History Kintyre

1 history

1.1 beginnings
1.2 norwegian dominion
1.3 scottish rule
1.4 campbells , later

history
beginnings

dun skeig

kintyre, knapdale, contains several stone age sites; @ ballochroy trio of megaliths aligned land features on island of jura, while number of burial cairns still stand @ blasthill (near southend, argyll). remains iron age no less present, imposing dun skeig, celtic hillfort, located @ northern edge of kintyre. history of presumed pictish inhabitants of kintyre not recorded, 2nd century bc stone fort survives @ kildonan (near saddell), , not implausible continued use dun skeig.

the tip of kintyre 12 miles ulster, , there has long been interaction across straits of moyle, evidenced neolithic finds in kintyre, such flint tools characteristic of antrim. in first millennium, irish invasion led gaelic colonisation of area centred on kintyre peninsula, establishing gaelic kingdom of dál riata. latter divided handful of regions, controlled particular kin groups, of powerful, cenél ngabráin, ruled on kintyre, along knapdale, region between loch awe , loch fyne (craignish, ardscotnish, glassary, , glenary), arran, , moyle (in ulster).

the kingdom thrived few centuries, , formed springboard christianisation of mainland. sanda, island adjacent south coast of kintyre, associated ninian, first known missionary picts, , contains 5th century chapel said have been built him. in 563, columba arrived in kintyre, pay respects kings of dal riata, before continuing iona, established base missionary activity throughout pictish regions beyond.

norwegian dominion

dál riata destroyed when norse vikings invaded, , established own domain, spreading more extensively on islands north , west of mainland. following unification of norway, had become norwegian kingdom of isles, locally controlled godred crovan, , known norway suðreyjar (old norse, traditionally anglicised sodor), meaning southern isles. former territory of dal riata acquired geographic description argyle (now argyll): gaelic coast.

magnus dragging boat across isthmus, depicted in 1899 book

in 1093, magnus, norwegian king, launched military campaign assert authority on isles. malcolm, king of scotland, responded written agreement, accepting magnus had sovereign authority of on western lands magnus encircle boat. unspecific wording led magnus have boat dragged across narrow isthmus @ tarbert, while rode within it, thereby acquire kintyre, in addition more natural islands of arran , bute.

supposedly, magnus s campaign had been part of conspiracy against malcolm, donalbain, malcolm s younger brother. when malcolm killed in battle short time later, donalbain invaded, seized scottish kingdom, , displaced malcolm s sons throne; on becoming king, donalbain confirmed magnus gains. donalbain s apparent keenness this, however, weakened support among nobility, , malcolm s son, duncan, able depose him.

a few years later, following rebellion against magnus authority in isles, launched another, fiercer, expedition. in 1098, aware of magnus actions, new scottish king, edgar (another son of malcolm), quitclaimed magnus sovereign authority on isles, , whole of kintyre , knapdale.

saddell abbey, founded reginald, son of somerled

in mid 12th century, somerled, husband of godred crovan s granddaughter, led successful revolt against norway, transforming suðreyjar (including kintyre) independent kingdom. after death, nominal norwegian authority re-established, de-facto authority split between somerled s sons , crovan dynasty. exact allocation somerled s sons unclear, following family dispute, donald, somerled s grandson, acquired kintyre, knapdale, islay, , jura. donald s father, reginald, established saddell abbey, in 1207.

in mid 13th century, increased tension between norway , scotland led series of battles, culminating in battle of largs, shortly after norwegian king died. in 1266, more peaceable successor ceded nominal authority on suðreyjar scottish king (alexander iii) treaty of perth, in return large sum of money. although alexander iii acknowledged semi-independent authority of somerled s heirs, did not give them control of mainland territory scottish forces had taken during strife, including parts of kintyre.

early scottish rule

in 1293, king john balliol established shrieval authority creating post of sheriff of kintyre. shortly after, robert de bruys launched civil war challenging john throne. point, somerled s descendants had formed 3 families - macrory, macdougalls, , macdonalds; macdougalls took john s side, while macdonalds , macrory backed de bruys. when de bruys defeated john, declared macdougall lands forfeit, , gave them macdonalds.

the head of macdonald family married heir of macrory family, thereby acquiring remaining share of somerled s realm, , transforming lordship of isles, lasted on century. after 4 years , 3 children, however, divorced amy, , married margaret, daughter of robert ii, scottish king, gave him remaining parts of kintyre, along whole of knapdale, dowry.

in 1462, however, john, lord of isles, plotted english king conquer scotland; civil war in england delayed discovery of decade. upon discovery, in 1475, there call forfeiture, year john calmed matter, quitclaiming ross (easter, wester, , skye), kintyre, , knapdale, scotland.

the campbells , later

the remains of tarbert castle

at unclear point before 1481, sheriffdom of kintyre became tarbertshire, based @ tarbert @ northern edge of kintyre; in year, tarbertshire expanded include knapdale. however, comital authority remained absent following quitclaim lord of isles; following law , order crisis in region, king james iv of scotland appointed archibald campbell, earl of argyll governor of tarbert castle, implied authority on nearby castles such skipness.

following scottish reformation, macdonalds (opponents) , campbells (supporters) came more direct dispute. in 1607, following series of hostile actions macdonalds, king james vi ordered lands landlorded in kintyre transferred archibald campbell, heir of earlier archibald. under pressure campbells, sheriff court moved inveraray @ extreme northeast of tarbertshire, near heart of campbell power; inevitably, in 1633 shrieval authority annexed sheriff of argyll.

archibald s son, dedicated supporter of religious reformers, developed plan establish large settlement, around village of kinlochkilkerran, @ south of kintyre, composed of loyal presbyterians lowland scotland, in order outnumber , undermine local catholic population, , reduce resistance state s religious reforms. under son, archibald, became campbeltown. actions had effect of diluting gaelic culture, gradually replacing lowlands one.

comital powers abolished heritable jurisdictions act, leaving shrieval unit. in 1899, counties formally created, on shrieval boundaries, scottish local government act; kintyre therefore became part of county of argyll. following late 20th century reforms, within wider region of argyll , bute.