The Battle of Renfrew was fought between the Kingdom of the Isles and the Kingdom of Scotland in 1164, near Renfrew, Scotland. The men of the Isles, accompanied by forces from the Kingdom of Dublin, were commanded by Somerled (Sumarliði / Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, King of the Isles). The identity of the Scottish commander is unrecorded and unknown. Herbert, Bishop of Glasgow, Baldwin, Sheriff of Lanark/Clydesdale, and Walter fitz Alan, Steward of Scotland are all possible candidates for this position. The battle was a disaster for the Islesmen and Dubliners. Somerled was slain in the encounter, apparently by local levies, and his forces were routed.

Somerled first appears on record in the 1150s, when he is stated to have supported the cause of Máel Coluim mac Alasdair in a rebellion against Malcolm IV, King of Scotland. Máel Coluim was a member of a rival branch of the Scottish royal family, and his sons were closely related to Somerled. At about the time of the rebellion's collapse, Somerled appears to have shifted his energies from Scotland towards the Isles. In 1156, he wrested about half of the Kingdom of the Isles from his brother-in-law, Guðrøðr Óláfsson, King of the Isles. Two years later, Somerled decisively defeated Guðrøðr, gaining complete control of the kingdom.

The reasons for Somerled's invasion of Scotland are uncertain. One possibility is that he was renewing his support for the sons of Máel Coluim. Another possibility is that he was attempting to conquer the southwest part of Scotland that may have only recently fallen under Scottish royal authority. This region had previously been occupied by the Gall Gaidheil, a people of mixed Scandinavian and Gaelic ethnicity, like Sumarliði/Somairle himself. There is reason to suspect that this region was lost to the Scots upon the collapse of Máel Coluim's rebellion, and afterwards doled out to powerful Scottish magnates in the context of Scottish consolidation. Somerled may have also invaded the region in an attempt to counter a perceived threat that the Scots posed to his authority in the Firth of Clyde. The fact that the battle is said to have been fought at Renfrew, the seat of one of Walter's lordships, could indicate that he was a specific target.

As a result of Somerled's death in battle, the Kingdom of the Isles fractured once again. Although Guðrøðr's brother, Rǫgnvaldr, is recorded to have gained power, Guðrøðr was able overcome him within the year. Upon Guðrøðr's reestablishment in the Isles, the realm was again divided between him and Somerled's descendants, in a partitioning that stemmed from Somairle's coup in 1156. The Battle of Renfrew may have been Malcolm's greatest victory. It is certainly the last major event of his reign on record.

Background

At an uncertain point in the mid twelfth century, perhaps in about 1140, Somairle mac Gilla Brigte married Ragnhildr, daughter of Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles.Oram (2011) pp. 88–89; Oram, R (2004) p. 118; McDonald, RA (2000) p. 175 n. 55; McDonald, RA (1997) p. 45; Anderson (1922) p. 255 n. 1. This union had severe repercussions on the later history of the Kingdom of the Isles, as it gave Somairle's descendants—Clann Somairle—a claim to the kingship by way of Ragnhildr's royal descent.Beuermann (2012) p. 5; Beuermann (2010) p. 102; Williams, G (2007) p. 145; Woolf (2005); Brown, M (2004) p. 70; Rixson (2001) p. 85. The year 1153 marked a watershed in the history of the Isles. Not only did David I, King of Scotland die late in May,Oram (2011) p. 108. but the thirteenth- to fourteenth-century Chronicle of Mann reports that Óláfr was assassinated in June, whilst his son, Guðrøðr, was absent in Norway.Beuermann (2014) p. 85; Downham (2013) p. 171, 171 n. 84; McDonald, RA (2007b) pp. 67, 85, 92; Duffy (2006) p. 65; Beuermann (2002) p. 421; Duffy (2002) p. 48; Sellar (2000) p. 191; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 259; Duffy (1993) pp. 41–42, 42 n. 59; Oram, RD (1988) pp. 80–81; Anderson (1922) p. 225; Munch; Goss (1874) pp. 62–65. Within months of his father's assassination, Guðrøðr executed his vengeance. According to the chronicle, he journeyed from Norway to Orkney, enstrengthened by Norwegian military support, and was unanimously acclaimed as king by the leading Islesmen. He is then stated to have continued on to Mann, where he overcame three kin-slaying cousins, and successfully secured the kingship for himself.Crawford (2014) p. 74; Downham (2013) p. 171; McDonald, RA (2012) p. 162; Abrams (2007) p. 182; McDonald, RA (2007a) p. 66; McDonald, RA (2007b) pp. 67, 85; Duffy (2006) p. 65; Oram (2000) pp. 69–70; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 259; Gade (1994) p. 199; Oram, RD (1988) p. 81; Anderson (1922) p. 226; Munch; Goss (1874) pp. 64–67.

In 1155 or 1156, the Chronicle of Mann reveals that Somairle conducted a coup against Guðrøðr, specifying that Somairle's son, Dubgall, was produced as a replacement to Guðrøðr's rule.Holton (2017) p. 125; Wadden (2014) p. 32; Downham (2013) p. 172; Woolf (2013) pp. 3–4; Oram (2011) p. 120; Williams, G (2007) pp. 143, 145–146; Woolf (2007a) p. 80; Barrow (2006) pp. 143–144; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 243–244; Woolf (2004) p. 104; Rixson (2001) p. 85; Oram (2000) pp. 74, 76; McDonald, RA (1997) pp. 52, 54–58; Williams, DGE (1997) pp. 259–260, 260 n. 114; Duffy (1993) pp. 40–41; Duffy (1992) p. 121; McDonald; McLean (1992) pp. 8–9, 12; Scott, JG (1988) p. 40; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 196; Anderson (1922) p. 231; Lawrie (1910) p. 20 § 13; Munch; Goss (1874) pp. 68–69. Late in 1156, on the night of 5/6 January, Somairle and Guðrøðr finally clashed in a bloody but inconclusive sea-battle. According to the chronicle, when the clash finally concluded the feuding brothers-in-law divided the Kingdom of the Isles between themselves.Caldwell (2016) p. 354; Wadden (2014) p. 32; McDonald, RA (2012) pp. 153, 161; Oram (2011) p. 120; McDonald, RA (2007a) pp. 57, 64; McDonald, RA (2007b) p. 92; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 244; Woolf (2004) p. 104; Oram (2000) pp. 74, 76; McDonald, RA (1997) pp. 52, 56; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 260; McDonald, RA (1995) p. 135; Duffy (1993) p. 43; McDonald; McLean (1992) p. 9; Scott, JG (1988) p. 40; Rixson (1982) pp. 86–87; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 196; Anderson (1922) pp. 231–232; Lawrie (1910) p. 20 § 13; Munch; Goss (1874) pp. 68–69. Two years later, the chronicle reveals that Somairle invaded Mann and drove Guðrøðr from the kingship into exile.McDonald, RA (2012) pp. 153, 161; Oram (2011) p. 121; McDonald, RA (2007a) pp. 57, 64; McDonald, RA (2007b) pp. 92, 113, 121 n. 86; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 244; Woolf (2004) p. 104; Oram (2000) pp. 74, 76; McDonald, RA (1997) p. 56; Duffy (1993) p. 43; McDonald; McLean (1992) p. 9; Rixson (1982) pp. 86–87, 151; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 196; Anderson (1922) p. 239; Munch; Goss (1874) pp. 68–69. With Guðrøðr gone, it appears that either Dubgall or Somairle became King of the Isles.McDonald, RA (1997) p. 57. Although the young Dubgall may well have been the nominal monarch, the chronicle makes it clear that it was Somairle who possessed the real power.Oram (2011) p. 121. Certainly, Irish sources regard Somairle as a king by the end of his career.Holton (2017) p. 124, 124 n. 14; The Annals of Tigernach (2016) § 1164.6; Annals of the Four Masters (2013a) 1083.10; Annals of the Four Masters (2013b) 1083.10; Woolf (2013) p. 3; McDonald, RA (2007b) p. 164; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1164.6; Sellar (2004); McLeod (2002) p. 31, 31 n. 22; McDonald, RA (2000) p. 179; Sellar (2000) p. 189; McDonald, RA (1997) pp. 57–58; Anderson (1922) p. 254.

Battle

The Battle of Renfrew is attested by sources such as: the fourteenth-century Annals of Tigernach,Holton (2017) p. 125; The Annals of Tigernach (2016) § 1164.6; Wadden (2014) p. 34; Woolf (2013) p. 3; Strickland (2012) p. 107; McDonald, RA (2007b) p. 76; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1164.6; Woolf (2005); McDonald, RA (2000) p. 169, 169 n. 16, 179; Sellar (2000) p. 189; McDonald, RA (1997) p. 62; Duffy (1999) p. 356; McDonald, RA (1995) p. 135; Duffy (1993) pp. 31, 45; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 197; Anderson (1922) p. 254. the fifteenth- to sixteenth-century Annals of Ulster,Jennings (2017) pp. 121, 126; The Annals of Ulster (2017) § 1164.4; Wadden (2014) p. 34; Wadden (2013) p. 208; Strickland (2012) p. 107; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1164.4; Oram (2011) p. 128; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 245; Pollock (2005) p. 14; Woolf (2005); McDonald, RA (2000) p. 169, 169 n. 16; Oram (2000) p. 76; Duffy (1999) p. 356; Durkan (1998) p. 137; McDonald, RA (1997) p. 67; McDonald, RA (1995) p. 135; Duffy (1993) p. 45; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 197; Anderson (1922) p. 254; Lawrie (1910) p. 80 § 61. the twelfth-century Carmen de Morte Sumerledi,Neville (2016) p. 7; Cowan (2015) p. 18; Clanchy (2014) p. 169; Woolf (2013); Clancy (2012) p. 19; MacLean (2012) p. 651; Strickland (2012) p. 107; Oram (2011) p. 128; Davies (2009) p. 67; Márkus (2009) p. 113; Broun (2007) p. 164; Clancy (2007) p. 126; Márkus (2007) p. 100; Sellar (2004); Durkan (2003) p. 230; Driscoll (2002) pp. 68–69; McDonald, RA (2002) pp. 103, 111; McDonald, RA (2000) p. 169, 169 n. 16; Durkan (1998) p. 137; McDonald, RA (1997) pp. 41, 61–62; Macquarrie (1996) p. 43; McDonald, RA (1995) p. 135; McDonald; McLean (1992) pp. 3, 3 n. 1, 13; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 197; Brown, JTT (1927) pp. 274–275; Anderson (1922) pp. 256–258; Lawrie (1910) pp. 80–83 § 62; Anderson (1908) p. 243 n. 2; Arnold (1885) pp. 386–388; Skene (1871) pp. 449–451. the thirteenth-century Chronica of Roger de Hoveden,Duffy (1999) p. 356; Duffy (1993) p. 31; Anderson; Anderson (1938) pp. 143–144 n. 6; Anderson (1922) p. 255 n. 1; Anderson (1908) p. 243; Stubbs (1868) p. 224; Riley (1853) p. 262. the twelfth- to thirteenth-century Chronicle of Holyrood,McDonald; McLean (1992) p. 13; Anderson; Anderson (1938) pp. 44, 143–144 n. 6, 190; Anderson (1922) p. 255 n. 1; Bouterwek (1863) pp. 40–41. the thirteenth- to fourteenth-century Chronicle of Mann,Caldwell (2016) p. 352; Martin, C (2014) p. 193; McDonald, RA (2007a) pp. 57, 64; McDonald, RA (2007b) pp. 54, 121 n. 86; McDonald, RA (2002) p. 117 n. 76; Williams, DGE (1997) p. 150; McDonald, RA (1995) p. 135; Duffy (1993) p. 45; McDonald; McLean (1992) p. 13; Barrow (1960) p. 20; Anderson (1922) p. 255 n. 1; Munch; Goss (1874) pp. 74–75. the twelfth- to thirteenth-century Chronicle of Melrose,Woolf (2013) p. 3; Strickland (2012) p. 107; Oram (2011) p. 128; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 245; Pollock (2005) p. 14; Ewart; Pringle; Caldwell et al. (2004) p. 12; McDonald, RA (2000) p. 169, 169 n. 16; Sellar (2000) p. 189; Duffy (1999) p. 356; Duffy (1993) pp. 31, 45; Barrow (1960) p. 20; Duncan; Brown (1956–1957) p. 197; Anderson; Anderson (1938) pp. 125 n. 1, 143–144 n. 6; Brown, JTT (1927) p. 275; Anderson (1922) pp. 254–255; Anderson (1908) p. 243 n. 2; Stevenson (1856) p. 130; Stevenson (1835) p. 79. the thirteenth-century Gesta Annalia I,Sellar (2000) p. 195 n. 32; Anderson (1922) p. 255 n. 1; Skene (1872) p. 252 ch. 4; Skene (1871) p. 257 ch. 4. the fifteenth-century Mac Carthaigh's Book,Mac Carthaigh's Book (2016a) § 1163.2; Mac Carthaigh's Book (2016b) § 1163.2; Duffy (1993) p. 45. and the fifteenth-century Scotichronicon.Pollock (2005) p. 14; Watt (1994) pp. 262–265; Goodall (1759) p. 452 bk. 8 ch. 6.