwegian hegemony in the Isles.
The Icelandic Annals state that a military expedition, from the Norway to the Isles, was in preparation in 1209. The following year, the annals laconically report of "warfare" in the Isles, and that Iona
was pillaged. These reports are corroborated by Böglunga sögur, an early 13th century saga which survives in two versions. Both versions note how men of the Birkibeinar ("Birchlegs") and the Baglar
("Croziers"), two competing sides of the Norwegian civil war, decided to recoup their financial losses with a certain twelve-ship raiding expedition into the Isles. The longer version of the saga states that Rögnvaldr ("King of Mann and the Isles") and Guðrøðr ("King on Mann") had not paid their taxes due to the Norwegian kings; in consequence, the Isles were ravaged until the two travelled to Norway and reconciled themselves with Ingi Bárðarson, King of Norway, whereupon the two took their lands from Ingi as a fief.
The kings recorded in Böglunga sögur are regarded to represent Rögnvaldr and his son, Guðrøðr
, although it has been suggested that the saga's Rögnvaldr may refer to Rögnvaldr's cousin, Ragnall, and that the Guðrøðr of the saga may simply refer to Rögnvaldr's patronym. The events depicted in the saga appear to show that, in the wake of destructive Norse activity in the Isles, which may have been some sort of officially sanctioned punishment from Norway, Rögnvaldr and his son (or possibly, Rögnvaldr and his cousin) travelled to Norway where they rendered homage to the Norwegian king, and made compensation for unpaid taxes. Rögnvaldr's presence in Norway may explain his absence from Mann when it was ravaged by John's troops in the same year. Furthermore, Rögnvaldr's homage to Ingi may help explain the English attack, as it may have given the English an incentive to ravage Rögnvaldr's lands, since he had bound himself to John only a few years previous.
, a powerful magnate in the Irish Sea zone. Alan and Rögnvaldr appear to have been closely connected: both were kinsmen (both were great-grandsons of Fergus, Lord of Galloway); both received lands in Ulster
at about the same time; and Rögnvaldr's Gallovidian connections may well have led to his alliance with William during the Caithness episode. The following year, the chronicle records that, Rögnvaldr and Alan took part in a military campaign in the Hebrides, in an attempt to take possession of the lands that Rögnvaldr had given Óláfr. Unfortunately for Rögnvaldr, the expedition came to nothing, as the chronicle notes that the Manx were unwilling to battle against Óláfr and the Hebrideans.
A short time afterwards, the chronicle records that Rögnvaldr collected a tribute of 100 marks from the Manx, under the pretext of travelling to the court of the King of England. The chronicle notes that, Rögnvaldr then travelled to Alan's court and gave his daughter away in marriage to Alan's son. Such a marriage, between Rögnvaldr's daughter and Alan's illegitimate son Thomas, cemented an alliance which would have benefited Alan in his activities in Ulster against the de Lacy
s. It also gave Alan a stake in the kingship. Unfortunately for Rögnvaldr, the chronicle indicates that the prospect of a Gallovidian king prompted the Manx to depose Rögnvaldr in favour of Óláfr. By 1226, the chronicle states that Óláfr had taken control of the island-kingdom, and ruled as king for the next two years.
In this low point of his career, Rögnvaldr's appears to have gone into exile at Alan's court in Galloway. In 1228, while Óláfr and his chieftains were absent in Hebrides, the chronicle records of an invasion of Mann by Rögnvaldr, Alan and his brother, Thomas, Earl of Atholl (d. 1231). The southern half of the island was completely devastated, as the chronicle declares that it was almost reduced to a desert. In what may have been the price for Gallovidian support, Alan is described by the chronicle to have installed bailiffs who were instructed to collect tribute from Mann and send it back to Galloway. Unfortunately for scholars, the chronicle does not record Rögnvaldr's role in the takeover. After Alan had left the island for home, Óláfr and his forces appeared and routed the remaining Gallovidians, and thus, the chronicle notes, peace was restored to Mann.
with five ships, and launched a nocturnal raid upon the harbour at St Patrick's Isle
, near what is today the town of Peel. During this daring assault, the chronicle records that Rögnvaldr had all of the ships of Óláfr and his chieftains destroyed. Although the chronicle alludes that Rögnvaldr still had Gallovidian support, as it states that the expedition originated from Galloway, the fact that he commanded only five ships may suggest that this support was waning. Rögnvaldr followed up on his assault by establishing himself in the southern part of Mann, as the chronicle records that he won over the southerners, some of whom swore to risk their lives until he was in possession of half of the island-kingdom. Meanwhile, the chronicle relates that Óláfr assembled his forces in the north of Mann, and indicates that the island was divided between the two men for much of January and February, before what would become their final confrontation. According to the chronicle, Rögnvaldr and Óláfr led their armies to a place named Tynwald
, which may suggest that negotiations were intended, as the place-name is derived from the Old Norse
þing-völlr ("assembly field") and thus refers to an assembly place
.
On 14 February
, the festival of St Valentine, the chronicle records that Óláfr's forces launched an attack upon Rögnvaldr at Tynwald, where Rögnvaldr's troops were routed and he himself was slain. Surviving sources appear to show that Rögnvaldr's death was due to treachery, as the Chronicle of Lanercost states that Rögnvaldr "fell a victim to the arms of the wicked", while the Chronicle of Mann notes that, although Óláfr was grieved at his half-brother's death, he never exacted vengeance upon Rögnvaldr's killers. The chronicle states that the monks of Rushen took Rögnvaldr's body to St Mary's Abbey, Furness
, where he was buried in a place that he had chosen beforehand. A particular sandstone effigy
of an armed, mail
-clad warrior, found in the north aisle
of the abbey
, has been associated with Rögnvaldr since the first half of the 19th century. Such an association, however, is dubious at best. Rögnvaldr is depicted in a fresco
in the Vatican Archives.
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 encompassed 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) and parts of 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...
. There is no doubt that he was an elder son of Guðrøðr Óláfsson, King of the Isles, although the identity of his mother is not as certain.
A 13th century poem concerning Raghnall states that he has "broken the gate of Magh Domhna" ("the plain of Domhna") and describes him as "ri an Domnan" ("the "King of Domna"). Although the precise meaning of the text is not clear, Domhna is cognate with the Early Celtic dumnos and means the "deep-sea isle" which Watson (1926) equates with 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...
.
Rögnvaldr and Óláfr
Raghnall's younger half-brother Olaf the BlackOlaf II of the Isle of Man
Óláfr Guðrøðarson , commonly known in English as Olaf the Black, was a mid 13th century sea-king who ruled the Isle of Man and parts of the Hebrides. Óláfr was the son of Guðrøðr Óláfsson, King of the Isles, King of Dublin, and his wife Finnguala, granddaughter of Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, High...
was their father's intended successor. Raghnall was not happy with that prospect, and succeeded his father to the Manx kingdom during Olaf's minority, and was seen by some as an usurper of the throne. Olaf became overlord of Lewis and presented Raghnall with constant opposition, claims, and internecine war.
From the middle of the 12th century until 1217 the suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
, because Norway had become a prey to civil dissensions, had remained of a very shadowy character. But after that date it became a reality and Norway consequently came into collision with the growing power of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
In 1219, Raghnall resigned his Manx rulership to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, imitating King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
, though he remained as king of the island.
Early in the 13th century, Raghnall did homage to King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
(reigned 1199–1216). That is the first we hear of English intervention in the affairs of Manx kingdom. A period of Scots domination would precede the establishment of full English control. During the whole of the Scandinavian period the isles remained nominally under the suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
of the kings of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, but the Norwegians only occasionally asserted it with any vigour.
Rögnvaldr and William the Lion
In the late 12th century, Haraldr Maddaðarson, Earl of Caithness, Earl of OrkneyHarald Maddadsson
Harald Maddadsson was Earl of Orkney and Mormaer of Caithness from 1139 until 1206. He was the son of Matad, Mormaer of Atholl, and Margaret, daughter of Earl Haakon Paulsson of Orkney...
(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:...
, a kindred who were in open rebellion against the King of Scots. To keep Haraldr in check, William 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 the 14th century chronicler 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), William's first military action subdued Caithness and Sutherland. The Orkneyinga saga
Orkneyinga saga
The Orkneyinga saga is a historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands, from their capture by the Norwegian king in the ninth century onwards until about 1200...
, likely composed early in the first quarter of the 13th century, records that William tasked Rögnvaldr to intervene into Caithnesss on his behalf. Rögnvaldr duly gathered an armed host from the Isles, Kintyre, and Ireland; he then his troops into Caithness and subdued the region. With the coming of winter, the saga records that Rögnvaldr returned to the Isles, after having left three stewards
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
in Caithness. Haraldr then had one of these stewards murdered, which brought him into direct conflict with William, who forced him into submission. Rögnvaldr's involvement in Caithness is also noted by the contemporary English chronicler Roger of Howden (d. 1201/2), in his Chronica. According to Roger, after two rounds of negotiations between Haraldr and William failed, Rögnvaldr intervened and bought Caithness from William. The precise date of Rögnvaldr's venture is uncertain, although it appears to occurred in about 1200.
The fact that two Hebridean rulers, Rögnvaldr and his first cousin Ragnall mac Somairle
Raghnall mac Somhairle
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 and his wife, Ragnhildr, daughter of Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of...
(d. between 1192–1227), shared the same personal names, the same grandfather, and (at times) the same title, has perplexed modern scholars and possibly mediaeval chroniclers as well. Although most scholars regard Rögnvaldr as the Hebridean-king who assisted the William against Haraldr, several scholars have suggested that it was actually Ragnall. Until recently, the transcription of Roger's account of the episode has indicated that the Hebridean-king was in fact a son of the Hebridean-king Somairle mac Gilla Brigte (d. 1164). However, a recent re-analysis of the earliest existent version of Roger'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 was indeed the man in question.
Another perplexing point is the fact that the saga makes the erroneous statement that Rögnvaldr was a son of Ingibjörg, daughter of Hákon Pálsson, Earl of Orkney (d. c. 1126). In fact, Ingibjörg was one of two known wives of Rögnvaldr's paternal-grandfather, Óláfr, and she is much more likely to have been a grandmother of Ragnall, as Rögnvaldr likely descends from Óláfr's other wife, Affraic, daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway (d. 1161). Although not descended from previous Earls of Orkney, Rögnvaldr was related to these Norse magnates by right of his grandfather's marriage to Ingibjörg—a relationship which may well have influenced William in using Rögnvaldr against Haraldr. Although it has been suggested that Rögnvaldr may have acted as an Earl of Caithness for a short time, the surviving evidence merely suggests that he was appointed by William to administrate the province.
Relations with John of England
Rögnvaldr's involvement in Ireland and his connection with John de Courcy may have led to contact with John, King of England (d. 1216), and his son and successor, Henry III, King of England (d. 1272). On 8 February 2005, the same year of the attack on Dundrum, John took Rögnvaldr under his protection. The following year, on 8 February, John issued Rögnvaldr safe conduct for fifteen days to come to England for EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
(22 April 1206). Rögnvaldr is known to have met and rendered homage to John during his Easter sojourn, since the English king ordered the Sheriff of Lancaster
High Sheriff of Lancashire
The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient officer, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales...
, on 28 April, to assign thirty marcates of land to Rögnvaldr. Accordingly, the Lancashire Pipe Rolls
Pipe Rolls
The Pipe rolls, sometimes called the Great rolls, are a collection of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, or Treasury. The earliest date from the 12th century, and the series extends, mostly complete, from then until 1833. They form the oldest continuous series of records kept by...
show that the sheriff associated twenty librates of land with Rögnvaldr during the year spanning Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
1205 and Michaelmas 1206. Since the rolls do not name any estate associated with Rögnvaldr, he does not appear to have been assigned any lands, but rather a charge upon the ferm of the county. The next day, John ordered his treasurer to pay thirty marks to Rögnvaldr. About a year later, on 17 June 1207, John ordered the sheriff to assign Rögnvaldr with twenty liberates of land, which is again confirmed by the Lancashire Pipe Rolls.
In 1210, the Chronicle of Mann reports that John led five hundred ships to Ireland. While Rögnvaldr and his men were absent from Mann, the chronicle states that part of John's forces landed and ravaged the island in a fortnight, before leaving Mann with certain hostages. Since John and Rögnvaldr were clearly on friendly terms between 1205 and 1207, John's assault on Mann does not appear to connected to Rögnvaldr's campaigning with de Courcy. Instead, the ravaging of Mann may very well be related to John's sour relations with the de Lacys and the de Braoses
Braose family
The Braose family was a prominent family of Anglo-Norman nobles originating in Briouze, near Argentan, Orne. Members of this family played a significant part in the Norman Conquest of England and subsequent power struggles in England, Wales and Ireland in the 11th to 14th centuries.Several of the...
. Various historical sources relate how William de Braose
William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber
William de Braose, , 4th Lord of Bramber , court favourite of King John of England, at the peak of his power, was also Lord of Gower, Abergavenny, Brecknock, Builth, Radnor, Kington, Limerick, Glamorgan, Skenfrith, Briouze in Normandy, Grosmont, and White Castle.-Lineage:William was the most...
(d. 1211), his wife and family, fled from John to Ireland, where they were harboured by the de Lacys; and how John's 1210 arrival in Ireland caused the de Braoses to flee towards Scotland, where they were apprehended in Galloway, by Donnchad, Earl of Carrick (d. 1250). The link between the flight of the de Braoses and Rögnvaldr appears in the Histoire des ducs de Normandie et des rois d'Angleterre, an particularly important contemporary source for this period, which states that while en route to Scotland, the de Braoses stayed on Mann for four days. Possibility significant is a report in the Annals of Loch Cé, which records that John sent men to ravage Mann after he attacked Carrickfergus. John himself stated that he learned of the capture of de Braose's wife and children while at Carrickfergus, which may hint that the the attack on Mann was punitive in nature.
Although it is impossible to know whether Rögnvaldr sanctioned the arrival of the fleeing de Braoses, their close connections with the de Lacys, and Rögnvaldr's close connection with de Courcy (who had been forced from his Irish lands by the same family), make it somewhat unlikely. English records for the year 1210 reveal that a certain Richard de Muroil was paid to guard John's supply on Mann. One possibility is that, following the island's ravaging, John may have taken advantage of Mann for use as a depot for his Irish operations. However, considering the favourable relations known to have existed between Rögnvaldr and John, it may be more likely that the latter's use of the island was part of an agreed alliance between the two monarchs.
Divided loyalties: England and Norway
In the years between the death of Magnús berfœttr, King of Norway (d. 1103) and the reign of Hákon Hákonarson, King of Norway, Norwegian presence in the Isles was negligible due to the ongoing civil war in NorwayCivil war era in Norway
The Civil war era of Norwegian history is a term used for the period in the history of Norway between 1130 and 1240. During this time, a series of civil wars were fought between rival kings and pretenders to the throne of Norway. The reasons for the wars is one of the most debated topics in...
. However, in the mid 12th century during his visit to Norway, Rögnvaldr's father is regarded to have become a vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
of Ingi Haraldsson, King of Norway. What is certain is that the 12th century Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
chronicler Robert of Torigni
Robert of Torigni
Robert of Torigni was a Norman monk and chronicler. He was born at Torigni-sur-Vire in central Normandy, at an unknown date. He entered the monastery of Le Bec in 1128 and became prior there about 1149. He was elected abbot of Mont-Saint-Michel in 1154, and served there until his death.Robert was...
(d. 1186) noted a meeting between Henry II, King of England (d. 1189), William I of Scotland, and the 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,...
, where it was stated that the Kings of the Isles paid the Kings of Norway ten marks of gold on their accession to the Norwegian throne. Robert also recorded that the King of the Isles was not obliged to render any other tribute until the next Norwegian king succeeded. Unfortunately for Rögnvaldr, while still bound to the King of England in 1210, he appears to have found himself the target of renewed Norwegian hegemony in the Isles.
The Icelandic Annals state that a military expedition, from the Norway to the Isles, was in preparation in 1209. The following year, the annals laconically report of "warfare" in the Isles, and that Iona
Iona
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...
was pillaged. These reports are corroborated by Böglunga sögur, an early 13th century saga which survives in two versions. Both versions note how men of the Birkibeinar ("Birchlegs") and the Baglar
Bagler
The Bagli Party or Bagler was a faction or party during the Norwegian Civil Wars. The Bagler faction was made up principally of the Norwegian aristocracy, clergy and merchants....
("Croziers"), two competing sides of the Norwegian civil war, decided to recoup their financial losses with a certain twelve-ship raiding expedition into the Isles. The longer version of the saga states that Rögnvaldr ("King of Mann and the Isles") and Guðrøðr ("King on Mann") had not paid their taxes due to the Norwegian kings; in consequence, the Isles were ravaged until the two travelled to Norway and reconciled themselves with Ingi Bárðarson, King of Norway, whereupon the two took their lands from Ingi as a fief.
The kings recorded in Böglunga sögur are regarded to represent Rögnvaldr and his son, Guðrøðr
Gofraid Donn
Gofraid mac Ragnaill was a 13th century Hebridean king, who descended from a long line of kings who ruled the Hebrides and the Isle of Man...
, although it has been suggested that the saga's Rögnvaldr may refer to Rögnvaldr's cousin, Ragnall, and that the Guðrøðr of the saga may simply refer to Rögnvaldr's patronym. The events depicted in the saga appear to show that, in the wake of destructive Norse activity in the Isles, which may have been some sort of officially sanctioned punishment from Norway, Rögnvaldr and his son (or possibly, Rögnvaldr and his cousin) travelled to Norway where they rendered homage to the Norwegian king, and made compensation for unpaid taxes. Rögnvaldr's presence in Norway may explain his absence from Mann when it was ravaged by John's troops in the same year. Furthermore, Rögnvaldr's homage to Ingi may help explain the English attack, as it may have given the English an incentive to ravage Rögnvaldr's lands, since he had bound himself to John only a few years previous.
Alliance with Alan of Galloway
With Óláfr's rise at Rögnvaldr's expense in 1224, Rögnvaldr appears to have turned to Alan, Lord of GallowayAlan, Lord of Galloway
Alan Fitz Roland was the last of the MacFergus dynasty of quasi-independent Lords of Galloway. He was also hereditary Constable of Scotland.-Family:He was the son of Roland, or Lochlann, Lord of Galloway and Helen de Morville...
, a powerful magnate in the Irish Sea zone. Alan and Rögnvaldr appear to have been closely connected: both were kinsmen (both were great-grandsons of Fergus, Lord of Galloway); both received lands in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
at about the same time; and Rögnvaldr's Gallovidian connections may well have led to his alliance with William during the Caithness episode. The following year, the chronicle records that, Rögnvaldr and Alan took part in a military campaign in the Hebrides, in an attempt to take possession of the lands that Rögnvaldr had given Óláfr. Unfortunately for Rögnvaldr, the expedition came to nothing, as the chronicle notes that the Manx were unwilling to battle against Óláfr and the Hebrideans.
A short time afterwards, the chronicle records that Rögnvaldr collected a tribute of 100 marks from the Manx, under the pretext of travelling to the court of the King of England. The chronicle notes that, Rögnvaldr then travelled to Alan's court and gave his daughter away in marriage to Alan's son. Such a marriage, between Rögnvaldr's daughter and Alan's illegitimate son Thomas, cemented an alliance which would have benefited Alan in his activities in Ulster against the de Lacy
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
s. It also gave Alan a stake in the kingship. Unfortunately for Rögnvaldr, the chronicle indicates that the prospect of a Gallovidian king prompted the Manx to depose Rögnvaldr in favour of Óláfr. By 1226, the chronicle states that Óláfr had taken control of the island-kingdom, and ruled as king for the next two years.
In this low point of his career, Rögnvaldr's appears to have gone into exile at Alan's court in Galloway. In 1228, while Óláfr and his chieftains were absent in Hebrides, the chronicle records of an invasion of Mann by Rögnvaldr, Alan and his brother, Thomas, Earl of Atholl (d. 1231). The southern half of the island was completely devastated, as the chronicle declares that it was almost reduced to a desert. In what may have been the price for Gallovidian support, Alan is described by the chronicle to have installed bailiffs who were instructed to collect tribute from Mann and send it back to Galloway. Unfortunately for scholars, the chronicle does not record Rögnvaldr's role in the takeover. After Alan had left the island for home, Óláfr and his forces appeared and routed the remaining Gallovidians, and thus, the chronicle notes, peace was restored to Mann.
Final confrontation, death
In what was likely early January 1229, the chronicle records that Rögnvaldr caught the forces of Óláfr unaware, as Rögnvaldr sailed from GallowayGalloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
with five ships, and launched a nocturnal raid upon the harbour at St Patrick's Isle
St Patrick's Isle
St Patrick's Isle is a small island off the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, largely occupied by Peel Castle and noted for its attractive and relatively well preserved historic castle ruins. These ruins include St Patrick's Church and an Irish-style round tower, St German's Cathedral, and the more...
, near what is today the town of Peel. During this daring assault, the chronicle records that Rögnvaldr had all of the ships of Óláfr and his chieftains destroyed. Although the chronicle alludes that Rögnvaldr still had Gallovidian support, as it states that the expedition originated from Galloway, the fact that he commanded only five ships may suggest that this support was waning. Rögnvaldr followed up on his assault by establishing himself in the southern part of Mann, as the chronicle records that he won over the southerners, some of whom swore to risk their lives until he was in possession of half of the island-kingdom. Meanwhile, the chronicle relates that Óláfr assembled his forces in the north of Mann, and indicates that the island was divided between the two men for much of January and February, before what would become their final confrontation. According to the chronicle, Rögnvaldr and Óláfr led their armies to a place named Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
, which may suggest that negotiations were intended, as the place-name is derived from the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
þing-völlr ("assembly field") and thus refers to an assembly place
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
.
On 14 February
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
, the festival of St Valentine, the chronicle records that Óláfr's forces launched an attack upon Rögnvaldr at Tynwald, where Rögnvaldr's troops were routed and he himself was slain. Surviving sources appear to show that Rögnvaldr's death was due to treachery, as the Chronicle of Lanercost states that Rögnvaldr "fell a victim to the arms of the wicked", while the Chronicle of Mann notes that, although Óláfr was grieved at his half-brother's death, he never exacted vengeance upon Rögnvaldr's killers. The chronicle states that the monks of Rushen took Rögnvaldr's body to St Mary's Abbey, 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...
, where he was buried in a place that he had chosen beforehand. A particular sandstone effigy
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
of an armed, mail
Mail (armour)
Mail is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh.-History:Mail was a highly successful type of armour and was used by nearly every metalworking culture....
-clad warrior, found in the north aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
of the abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
, has been associated with Rögnvaldr since the first half of the 19th century. Such an association, however, is dubious at best. Rögnvaldr is depicted in a fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
in the Vatican Archives.