Finlaggan
Goblinshead |
130 Inveresk Rd Musselburgh EH21 7AY SCOTLAND |
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CHURCHES & ABBEYS
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| Little remains of Finlaggan, except foundations on two islands. Remains have recently been found of a 15th-century keep on the smaller or council island. The ruins of a chapel and many other buildings stand on the larger island, Eilean Mor. There was a kingdom of the Isles, subject to Norway, from about 900. In the 12th century, Somerled, of mixed Norse and Celtic blood, pushed the Norsemen out of much of Scotland and took control of their territories. He was assassinated at Renfrew in 1164 when at war Malcolm IV. He was succeeded by his sons Reginald in Kintyre and Islay; Dugald in Lorn, Mull and Jura; and Angus in Bute, Arran and North Argyll. The whole area became part of the kingdom of Scots in 1266 after the Battle of Largs in 1263. Angus Og MacDonald - grandson of Donald, a son of Reginald: hence MacDonald - a friend and supporter of Robert the Bruce, died at Finlaggan in 1328, and his son, John of Islay, was the first to use the title 'Lord of the Isles'. The independence of the Lords, however, and their power and influence, caused constant trouble for the kings of Scots. A campaign by the 2nd Lord led to the bloody Battle of Harlaw in 1411, and the 3rd Lord was twice imprisoned by James I. James IV eventually destroyed the power of the Lords in a campaign in 1493, and had the John, the then Lord of the Isles, imprisoned until his death in 1503. Attempts were made to restore the Lordship, but these were ultimately unsuccessful. Visitor centre near the island. |
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Fax:+44 (0) 131
653 6566 Tel: +44 (0) 131 665 2894
email:goblinshead@sol.co.uk
Text copyright of
Goblinshead
Coding and layout copyright Scotland
2000
