From Renfrew to Ruin: The Rise and Fall of the Lordship of the Isles

The story of Somerled did not end on the battlefield at Renfrew in 1164. Though his body may have fallen near the banks of the Clyde, his legacy lived on for centuries through his descendants, who would go on to shape the political, cultural, and military landscape of western Scotland.

What emerged from the embers of Somerled's ambitions was one of the most remarkable and autonomous Gaelic polities in medieval Europe: the Lordship of the Isles.

A Maritime Power Rooted in Renfrewshire

Stretching from Kintyre and Islay to the Outer Hebrides and parts of the western mainland, the Lordship of the Isles continued the Norse-Gaelic maritime tradition that had defined the region since Viking times. At its peak, it operated as a kingdom in all but name, with its own courts, laws, fleets, and customs—functioning independently while balancing an uneasy relationship with the Scottish Crown.

Although commonly associated with distant isles and Highland clans, the story of the Isles is firmly connected to Renfrewshire—especially Paisley, where Somerled fell, and where his descendants would leave their mark on Scotland’s emerging political and religious centres.

The Inheritance of Somerled

Following Somerled’s death—whether in open battle or by assassination—his territories were divided among his sons, forming powerful clan branches:

Clan Donald (MacDonalds) – Descendants of Domhnall, they would dominate the Isles and eventually form the core of the Lordship.
Clan MacDougall – From Dubgall, based primarily in Argyll.
Clan MacRuari – Descendants of Ruaidhrí, with lands in Garmoran and the Outer Hebrides.

These lineages maintained a degree of independence, often resisting full integration into the Scottish kingdom. Some even recognised the distant Norwegian crown until the Treaty of Perth (1266) formally transferred the Hebrides to Scotland. Even then, the Scottish Crown’s control remained largely theoretical for decades.

The Rise of Clan Donald and the Formation of the Lordship

By the 13th and 14th centuries, Clan Donald had consolidated power, gradually overshadowing the other branches of Somerled’s descendants. The title “Lord of the Isles” came into formal use during this period.

Notable early Lords included:

Aonghas Mór (Angus Mor) – An initial ally of King Alexander III.
John of Islay (Eoin Mac Domhnaill) – Recognised in the 14th century as Lord of the Isles, ruling from Finlaggan on Islay, the ceremonial and administrative heart of the Lordship.

These Lords held real power—controlling fleets, collecting tribute, enforcing justice, and fostering a vibrant Gaelic court culture.

A Kingdom in All But Name

At its height, the Lordship of the Isles operated as a quasi-independent Gaelic state:

Legal System – They followed Brehon-style law and upheld Gaelic customs, resisting the spread of Norman feudalism.
Military and Naval Power – The Lords maintained a fleet of birlinns—fast, Norse-influenced galleys ideal for warfare across the Hebridean seas.
Language and Culture – Gaelic was the official language. Court bards, especially the MacMhuirich family, preserved history, law, and lineage through oral tradition.
Church Patronage – The Lords supported monasteries and churches throughout their territory. Notably, Somerled’s descendants maintained ties with Paisley Abbey, founded by Walter Fitzalan, steward of Scotland and patriarch of the Stewart dynasty.
Trade and Economy – The Isles sat astride crucial sea routes, trading with Ireland, the Isle of Man, Flanders, and beyond.

Though officially vassals, they ruled with a level of de facto sovereignty unseen elsewhere in Scotland.

Tensions with the Scottish Crown

As the central Scottish monarchy—particularly under the Stewarts, descendants of Fitzalan of Renfrew—strengthened its grip, the independence of the Isles became a growing concern.

Key conflicts included:

Treaty of Westminster-Ardtornish (1386) – John of Islay agreed with England to divide Scotland in the event of invasion, a move that shocked the Scottish Crown and deepened mistrust.
Resistance to Church Authority – The Lords often clashed with the Bishop of the Isles, trying to control land and appointments, mirroring continental struggles between secular and ecclesiastical powers.
Royal Retaliation – Over time, the Crown responded with increased pressure—through diplomacy, forfeiture, and military action.

Yet the Lordship remained resilient well into the 15th century.

The Battle of Harlaw (1411): Clash of Kingdoms

In 1411, Donald of Islay, claiming the Earldom of Ross by marriage, marched a vast force from the west to the north-east—resulting in the Battle of Harlaw near Aberdeen.

One of the bloodiest battles in medieval Scotland.
Tactically inconclusive, but symbolically immense.
Marked the cultural divide between Gaelic west and Lowland feudalism.
Proved the Lords’ ability to challenge royal succession and national unity.

The Fall of the Lordship

The beginning of the end came with John MacDonald II (John of Islay), the last officially recognised Lord of the Isles.

In 1462, he again allied with England, repeating the mistake of his ancestors.
In 1476, James III stripped him of most mainland holdings.
In 1493, James IV formally forfeited the Lordship, dissolving its autonomy.
Clan Donald retained some lands but lost all political independence.

The fall of the Lordship marked the end of centuries of Norse-Gaelic resistance to centralised Scottish authority.

Cultural Legacy of the Lords

Though politically dissolved, the Lordship of the Isles left a powerful cultural imprint:

Gaelic Oral Tradition – Tales of the Lords were preserved by bards and seanchaidhean.
Historic Sites – Finlaggan, once a royal court, remains a symbol of Gaelic sovereignty.
Paisley Abbey – Still stands today, linking Renfrewshire with the spiritual and political world of the Isles.
Clan Donald – Continues to embody Highland identity and heritage.
Documents and Law – Surviving charters and seals attest to the Lordship’s administrative sophistication.
Poetry and Music – The Isles' court was a final stronghold for Classical Gaelic literature, even as Scots and Norman French reshaped the Lowlands.

The Lordship represented the last great Gaelic aristocracy, resisting linguistic, cultural, and political centralisation.

Conclusion: From Renfrew to Finlaggan

The Battle of Renfrew in 1164 ended Somerled’s immediate ambitions—but not his legacy. For more than three centuries, his descendants ruled as lords of the sea, shaping the west through Gaelic law, Norse seafaring, and cultural pride.

Their final fall in 1493 symbolised more than dynastic defeat—it marked the end of a worldview. The ancient maritime networks were broken, and the Isles absorbed into a centralised kingdom.

Yet their legacy endures:

In surnames and stories across the Highlands.
In ruins and records.
And in Paisley Abbey, where Somerled’s descendants are forever tied to the Stewart dynasty and Scotland’s evolving identity.

From Renfrew to Finlaggan, the Lords of the Isles left behind more than history — they left a heritage.

Sources and Further Reading

Oram, Richard D. The Lordship of the Isles. Birlinn, 2014
Sellar, W. D. H. "The Origins and Ancestry of Somerled." Scottish Historical Review, 1966
McDonald, R. Andrew. The Kingdom of the Isles. Tuckwell Press, 1997
Woolf, Alex. From Pictland to Alba: 789–1070. Edinburgh University Press, 2007
Barrow, G. W. S. Kingship and Unity: Scotland 1000–1306. Edinburgh University Press, 1981
Stevenson, Katie. Power and Propaganda: Scotland 1306–1488. Edinburgh University Press, 2014
Munro, Jean I. & R. W. Munro. Acts of the Lords of the Isles, 1336–1493. Scottish History Society, 1986
Grant, Alexander. "The Death of the Lordship of the Isles." Innes Review, 1972
Boardman, Stephen. The Early Stewart Kings: Robert II and Robert III. John Donald, 1996
Broun, Dauvit. Scottish Independence and the Idea of Britain. Edinburgh University Press, 2007