Ailéan mac Ruaidhrí

Ailéan mac Ruaidhrí (died ×1296) was a leading figure in the thirteenth-century kingdoms of the Isles and the Scotland. He was a son of Ruaidhrí mac Raghnaill, and thus a member of the Clann Ruaidhrí branch of Clann Somhairle. Ailéan was a brother of Dubhghall mac Ruaidhrí, King of Argyll and the Isles, a significant figure who held power in the mid thirteenth century. At the time, the rulers of the Isles were fiercely independent of the Scottish Crown, and owed nominal allegiance to the distant Norwegian Crown. In 1259, Dubhghall's daughter married the son of King of Connacht, and Ailéan is recorded to have commanded the woman's tocher of one hundred and sixty gallowglass warriors.

When the Scottish Crown encroached into Isles in the 1260s, Dubhghall and Ailéan were noted supporters of the Norwegian cause. Both men played a prominent role in the Norwegian campaign against the Scots in 1263. Following the collapse of the operation and further pressure, the Norwegians agreed to hand the Isles over to the Scots. Although Dubhghall is last attested resisting the Scots later that decade, Ailéan and most of his Clann Somhairle kinsman integrated themselves into the Scottish realm. The record of his part in the ruthless suppression of a Manx revolt in 1275, and his participation in a parliamentary council concerning the inheritance of Scottish throne in 1284, both evidence the incorporation of Clann Somhairle into the kingdom.

Clann Ruaidhrí

Ailéan and his brother, Dubhghall, were sons of Ruaidhrí mac Raghnaill, Lord of Kintyre.Holton (2017) p. viii fig. 2; Fisher (2005) p. 86 fig. 5.2; Brown (2004) p. 77 tab. 4.1; Sellar (2000) p. 194 tab. ii; Roberts (1999) p. 99 fig. 5.2; McDonald (1997) p. 258 genealogical tree ii; Munro; Munro (1986) p. 279 tab. 1; Rixson (1982) p. 14 fig. 1. The latter was the eponym of Clann Ruaidhrí, a branch of the Clann Somhairle kindred.Holton (2017) pp. 126–127; Duffy (2007) p. 10; McDonald (2007) p. 110; Raven (2005) p. 56; Dalglish (2003) p. 158. In the second decade of the thirteenth-century, Ruaidhrí is known to have conducted military operations in Ireland with Thomas fitz Roland, Earl of Atholl, younger brother of Alan fitz Roland, Lord of Galloway.Duffy (2007) p. 10 n. 43; Duffy (1991) p. 68. The close relations between these families could account for Ailéan's name.Duffy (2007) p. 10 n. 43; Duffy (1993) p. 77 n. 61.

In 1247, a certain Mac Somhairle—perhaps Ruaidhrí himself—was killed whilst resisting an English invasion of Tír Chonaill.Oram (2013) ch. 6; Woolf (2007) p. 77; Power (2005) p. 46; Brown (2004) pp. 80–81; Duffy (2004) p. 47; Woolf (2004) p. 108; Verstraten (2003) p. 36 n. 131; Sellar (2000) pp. 200–201; Bartlett (1999) p. 821; Lydon (1992) p. 7; Ballyshannon (n.d.); Mac Somhairle (n.d.); The Annals of Connacht, p. 91 (n.d.). The following year, Ailéan's brother and Eóghan Mac Dubhghaill, a Clann Somhairle kinsman, travelled to Norway, with both men seeking kingship of the northern from Hákon Hákonarson, King of Norway.Holton (2017) p. 129; Oram (2013) ch. 6; Wærdahl (2011) p. 49; Beuermann (2010) p. 108; Broun (2007) pp. 4, 26 n. 17; Woolf (2007) p. 83; Murray (2005) pp. 302–304; Power (2005) p. 46; Brown (2004) p. 80; Sellar (2004); McLeod (2002) p. 30; Rixson (2001) p. 86; Sellar (2000) pp. 203–204, 206; McDonald (1997) pp. 68, 98–99; Cowan (1990) p. 115; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 207; Anderson (1922) p. 548; Jónsson (1916) p. 627 ch. 287; Kjær (1910) p. 608 ch. 304/259; Dasent (1894) p. 266 ch. 259; Vigfusson (1887) p. 255 ch. 259; Unger (1871) p. 535 ch. 264; Flateyjarbok (1868) pp. 174–175 ch. 230. Although the entirety of the roughly encompassed the Hebrides and Mann,Dumville (2018) p. 113; McDonald (2012) p. 152; Williams, G (2007) pp. 130–132 n. 8. the precise jurisdiction which Dubhghall and Eóghan competed for is uncertain. For example, the northern Hebridean islands of Lewis and Harris and Skye appear to have been held by the Crovan dynasty, then represented by the reigning Haraldr Óláfsson, King of Mann and the Isles.Holton (2017) p. 129; McDonald (1997) p. 99; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 207. It is conceivable that Eóghan and Dubhghall sought kingship over the same jurisdiction that Hákon had awarded to Óspakr-Hákon about a decade before—a region which could have included some or all of the islands possessed by Clann Somhairle.Wærdahl (2011) p. 49 n. 66; McDonald (1997) p. 99; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 207. In fact, it is possible that the aforesaid events of 1247 and 1248 were related,Oram (2013) ch. 6; Woolf (2007) p. 83; Sellar (2000) p. 201. and that Dubhghall and Eóghan sought to succeed Mac Somhairle's position in the Isles.Woolf (2007) pp. 83–84.

It was only after the unexpected death of Haraldr in 1248 that Hákon sent Eóghan west-over-sea to temporarily take up the kingship of the Isles on his behalf.McDonald (2019) p. 33; Holton (2017) p. 129; Oram (2013) ch. 6; Wærdahl (2011) p. 49, 49 n. 66; Beuermann (2010) p. 108, 108 n. 29; Woolf (2007) p. 84; Power (2005) p. 46; Carpenter (2004) p. 337; Sellar (2004); Stringer (2004); Sellar (2000) p. 204; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 207. Eóghan, however, was not only a Norwegian dependant in the Isles, but an eminent Scottish magnate on the mainland.Oram (2013) ch. 6; Sellar (2004); Woolf (2004) p. 108. Although the Scottish Crown appears to have attempted to purchase the Isles earlier that decade,Dahlberg (2014) pp. 52–55; Oram (2013) ch. 6; Oram (2011b) ch. 13; Wærdahl (2011) p. 49; Broun (2007) pp. 3–4; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 254; Murray (2005) p. 303; Oram (2005) p. 42; Reid (2005) p. 59; Carpenter (2004) p. 337; Stringer (2004); Bartlett (1999) pp. 823–824; McDonald (1997) p. 98; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 118; Cowan (1990) p. 110; Barrow (1981) p. 115; Anderson (1922) pp. 539–540; Jónsson (1916) p. 615 ch. 270; Kjær (1910) pp. 584–585 ch. 287/245; Dasent (1894) pp. 248–249 ch. 245; Vigfusson (1887) pp. 238–239 ch. 245; Unger (1871) p. 525 ch. 250; Flateyjarbok (1868) p. 164 ch. 218. Eóghan's acceptance of Hákon's commission partly led Alexander II, King of Scotland to unleash an invasion of Argyll in the summer of 1249, directed at the very heart of the Clann Dubhghaill lordship.Oram (2013) ch. 6; Oram (2011b) ch. 13; Oram (2005) p. 42; Brown (2004) p. 80; Carpenter (2004) p. 337; Sellar (2004); Sellar (2000) p. 204; Barrow (1981) pp. 115–116. The unfolding crisis only ended with the Scottish king's sudden death in July 1249.Oram (2013) ch. 6; Wærdahl (2011) p. 49; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 254–255; Murray (2005) pp. 304–305; Oram (2005) pp. 42–43; Power (2005) p. 47; Brown (2004) p. 80; Carpenter (2004) p. 337;Sellar (2004); Stringer (2004); Woolf (2004) p. 108; Sellar (2000) p. 204; Cowan (1990) pp. 115–116; Barrow (1981) pp. 115–116; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) pp. 208–209.

Eóghan appears to have been utterly dispossessed by the Scots a result of their invasion.McDonald (1997) pp. 103–104. In fact, his apparent displacement could well have upended the hierarchy of Clann Somhairle.McDonald (1997) pp. 99, 104. For instance, a particular entry preserved by the Icelandic annals states that, within the very year that Eóghan was forced from Argyll by the Scots, Dubhghall himself "took kingship" in the Isles.Holton (2017) pp. 131–132; Raven (2005) p. 58; McDonald (1997) pp. 99, 104; Storm (1977) pp. 132, 190, 482; Anderson (1922) p. 554, 554 n. 2; Vigfusson (1878) p. 374. This record could reveal that Dubhghall and Eóghan shared kingship in the Hebrides,Holton (2017) p. 130 n. 33. or that Dubhghall assumed the kingship from a severely weakened Eóghan.Holton (2017) pp. 130 n. 33, 132; McDonald (1997) pp. 99, 104.

Gallowglass warlord

In 1258, Ailéan's brother conducted military operations against the English in Connacht.Holton (2017) pp. 133, 194; Duffy (2007) pp. 17–18; Woolf (2007) p. 85; Power (2005) p. 49; Verstraten (2003) p. 36 n. 131; Sellar (2000) p. 206, 206 n. 97; McDonald (1997) p. 118; Perros (1996–1997) p. 2; Duffy (1993) p. 127; Duffy (1991) pp. 69–70; Connemara (n.d.); The Annals of Connacht, p. 127 (n.d.). Within the same year, there was an extraordinary assembly conducted between Aodh na nGall Ó Conchobhair, Tadhg Ó Briain, and Brian Ó Néill, King of Tír Eoghain.Duffy (2007) pp. 17–18; Verstraten (2003) p. 27; Duffy (1993) p. 124. It was at this convention, at Caol Uisce on the River Erne, that Aodh—son of the King of Connacht—and Tadhg—son of the King of Thomond—relinquished their claims to the high-kingship of Ireland in favour of Brian, who was then proclaimed high king.Duffy (2007) pp. 17–18; Jefferies (2005); Simms (2005a); Simms (2005b); Verstraten (2003) p. 27; Verstraten (2002) p. 15; O'Byrne (2001) pp. 107–108; Bartlett (1999) p. 822; Lydon (1994) p. 153; Martin, FX (1994) p. 142; Moody; Martin (1994) p. 432; Duffy (1993) p. 124; Duffy (1991) pp. 69–70; Walton (1980) p. 232. The latter was then in midst of campaigning against a temporarily weakened English Earldom of Ulster, and closely allied with Aodh in his cause.Duffy (2007) p. 18; Simms (2005b); Bartlett (1999) pp. 821–822; Simms (1998) pp. 79–80; Walton (1980) pp. 231–232.

The following year, the fifteenth- to sixteenth-century Annals of Connacht, the sixteenth-century Annals of Loch Cé, and the seventeenth-century Annals of the Four Masters reveal that Aodh travelled to Derry and married a daughter of Dubhghall, and thereby received a tocher that included one hundred and sixty gallowglass warriors commanded by Ailéan himself.Downham (2018) p. 229; Holton (2017) p. 133; Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) § 1259.5; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) § 1259.5; Annála Connacht (2011a) § 1259.6; Annála Connacht (2011b) § 1259.6; Annals of Loch Cé (2008) § 1259.3; Lydon (2008) pp. 245, 248; Duffy (2007) pp. 1, 10 n. 43, 18; Kenny (2007) p. 68; Kenny (2006) p. 33; Annals of Loch Cé (2005) § 1259.3; Kenny (2005) p. 103; McLeod (2005) p. 43, n. 79; Power (2005) p. 49; Verstraten (2003) pp. 26, 36 n. 131; Simms (2001) p. 6; Sellar (2000) p. 206, 206 n. 99; Simms (2000a) pp. 121–122; Simms (2000b) p. 157 n. 62; McDonald (1997) pp. 118, 155; Duffy (1993) p. 127; Lydon (1992) p. 7; Duffy (1991) pp. 69–70, 73; Walton (1980) pp. 233–234, 234 n. 134; Derry (n.d.); The Annals of Connacht, p. 131 (n.d.). Ailéan is, therefore, one of the earliest known warriors of this type.Duffy (1991) p. 73. The marital alliance was conducted at the main port within Brian's realm, a site indicating that the union—along with the aforesaid assembly and naval operations of the previous year—was part of a carefully coordinated plan to tackle English power in the north west of Ireland.Duffy (2007) pp. 17–18.