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Preserved Edinburgh Society
CLAN DONALD GENEALOGY
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 1100 - 1164 (64 years)
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| Name |
Somhairle Mor MACGILLEBRIDE |
| Prefix |
King |
| Suffix |
of Argyll |
| Born |
1100 |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
1164 |
Renfrew, Strathclyde, Scotland  |
| Person ID |
I1 |
My Genealogy |
| Last Modified |
28 Nov 2021 |
| Family 2 |
Daughter MACMAHON, of Fermanagh, d. Yes, date unknown |
| Children |
| | 1. Gillecolum MACSORLEY, of the Isles, b. Bef 1140, d. 1164, Renfrew, Strathclyde, Scotland (Age ~ 24 years) |
| | 2. Somerled MACSORLEY, of the Isles, b. Bef 1140, d. Yes, date unknown |
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| Last Modified |
28 Nov 2021 |
| Family ID |
F17 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 4 |
Princess Ragnhilda OLAFSDOTTIR, of Man, b. Bef 1125, d. Yes, date unknown |
| Married |
1140 |
| Children |
| | 1. King Dugall MACSORLEY, of Lorne, b. Bef 1164, d. Abt 1207 (Age ~ 43 years) |
| | 2. King Ranald MACSORLEY, of the Isles, b. Bef 1164, d. 1207 (Age ~ 43 years) |
| | 3. Lord Angus MACSORLEY, of Bute, b. Bef 1164, d. 1210 (Age ~ 46 years) |
| | 4. Olaf MACSORLEY, of the Isles, b. Bef 1164, d. Yes, date unknown |
| | 5. Bethag NICSORLEY, of Iona, b. Bef 1164, d. Yes, date unknown |
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| Last Modified |
28 Nov 2021 |
| Family ID |
F19 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Notes |
- 1 - Mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga, held possessions in Dalir, on Scotlands Firth. Styled by the Chronicle of Man "Regulus Herergaidel" - ruler of Argyle - Thane of Argyll.
He was born ca.1100 and in 1140 married to Ragnhilda [the daughter of Olaf Bitling, King of the Sudreyar (Hebrides and Man) and of Ingibiorg, daughter of Hakon Earl of Orkney (ca.1122)]. Other sources call her Aufrica or Elfrica daughter of Olaf the Swarthy (probably the name was mixed up with Olaf's mother). Their sons were King Dufgall (Dugald), Rögnvald (Reginald) and Engull (Angus). From Reginald sprang the MacRories (from his son Ruari ,+1268, from whom sprang Amie MacRuari, wife of Good John, 7th chief) and MacDonalds of the Isles. From Dugald whom Somerled tried to establish as King of Man and the Isles sprang the Clan Dugall of Lorne and from Angus the Clan Angus and so the Stewart kings. The name "Sumarlidhi" means "mariner". They were called "the Dalverja family". The Chronicle of Man states that the marriage with Ragnhild was the cause of the ruin of the monarchy of the Isles.
He was killed at Renfrew on 01.01.1164, (having landed there with a fleet of 160 galleys) by Swein Asleif's son in the attempt to make a conquest of Scotland. The royal troops were led by Walter Fitzalan, progenitor of the Stewarts and an associate already of King David I. The battle is commemorated by Barochan Cross, an ancient stone cross which stands near the site of the battle.
He gave one of his daughters in marriage to Wimund, the pretended Earl of Moray, (who invaded Scotland in 1114.) On the death of King David I. , Somerled, accompanied by the children of Wimund, landed with a great force in Scotland, 5th November 1153, in order to revenge the wrongs done to his son-in-law. From other sources we learn that Ex-Bishop Wimund, alias Malcolm MacHeth, was brother in law of Somerled, called Earl of Moray by the Orkneyinga Saga. He attempted to gain possession of the Crown of Scotland, pretending to be a son of Angus MacHeth, son of a daughter of Lulach, who was a son of Queen Gruoch and Macbeth MacFinlay
Somerled continued hostilities against King David I. and joined the party against Malcolm IV. (the maiden) , when the attempt was made to place William Odling, the Boy of Egremont on the throne. Malcolm MacHeth, anyhow, was released by Malcolm the Maiden and received from the generous young king the sovereignty of a portion of the ancient kingdom of Cumbria. But his tyranny was such that his subjects revolted, took him prisoner, put out his eyes, and confined him in the monastery of Bellaland (Byland/Yorkshire).
Before Somerled became Rí Innse Gall - the Ruler of the Isles of the Norsemen - he was Rí Airir Goidel - the Ruler of the Coastland of the Gael - Lorn in Argyll, Mull, Tiree and Coll. Neither his marriage to Ragnhild, nor his own Norse blood prevented him from resisting Norse encroachment. Having successfully driven the Norsemen out of Lochaber, Morvern and Northern Argyll in 1156. He decisively defeated his wife's brother Godfred , by this time King of Man in a great sea battle off the island of Islay in 1158 and tried to establish his son Dugall as King of the Isles. In 1164, he again invaded Scotland with a mighty force, landing at Renfrew. He was withstood with great slaughter. Somerled, and his son, Gillecolane were slain
2 - Somerled where the three tribes of the Clan Donald, Clan Dubgall, and MacRory converge.
3 - http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/republic/PatAdams/research/argyllshire/ch1.html
It was during the 12th century that the Norsemen were driven out of Kintyre and Knapdale by Somhairle Mor mac Ghille-Bhrighde (Great Somerled, son of Gillbride). We have every reason to believe that he received considerable support from his kinsman Sween, son of Dunslebhe, who held extensive lands in Glassary, Knapdale, Cowal and Kintyre. [5, 12]
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