Christina of the Isles (fl. 1290–1318) was a fourteenth-century Scottish noblewoman. She was the daughter of Ailéan mac Ruaidhrí and a leading member of Clann Ruaidhrí. Although Ailéan had two sons, Lachlann and Ruaidhrí, both appear to have been illegitimate, whereas Christina was legitimate, and possibly a daughter of Ailéan's wife, Isabella.

A fourteenth-century source states that Christina assisted Robert I, King of Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence, when he was a fugitive and hunted by the forces of Edward I, King of England. Another fourteenth-century source declares that, when Robert mounted a counteroffensive following Edward II's demise, the Scottish king received critical assistance from an unnamed kinswoman, a woman who may have been Christina herself. Christina's support of the Bruce cause may have stemmed from her marriage to Donnchadh, who was a member of the comital kindred of Mar, a family closely related to the Bruces. It is also possible that Christina was influenced by her maternal ancestry, since there is reason to suspect that her mother was a sister of Robert's mother.

Although Christina was the canonically legitimate heir of her father, it is likely that her brothers possessed control of their family's wide-ranging territories. According to an undated charter, Christina resigned her rights to Ruaidhrí on the condition that her son possessed a stake in the inheritance. At some point following Ruaidhrí's apparent demise in 1318, Christina attempted to transfer most of the Clann Ruaidhrí lordship into the hands of Artúr Caimbéal, in what may have been a marriage alliance with the Caimbéalaigh (the Campbells). Despite this contract with Artúr, which may have had royal approval, it is apparent that Christina's nephew, Ruaidhrí's son Raghnall Mac Ruaidhrí, was able to succeed as chief of Clann Ruaidhrí. The recorded royal forfeiture of a certain "" may refer to Raghnall, and could be evidence of him countering Christina's attempt to alienate the family lands. Further violent repercussions of Christina's contract with the Caimbéalaigh may have been felt well into the next century, since James I, King of Scotland is recorded to have executed two chieftains who may have been continuing the feud.

Family Christina was a daughter of Ailéan mac Ruaidhrí, who was a son of Ruaidhrí mac Raghnaill, Lord of Kintyre,Holton (2017) p. viii fig. 2; Petre (2014) p. 268 tab.; Fisher (2005) p. 86 fig. 5.2; Raven (2005b) fig. 13; Brown, M (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. eponym of Clann Ruaidhrí.Holton (2017) pp. 126–127; Duffy (2007) p. 10; McDonald (2007) p. 110; McAndrew (2006) p. 66; Raven (2005a) p. 56; Raven (2005b) fig. 13; Murray, A (1998) p. 5. Ailéan had two sons: Lachlann and Ruaidhrí. Whilst Christina was legitimate, her brothers were evidently illegitimate.Holton (2017) p. 153; Boardman, S (2006) p. 46; Ewan (2006); Barrow, GWS (2005) pp. 219, 377–378; McDonald (2004) p. 181; Murray, A (1998) p. 5; McDonald (1997) p. 174; Munro; Munro (1986) p. 283 n. 13; Barrow, GWS (1973) pp. 380–381.

Ailéan is attested as late as 1284, when he attended a government council at Scone.Holton (2017) p. 146; Findlater (2011) p. 69; McDonald (2006) p. 77; Power (2005) p. 54; Raven (2005a) p. 60; Brown, M (2004) p. 85; Sellar (2000) p. 210; McDonald (1997) pp. 130, 136, 189; McDonald (1995) p. 143, 143 n. 69; Young (1990) p. 22; Munro; Munro (1986) p. 283 n. 12; Barrow, GWS (1981) p. 119; Barrow, GWS (1973) p. 380; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 216; The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland (1844) p. 424; Rymer; Sanderson (1816) p. 638; Document 4/42/5 (n.d.). He certainly disappears from record by 1296,#H1Holton (2017) p. 153; McDonald (1997) p. 189. and seems to have died at some point before this date.Findlater (2011) p. 69; Barrow, GWS (1973) p. 380. Ailéan's widow was Isabella,Findlater (2011) pp. 69, 84 tab. 1; McQueen (2002) p. 141. a woman who may well have been Christina's mother.Findlater (2011) p. 69. At some point between the deaths of Ailéan and Alexander III, King of Scotland,Findlater (2011) p. 69; McQueen (2002) p. 141. Isabella married Ingram de Umfraville.Neville; Simpson (2012) p. 231 § 321; Beam (2012) p. 58; Findlater (2011) p. 69; McQueen (2004) p. 38; McQueen (2002) p. 141; The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland (1844) p. 447; RPS, 1293/2/15 (n.d.a); RPS, 1293/2/15 (n.d.b). If Christina was still a child at the time, it is possible that she was raised by Ingram.

In February 1293, the Scottish parliament supported a claim of Ingram and Isabella concerning a grant of one hundred merks of land in tenancy (forty merks of which were located in the sheriffdom of Carrick). It was agreed that these rights—from the tocher of Isabella's marriage to Ailéan—were to be retained by the couple unless Ailéan's heirs were able to recover them.Neville; Simpson (2012) p. 231 § 321; Findlater (2011) p. 69; McQueen (2004) p. 38; McQueen (2002) pp. 141–142; The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland (1844) p. 447; RPS, 1293/2/15 (n.d.a); RPS, 1293/2/15 (n.d.b). The same year, the Scottish Crown created several new sheriffdoms in the western reaches of the realm. One of the new shrievalties was the sheriffdom of Skye, a jurisdiction that not only encompassed Clann Ruaidhrí territories, but was placed under the authority of the Earl of Ross.Findlater (2011) p. 69; Rixson (2001) p. 92.

Supporter of the Bruce cause

In 1296, Edward I, King of England invaded and easily conquered the Scottish realm.Prestwich (2008); Brown, M (2004) p. 259. Like most other Scottish landholders, LachlannCochran-Yu (2015) p. 55; Barrow, GWS (1973) p. 381, 381 n. 2; Bain (1884) pp. 209–210 § 823; Instrumenta Publica (1834) p. 158; Document 6/2/0 (n.d.c). and Christina rendered homage to the triumphant king later in August.Jack (2016) p. 84 n. 219; Pollock (2015) p. 179 n. 122; Ewan (2006); Barrow, GWS (2005) p. 467 n. 22; Oram (2003) p. 64 n. 84; Bain (1884) pp. 184 § 808, 200 § 823; Palgrave (1837) p. 153 § 46; Instrumenta Publica (1834) p. 129; Document 6/2/0 (n.d.a).

In February 1306, Robert Bruce VII, Earl of Carrick, a claimant to the Scottish throne, killed his chief rival to the kingship, John Comyn of Badenoch.Barrow, GWS (2008); Young (2004); McDonald (1997) p. 169. Although the former seized the throne (as Robert I) in March, the English Crown immediately struck back, defeating his forces in June. By September, Robert was a fugitive, and appears to have escaped into the Hebrides.Barrow, GWS (2008); McDonald (1997) pp. 170–174.

According to the fourteenth-century Gesta Annalia II, Christina played an instrumental part in Robert's survival at this low point in his career, sheltering him along Scotland's western seaboard.Caldwell (2016) p. 360; Penman, M (2014) pp. 104, 359 n. 82; Caldwell (2012) p. 284; Young; Stead (2010) p. 92; Scott (2009) ch. 8 ¶ 46; Brown, M (2008) p. 19; Duncan (2007) pp. 19, 118 n. 725–62; Boardman, S (2006) pp. 49 n. 6, 55 n. 61; McDonald (2006) p. 79; Barrow, GWS (2005) p. 219; Brown, M (2004) p. 262; Duffy (2002) p. 60; Traquair (1998) p. 140; McDonald (1997) pp. 174, 189, 196; Goldstein (1991) p. 279 n. 32; Munro; Munro (1986) p. 283 n. 13; Reid (1984) pp. 293–294; Barrow, GWS (1973) pp. 380–381; Barnes; Barrow (1970) p. 47; Mackenzie (1909) p. 407 n. 133; Eyre-Todd (1907) p. 77 n. 1; Skene, WF (1872) p. 335 ch. 121; Skene, WF (1871) p. 343 ch. 121. The fourteenth-century Chronicle of LanercostReid (1984) p. 294; Maxwell (1913) p. 179; Stevenson (1839) p. 205. and the fourteenth-century Guisborough Chronicle relate that Robert indeed utilised military support drawn from Ireland and the Hebrides.Penman, M (2014) p. 359 n. 78; Young; Stead (2010) p. 92; Reid (1984) p. 294; Chronicon Domini Walteri de Hemingburgh (1849) p. 251. Certainly, Edward I thought that Robert was hidden somewhere amongst the islands on the western seaboard.Penman, M (2014) p. 104; Young; Stead (2010) pp. 89–90; McDonald (1997) p. 174; Reid (1984) p. 292; Calendar of the Close Rolls (1908) p. 482; Sweetman; Handcock (1886) pp. 171–172 § 610; Bain (1884) pp. 502–503 § 1888, 504 §§ 1893, 1895, 1896. There is, therefore, reason to suspect that Christina made a significant material contribution to the Bruce causePenman, M (2014) p. 104; Watson (2013) ch. 2 ¶ 4; Reid (1984) p. 293. with funds,Reid (1984) p. 293. ships,Watson (2013) ch. 2 ¶ 4; Castle Tioram (1999) p. 16. and men.Watson (2013) ch. 2 ¶ 4; Castle Tioram (1999) p. 16; Reid (1984) p. 293.

Christina's connections with the Mar kindred could well account for her support of the Bruce cause.Watson (2013) ch. 1 ¶ 32; McDonald (2006) p. 79; Barrow, GWS (2005) pp. 219–220; McDonald (1997) p. 174. Whilst she was certainly married to a member of this comital family, the parentage of her spouse is uncertain.Oram (2003) p. 64 n. 84. One possibility is that her husband, Donnchadh, was a younger son of Uilleam, Earl of Mar.Jack (2016) pp. 84, 84 n. 219, 253; Pollock (2015) p. 179 n. 122; Brown, M (2011) p. 15; Oram (2003) p. 64, 64 n. 84. Another possibility is that Donnchadh was a son of Uilleam's son, Domhnall I, Earl of Mar.Jack (2016) p. 84 n. 219; Beam (2012) p. 58, 58 n. 23; Caldwell (2012) p. 284; McNamee (2012) ch. 5 ¶ 51; Findlater (2011) p. 69; Young; Stead (2010) p. 92; Scott (2009) ch. 8 ¶¶ 43–44; Boardman, S (2006) p. 46; McDonald (2006) p. 79; Barrow, GWS (2005) pp. 219, 246 tab. ii; McDonald (2004) p. 188; Oram (2003) p. 64 n. 84; Roberts (1999) p. 132; McDonald (1997) pp. 189, 258 genealogical tree ii n. 1; Duncan (1996) pp. 582–583; Goldstein (1991) p. 279 n. 32; Shead; Stevenson; Watt et al. (1991) p. 435 n. 24; Munro; Munro (1986) p. 283 n. 13; Barrow, GWS (1973) p. 380. Certainly, Domhnall I's daughter, Iseabail, was the first wife of Robert,Jack (2016) pp. 262–263 tab. 1, 264 tab. 2; Penman, M (2014) p. 39; Beam (2012) p. 58, 58 n. 23; Caldwell (2012) p. 284; McNamee (2012) ch. 5 ¶ 51; Brown, M (2011) p. 13, 13 n. 55; Findlater (2011) p. 69; Barrow, LG (2010) p. 4; Young; Stead (2010) pp. 22 tab., 92; Scott (2009) ch. 8 ¶ 44; Barrow, GWS (2008); Boardman, S (2006) p. 46; Barrow, GWS (2005) pp. 184, 219, 245–246 tab. ii; McDonald (2004) p. 188; Cannon; Hargreaves (2001) p. 142; Roberts (1999) p. 132; McDonald (1997) p. 189; Goldstein (1991) p. 279 n. 32. and Domhnall I's son and comital successor, Gartnait, was the husband of a sister of Robert.Jack (2016) pp. 262–263 tab. 1, 264 tab. 2; Penman, M (2014) pp. 27, 39; Daniels (2013) p. 95; McNamee (2012) ch. 5 ¶ 51; Brown, M (2011) p. 13; Young; Stead (2010) p. 22 tab.; Duncan (2008); Boardman, S (2006) p. 46; Barrow, GWS (2005) pp. 58, 184, 219, 245–246 tab. ii; Watson (2004a); Watson (2004b); Ross (2003) p. 171; Cannon; Hargreaves (2001) p. 142. The fact that Christina is described as a widow in the record of her homage to Edward I—the very day that Domhnall I's son Donnchadh is also recorded to have submitted to the king—could be evidence that her husband had indeed been a son Uilleam.Jack (2016) p. 84 n. 219; Oram (2003) p. 64 n. 84; Bain (1884) p. 200 § 823; Instrumenta Publica (1834) p. 131; Document 6/2/0 (n.d.b).