Battle of Epiphany
Battle of Epiphany | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Forces ofSomerled | Forces of Godred Olafsson | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
80 Galleys | unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
unknown | unknown |
TheBattle of Epiphanywas anaval battlefought on 5–6 January or 12 January 1156, between theNorseGodred Olafsson(Godred the Black),King of the Islesand theNorse-GaelicSomhairle MacGillebride (Somerled),King ofCinn Tìre (Kintyre),ArgyllandLorne,off the coast ofIslay,Scotland.[1][2][3]
Background
[edit]Olafr Godredsson,King of the Isles, was murdered on 29 June 1153 by his nephews and his son Godred became king in his place.[2]After ascending to the throne, Godred ruled with a heavy hand, which upset some of his chiefs.[1] Somerled who had marriedRaghnailt,the daughter of Olafr, was approached by a number of men headed by Thornfinn Ottarsson. Somerled agreed to their plan to overthrow Godred and replace him with Somerled's sonDubgall mac Somairle.[1][2]He began preparations and began construction of 80 ships modelled on theNorse longship,known asbirlinnsand nyvaigs (the latter being the first ship to have a stern rudder directly in the rear of the vessel). Somerled having recognised the importance of dominating the sea, with which the Norse had successfully conquered the Isles.[4]
Battle
[edit]Thornfinn and Dubgall were sailing around the Isles seeking fealty for the latter as the next king. Godred became aware of their treachery and he sailed his fleet to attack.[5]
The fleets of Godred and Somerled met off Islay, to the north at Rubh' a' Mhaoil, on the night of theEpiphanyon 5–6 January or 12 January 1156, and a fierce battle continued through into the next day. A stalemate occurred between the two fleets and Godred and Somerled initiated talks.[4]The contemporary evidence for the location of the battle is slight[6]and some authors have suggested the battle took place to the west of Islay, although Marsden (2008) favours the narrowSound of Islay.[7]
Aftermath
[edit]After discussions and agreement, Godred ceded the isles to the south ofArdnamurchan(Mull,Juraand Islay) to Somerled, while keeping theOuter Hebrides,Skyeand theIsle of Man.[4]The Chronicle of Mann and the Sudreyslamented that "thus was the Kingdom of the Isles ruined".[3]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Adam, Frank (1970).The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands.Edinburgh and London: Johnston and Bacon.ISBN0-7179-4500-6.
- Marsden, John (2008)Somerled and the Emergence of Gaelic Scotland.Birlinn. East Linton. First published, 2000.
- Munch, P.A. (ed) and Rev. Goss (tr) (1874)Chronica regnum Manniae et insularum: The Chronicle of Mann and the Sudreys.Volume 1. Douglas, Isle of Man. The Manx Society. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
- Paterson, Raymond Campbell (2008).The Lords of the Isles, A history of Clan Donald.Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited.ISBN1-84158-718-4.