18th century illustration of some of the tombs of Oronsay Priory, founded by John of Islay sometime before 1358.

John of Islay, Lord of the Isles or simply John MacDonald (Scottish Gaelic: Eion MacDomhnaill or Iain mac Aonghais MacDhòmhnaill; d. 1386) was the first of the traditional Mac Domhnaill (Macdonald) Lords of the Isles (1336-86). In 1336, he styles himself Dominus Insularum, "Lord of the Isles". Because this is the first ever recorded instance of this title in use, modern historians count John as the first of the later medieval Lords of the Isles,^[1] although this rather broad Latin style corresponds roughly with the older Gaelic title rí Innse Gall, in use since the Viking Age, and for instance, the even more similar Latin title dominus de Inchegal ("Lord of the Hebrides"), applied to Raghnall mac Somhairle in the mid-12th century.^[2] Oronsay is a small island south of Colonsay in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. ... Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... Events Battle of Sempach: Swiss safeguard independence from Habsburg rule End of reign of Poland by Capet-Anjou family. ... MacDonald, Macdonald or McDonald may refer to: // Macdonald, Manitoba Macdonald (electoral district) McDonald, PA 991 McDonalda, asteroid McDonald (crater), crater on the moon McDonald Observatory, astronomical observatory in Texas Christopher McDonald, American actor Ian MacDonald (actor), American actor and director during the 1940s and 1960s Kelly Macdonald, Scottish actress Kevin... Lord of the Isles, now a Scottish title of nobility, originally referred to a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of galleys. ... Events End of the Kemmu restoration and beginning of the Muromachi period in Japan. ... The Hebrides The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, and in geological terms are composed of the oldest rocks in the British Isles. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ...

John was the son of Aonghas Óg, Lord of Islay, an Islay-based Hebridean chief who had benifited from king Robert I of Scotland's attacks on the MacDougall (MacDhùghaill) rulers of Argyll and their Comyn allies, and had been given Ardnamurchan, Lochaber, Duror and Glencoe, turning the MacDonalds from the Hebridean "poor relations" into the most powerful kindred of the north-western seaboard.^[3] The loyalty of Aonghas to Robert, however, did not necessitate that John's loyalty to Robert's son and successor David II would follow suit. After Edward Balliol's coup against the Bruce regime in 1333, Edward attempted to court John. In 1336, Edward confirmed the territories which the Islay lords had acquired in the days of Robert I, and additionally, awarded John the lands of Kintyre, Knapdale, Gigha, Colonsay, Mull, Skye, Lewis, and Morvern, held by magnates still loyal to the Bruces. John however never provided Edward with real assistance. Although Balliol's deposition by the supporters of David made the grants made to John by Edward void, John's pre-1336 possessions were in fact confirmed by King David in 1343. Moreover, in 1346 John inherited, the great Lordship of Garmoran through his brother-in-law Raghnall MacRuaridh, meaning that John's dominions now included all of the Hebrides except Skye, and all of the western seaboard from Morvern to Loch Hourn.^[4] Islay shown within Argyll. ... Robert I, the Bruce, in a conjectural drawing Robert I, (Roibert a Briuis in medieval Gaelic, Raibeart Bruis in modern Scottish Gaelic and Robert de Brus or Robert de Bruys in Norman French), usually known in modern English today as Robert the Bruce (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), was... Macdougalls of Lore Mac means son of while the term clan comes from the Gaelic word for children. ... Argyll, archaically Argyle (Airthir-Ghaidheal in Gaelic, translated as [the] East Gael, or [the] East Irish), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a traditional county of Scotland. ... Ardnamurchan is a 50 mile long peninsula in North West Scotland, noted for being very unspoilt and undisturbed. ... Lochaber (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Abar) refers to a large area of the central and western Scottish Highlands. ... Glencoe is the name of a number of places in the world: Glencoe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Glencoe, Scotland, United Kingdom Glencoe, Alabama, United States of America Glencoe, Kentucky, United States of America Glencoe, Illinois, United States of America Glencoe, Minnesota, United States of America Glencoe, Missouri, United... David II (March 5, 1324 – February 22, 1371) king of Scotland, son of King Robert the Bruce by his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh (d. ... Edward Balliol (c. ... Kintyre shown within Argyll Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland in the south-west of Argyll. ... Knapdale shown within Argyll Knapdale is a rural area of Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands, adjoining Kintyre to the south, and divided from the rest of Argyll to the north by the Crinan Canal. ... Gigha (pronounced geea, or gi-haris) a small island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. ... Colonsay shown within Argyll Colonsay [Colbhasa] is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull. ... Tobermory with 700 people, the largest settlement on Mull, is home to the only whisky distillery on the island. ... The Old Man of Storr, Skye The Isle of Skye, usually known simply as Skye (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Eilean Sgiathanach) is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. ... Looking towards the Uplands in the centre of the Island of Lewis Lewis (Leòdhas in Scottish Gaelic), is the northern part of the main island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the southern part of which is called Harris, however Lewis and Harris are treated by Scots as separate... Morvern is a region on the west coast of Scotland located approximately 56°3608N 5°4659W. Ferries depart from the coast to the Island of Mull, also part of Morvern. ... The House of Bruce was a Scottish Royal House in the 14th century. ... Morvern is a region on the west coast of Scotland located approximately 56°3608N 5°4659W. Ferries depart from the coast to the Island of Mull, also part of Morvern. ...

John continued to build his power based by allying himself with Robert Stewart, another west highland magnate who was the designated heir of King David. After David went into English custody in 1346, Robert acted was the de facto ruler of Scotland north of the river Forth. In 1350 John was given Robert's daughter Margaret Stewart in marriage, and received Knapdale and Kintyre as dowry. However, Robert was the senior partner. John had to divorce his previous wife Amie, and his sons by Amie were to be passed over in the succession in favour of any children by the marriage with Margaret. After the capture of the king and death of John Randolph at the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, John and Robert worked together taking control of the huge earldom of Moray, bringing MacDonald power into Lochaber and Stewart power into Badenoch.^[5] Robert II (March 2, 1316 – April 19, 1390), king of Scotland, called the Steward, a title that gave the name to the House of Stewart (or Stuart). ... // Events Serbian Empire was proclaimed in Skopje by Dusan Silni, occupying much of the South-Eastern Europe Foundation of the University of Valladolid Foundation of Pembroke College, University of Cambridge August 26 Battle of Crecy after which Edward the Black Prince honored the bravery of John I, Count of Luxemburg... The River Forth meanders over fertile farmlands near Stirling The River Forth, 47 km (29 miles) long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland. ... Events 29 August - An English fleet personally commanded by King Edward III defeats a Spanish fleet in the battle of Les Espagnols sur Mer. ... John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray (d. ... Combatants Scotland England Commanders David II of Scotland William Zouche, Archbishop of York Strength 12,000 3,000-3,500 Casualties Unknown (high) Unknown (very low) The Battle of Nevilles Cross took place near Durham, England on October 17, 1346. ... The title Earl of Moray (pronounced Murry) has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland. ... Lochaber (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Abar) refers to a large area of the central and western Scottish Highlands. ... Badenoch, a district of south-east Inverness-shire in Scotland, bounded on the north by the Monadhliath mountains, on the east by the Cairngorms and Braemar, on the south by Atholl and the Grampians, and on the west by Lochaber. ...

David returned to Scotland in 1357, and resented these incursions into an earldom to which David regarded as now within his rights of disposal, as the terms of the original grant of Moray to Thomas Randolph in 1312 stipulated that the earldom would revert to the crown upon lack of issue. By 1368, King David had decided an aggressive policy was needed in the north. In 1369, he marched to Inverness, where John submitted to his authority. However, John's submission was followed swiftly by David's death on February 22, 1371. David was succeeded by John's close ally Robert. David had wished either to retain control of the earldom or to grant the earldom to either John or George Dunbar, the sons of Isabella Randolph, the sister of the last earl. However, King Robert made sure that Badenoch remained within his own control and that John had Lochaber. When the earldom was granted to John Dunbar by a parliament held at Scone in early 1372, the grant consisted only of the lowland part around Inverness. Robert also ensured that John's control of the MacRuaridh inheritance was legally recognized by charter, and in 1376 issued charters confirming John's control of Colonsay, Kintrye and Knapdale, and granted Lochaber to John and his Stewart wife together.^[6] [[ == == ===Events= July 9 - Charles Bridge in Prague was founded == == ==]] Births Vincent Ferrer April 11 - King John I of Portugal Deaths May 28 - King Afonso IV of Portugal Categories: 1357 ... Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray (d. ... Events June 15 : Battle near Rozgoni Battle near Thebes Siege of Rostock begins Births November 13 - King Edward III of England Deaths June 19 - Piers Gaveston, favourite of Edward II of England September 7 - King Ferdinand IV of Castile Categories: 1312 ... Events King Charles V of France renounces the treaty of Brétigny and war is declared between France and England. ... February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Go-Kogon of Japan, fourth of the Northern Ashikaga Pretenders Start of the reign of Emperor Go-Enyu of Japan, fifth and last of the Northern Ashikaga Pretenders Charterhouse Carthusian Monastery founded in Aldersgate, London. ... Scone is a large village, a mile north of Perth, Scotland. ... Events In this year, the city of Aachen, Germany begins adding a Roman numeral Anno Domini date to a few of its coins. ... Inverness (Inbhir Nis in Scottish Gaelic) is the only city in the Highland council area and the Highlands of Scotland. ... // Events March – The treaty between England and France is extended until April of 1377. ...

Soon after 1376, John's heir Domhnall may have been the de facto ruler. However, John lived until 1386, when he died at Ardtornish Castle in Morvern. He was buried in Iona.^[7] John's power had been built on both the loosening of royal authority in north-western Scotland after the First War of Independence and, more importantly, allying with the right people at the right time. However, the success of John was so great that his successors could maintain a distance from the crown that outlived the weak monarchy of the 14th century. 18th century illustration of some of the tombs of Oronsay Priory, founded by Domhnalls father John of Islay sometime before 1358. ... Morvern is a region on the west coast of Scotland located approximately 56°3608N 5°4659W. Ferries depart from the coast to the Island of Mull, also part of Morvern. ... Iona village viewed from a short distance offshore. ... An engraving titled Sepoy Indian troops dividing the spoils after their mutiny against British rule gives a contemporary view of events from the British perspective. ...

John was also a great cultural and religious patron. Although the Bishop of the Isles, based at Snizort on Skye, was outside his control and to some extent acted as a political rival, John controlled Iona, the spiritual homeland of Scottish christianity. The monastic establishment of Iona was run by John approval by the MacKinnon (MacFhionghain) kindred. John also founded an Augustinian priory at Oronsay, an act almost unique for the period.^[8] The Bishop of the Isles or Bishop of Sodor was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Sodor, one of Scotlands 13 medieval bishoprics. ... Looking towards Quiraing, Skye. ... Oronsay is a small island south of Colonsay in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. ...

Notes

References

• Boardman, Stephen, The Early Stewart Kings: Robert II and Robert III, 1371-1406, (East Linton, 1996)
• Brown, Michael, The Wars of Scotland, (Edinburgh, 2004)
• McDonald, R. Andrew, The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard, c. 1100-1336, (Edinburgh, 1997)
• Oram, Richard, "The Lordship of the Isles, 1336-1545", in Donald Omand (ed.) The Argyll Book, (Edinburgh, 2005), pp. 123-39
• Sellar, W.D.H., "Hebridean Sea-Kings: The Successors of Somerled, 1164-1316", in Edward J. Cowan & R. Andrew McDonald (eds.), Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Medieval Era, (Edinburgh, 2000), pp. 187-218

	Lords of the Isles, 1336-1493 Eion I a Íle (John I) • Dómhnall a Íle (Donald) • Alasdair a Íle (Alexander) • Eion II a Íle (John II)
something	See also Aonghas Óg • Dómhnall Dubh